Method statement for the erection of temporary inflatable structures that do not require a Temporary Structure Licence

Transcription

1 Methd statement fr the erectin f temprary inflatable structures that d nt require a Temprary Structure Licence The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have wrked with NIAH t prduce a Safe Practice Guide fr erectin f inflatable play equipment. The abve dcument has been used t cmpile the fllwing Methd Statement fr event rganisers f events in LB Islingtn using inflatables that d nt require a Temprary Structure Licence (TSL) frm Building Cntrl. Yur duties as an event rganiser Yu are respnsible fr ensuring that as far as reasnably practicable everyne at the event venue wh culd be affected by the cnstructin and use f a temprary structure (vlunteers, staff and members f the public) are nt expsed t risks t their health and are kept safe frm harm. All event rganisers using Islingtn Parks wh are using inflatables that d nt require a TSL must cnfirm they have read and will abide by the advice set ut in this Methd Statement and will use the checklist n page 4 befre allwing the public t use the inflatable. Planning Inflatables are great fun but accidents invlving brken limbs and necks are nt uncmmn. There have als been serius incidents where ccupied inflatables have blwn away due t being imprperly secured in windy cnditins. The quality cnstructin, maintenance and peratin f inflatable play equipment can be extremely variable. Buyers, hirers and users shuld make sure they knw what it is they are paying fr; things are generally cheap fr gd reasn! Hired inflatables erected by third party cntractrs If yu are nt putting the structure up yurself, any third parties hired t supply, build, manage and take dwn a structure fr yu shuld be cmpetent and adequately resurced. They shuld be prvided with the relevant site infrmatin t allw them t carry ut their wn risk assessment. Plan and wrk with yur cntractrs t develp safe systems f wrking and make sure all significant risks n the site are prperly cntrlled, e.g. use vehicles If necessary the cnstructin area shuld be crdned ff t prevent entry by unauthrised peple. Ensure the inflatable has been built t the current British Standard (BS EN 14960) and if it has, there will be a label n it saying s. If there is n label yu may be taking a risk with the safety f thse using it (yu shuld check this befre hire).

2 The label will tell yu when it was made, hw many peple can use it and what heights they shuld be. Every inflatable shuld have at least 6 anchr pints, thugh bigger nes will need mre. The peratr manual that shuld be supplied with the inflatable will tell yu hw many there shuld be. BS EN als prvides mre infrmatin regarding the calculatins t be used t wrk ut anchr pint requirements. All the anchr pints must be used, preferably with metal grund stakes at least 380mm length and 16mm diameter with a runded tp. Anchr pints n the inflatable shuld have a welded metal '0' r 'D' ring fitted t the end. If grund stakes cannt be used then a system f ballast using water r sand barrels r tying dwn t vehicles that will give at least the same level f prtectin shuld be used. Each anchr pint shuld have the equivalent f 163kgs t give this. Beware f tripping hazards if yu secure in this way. Have a gd lk at the inflatable when it is blwn up and befre use. Yu shuld check: the site is suitable; all anchrages are secure and in place; ancillary equipment is in psitin (e.g. impact-absrbing mats); there are n significant hles r rips in the fabric r seams; the crrect blwer is being used; the internal air pressure is sufficient t give a firm and reliable fting; there are n expsed electrical parts and n wear n cables; plugs, sckets, switches, etc. are nt damaged; the cnnectin tube and blwer are firmly attached t each the uter edges f the frnt step are in line with the centre f each f the frnt uprights. Under n circumstances shuld the width f the step be less than this. The whle unit shuld lk symmetrical and thse bits that shuld be upright, shuld be upright. If it lks misshapen r defrmed there may be internal prblems which may make buncing unpredictable. If there is an electrical blwer with the inflatable this must als be tested at regular intervals. The law requires electrical equipment t be maintained t prevent danger. The type and frequency f user checks, inspectins and testing needed will depend n the equipment, the envirnment in which it is used and the results f previus checks. On initial erectin and befre the structure is signed ff by the cntractr and handed ver t the client, it shuld be subjected t a thrugh inspectin prir t issue f a reprt which will incrprate a checklist carried ut by the charge hand r freman whse respnsibility it was t erect the structure in the first place. The client shuld be given written guidance regarding the prcedures t be fllwed in the event f adverse weather. As with the use f all temprary structures this guidance shuld emphasise the need fr the end user t cntinually mnitr natinal, lcal and nsite weather cnditins in rder that if adverse cnditins are frecast all likely cntingency plans can be put in place.

3 If yu are erecting the inflatable yurself Make sure yu assess the risks invlved with erecting the inflatable and minimise risks where pssible Make sure there is sufficient time and resurces available t build and dismantle the structure safely (see relevant pints abve) Use cmpetent trained staff The build site shuld be sufficiently far frm ver grund services, e.g. verhead pwer lines Build the structure in accrdance with the manufacturer s instructins Anchrage Anchrs are critical t the stability and safety f temprary structures. If the wind speed is high enugh t make erecting the structure difficult, the structure shuld nt be erected until wind speeds have subsided. If wind speeds are frecast t remain high, the structure shuld nt be erected at all. Lse, nn-chesive sils prvide the least resistance and may require special anchrs. In these situatins pull-ut tests wuld be expected in rder t verify the anchrage resistances. Where grund penetratin is nt pssible r the resistance prvided by the substrate is nt sufficient t stabilise the structure, heavy ballast weights can be used t withstand uplift frces. Yu shuld seek specific advice frm manufacturer/supplier f the structure if using ballast weights. Safe wind speed recmmendatins by the supplier/manufacturer shuld be adhered t. Yu shuld be aware f undergrund services and tree rts which may be damaged by lng stakes used fr anchrage. Stakes and rpes near exits r ther walking rutes shuld be fenced ff r clearly marked t prevent members f the public frm walking int r tripping ver them. Respnsibility fr designating walking rutes and erectin f fencing lies with the event rganiser unless an external cntractr is invlved. Respnsibility fr this shuld be established befre cnstructin begins. Purpse-designed stakes with defined heads and/r eyes fr rpe attachment are generally preferred since they d nt need t prject significantly abve the surface. This prvides

4 superir anchrage as well as reducing the risk f tripping. Where necessary, cnsideratin shuld be given t prtecting the heads f any prjecting stakes with a suitable padding. Change in site cnditins Any change in site cnditins which may affect the structure s suitability shuld trigger a design check fr the new cnditins. Be aware f the weather. BS EN recmmends that the maximum windspeed in which inflatable play equipment shuld be used utdrs is 38 km/h which is Frce 5 n the Beaufrt Scale (small trees in leaf begin t sway). The best way t measure this is by using an anemmeter. Mnitr and measure the lcal weather cnditins. In adverse weather cnditins, knw what t d with the structure t prtect its stability and when t evacuate (this shuld have been discussed with yur cntractr at sign ff). A prperly trained supervisr will be aware f all f this and shuld be able t keep the inflatable running safely and make sure that n ne gets hurt. Making sure that the inflatable is run safely is equally imprtant; the majrity f injuries cme frm misuse. There shuld be cnstant supervisin when the inflatable is blwn up regardless f whether this is prvided by the event rganiser r the third party. Operating instructins (these shuld be supplied by the manufacturer r supplier f the inflatable but shuld include the fllwing infrmatin at least) Restrict the number f users n the inflatable at the same time t the limit in the manual r n the unit label. Dn t exceed the user height limit given in the manual r n the unit label and keep bigger users separated frm smaller. Ensure users can get n and ff safely and that there is safety matting at the entrance in case f falls r ejectins. These mats shuld nt be mre than 2" in depth. Users shuld nt wear shes, shuld take their glasses ff if they can and pckets shuld be emptied f all sharp r dangerus items. Users shuld nt eat r drink whilst playing r buncing and anyne bviusly intxicated shuld nt be allwed n; they are a danger t themselves as much as t thers.

5 Dn t let things get t rugh and dn t let users climb r hang nt the walls. Dn t let users try t smersault. Keep an eye n the weather and if cnditins start t create a dangerus envirnment evacuate the device. Minimum checklist fr inflatable structures N. Actin Cmplete? 1 All aspects f the final structure are at a safe distance frm pwer lines & ther hazards 2 All anchrages have been used, are suitable fr the purpse and sil cnditin and are hlding fast 3 There are n significant tears in fabric r seams 4 Ancillary equipment is in psitin (e.g. impact-absrbing mats) 5 Carpet and ther flr cvering is securely fixed s as t minimise the risk f tripping 6 Expsed rpes and stakes adjacent t exits and entrances are marked and/r rped ff 7 The crrect blwer is being used 8 The internal air pressure is sufficient t give a firm and reliable fting 9 There are n expsed electrical parts and n wear n cables 10 Plugs, sckets, switches, etc. are nt damaged 11 The cnnectin tube and blwer are firmly attached t each 12 The whle unit shuld lks symmetrical and thse bits that shuld be upright, are upright. If it lks misshapen r defrmed there may be internal prblems which may make buncing unpredictable. 13 Final all-rund visual check t satisfy that inflatable is erected securely and the weather cnditins are nt hazardus

6 OPERATION 1 Restrict the number f users n the inflatable at the same time t the limit in the manual r n the unit label. Dn t exceed the user height limit given in the manual r n the unit label and keep bigger users separated frm smaller. 2 Ensure users can get n and ff safely and that there is safety matting at the entrance in case f falls r ejectins. These mats shuld nt be mre than 2" in depth. 3 Users shuld nt wear shes, shuld take their glasses ff if they can and pckets shuld be emptied f all sharp r dangerus items. 4 Users shuld nt eat r drink whilst playing r buncing and anyne bviusly intxicated shuld nt be allwed n; they are a danger t themselves as much as t thers. 5 Dn t let things get t rugh and dn t let users climb r hang nt the walls. Dn t let users try t smersault. 6 Mnitr the weather and take apprpriate actin