ZIPLINE Accidents on the Rise. The reported incidents in the past decades continue to escalate.
Initially, safety is in the design of ZIPLINES, but over time and lack of involvement in new codes, bills, and regulations, as well as the development of new standards, places everyone at risk. A lapse in just one year can place the owner at risk of a lawsuit. In many incidents I have investigated, the facilities are not inspected by a qualified and certified inspector, though many states require yearly third-party inspections and permits, most owners fail to assure the inspector is well educated and ground in the industry.
There are standard installation guidelines. ZIPLINE associations and standard regulating bodies such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) have standards that update yearly. ASTM F770, F1193, F2291, F2959 should be understood by all owners and personnel. Proper training of personnel is required, and in most states, eight hours is required yearly as a minimum. Recommend in the industry is simulating a rescue. Rescue training is needed at least yearly.
Not all states require a certificate, certification, third-party inspection, or permit of inspection before operating these bounce houses. Personnel turnover is frequent, and many standards require new personnel to have a minimum of eight hours of training.
https://www.astm.org/Standards/F2959.htm
- Just like the trampolines, ZIPLINE can be unsafe for countless reasons. I found these failures as I investigated incidents at the facilities.
- A lack of training by the owner and personnel
- Owners and personnel, failing to log and perform daily, monthly and yearly equipment and facility inspections
- Frequent personnel turnover placing untrained personnel as attendants
- Failing to perform bi-yearly rescue training
- Owners and personnel failing to understand the standards in the industry
- Failing to follow their own and the manufacturers' operations and safety manual
- Lack of maintenance and daily inspection
- Lack of knowledge of the standards
- Lapse or no membership with Associations that specialize in safety and operations
Initially, safety is in the design of ZIPLINES, but over time and lack of involvement in new codes, bills, and regulations, as well as the development of new standards, places everyone at risk. A lapse in just one year can place the owner at risk of a lawsuit. In many incidents I have investigated, the facilities are not inspected by a qualified and certified inspector, though many states require yearly third-party inspections and permits, most owners fail to assure the inspector is well educated and ground in the industry.
There are standard installation guidelines. ZIPLINE associations and standard regulating bodies such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) have standards that update yearly. ASTM F770, F1193, F2291, F2959 should be understood by all owners and personnel. Proper training of personnel is required, and in most states, eight hours is required yearly as a minimum. Recommend in the industry is simulating a rescue. Rescue training is needed at least yearly.
Not all states require a certificate, certification, third-party inspection, or permit of inspection before operating these bounce houses. Personnel turnover is frequent, and many standards require new personnel to have a minimum of eight hours of training.
https://www.astm.org/Standards/F2959.htm
