Earleywood Scout Centre

General Conditions of Use - Climbing Tower

• All activities on the tower must be conducted safely and in accordance with POR, including in particular Rules 9.7, 9.8 and 9.34, and all the relevant Scout Association factsheets.
• All equipment used in connection with those activities must be suitable, safe and in good condition and satisfy the relevant requirements of POR and the relevant factsheets.
• Parties using the wall will provide their own equipment and appropriately authorised activity operators, be they supervisor, instructor or rope leader.
• Authorised operators must agree not to operate beyond their authorisation or permit; e.g. no abseiling without an appropriate endorsement for abseiling, and a rope leader to only lead one rope system at a time
• All authorised operators must produce their relevant authorisations and permits for inspection by the Camp Warden or duty Site Service Team Member. The current minimum level of authorisation or permit is for a single pitch top rope leader on an artificial climbing wall.
• The maximum number of people on the tower at any one time is restricted to 9. This includes people on the platform, stairways and walls.
• The party using the wall must behave responsibly at all times and be under the control of the climber in charge or a responsible adult whom they have nominated.
• All scouting adults in Adult only Groups using the wall (e.g. Network or Fellowship) must have signed the “Information and acknowledgment of risk sheet” in accordance with the Adult Groups in Adventurous Activities Factsheet (FS 120087).

Charges etc

• The activity charge to from January 2008 will be in accordance with the current charges on the Earleywood website published at: http://www.southberksscouts.org/ew/index.html
• The above charges are for use of the wall using your own equipment & instructors. 
• Earleywood currently cannot provide either climbing equipment or instructors but hopes to do so in the future.  When it does there will be additional charges for both instruction and equipment.  Meanwhile, the site team will try to put you in touch with an instructor providing you give at least 8 weeks notice. 

Note – In the future and subject to demand it is hoped that the site will be able to organise “open climbing” sessions when instructors will be available, and Groups or individuals will be able to turn up and climb/abseil.

DON’T FORGET YOUR AUTHORISATION – NO FORM NO CLIMB

Climbing Wall Usage Agreement

• I have been shown the Climbing Wall environment, and understand my responsibilities for not leaving the compound unsupervised.
• I have a Scout Association authorisation or permit for climbing and/or abseiling and will operate within its limitations and will ensure that the session is run in accordance with to the guidelines for climbing as set out in POR and the relevant Scout Assn factsheets and to MLTB standards.
• I am able to set up bottom ropes, top ropes and releasable abseils and safety lines as required by my authorisation.
• I will ensure that all members of the group act in accordance with the Scout Association guidelines for Child Protection.  I will ensure that all adults involved are aware of the additional care that needs to be exercised in the climbing environment.
• I have read the Emergency Action Plan (see Site Conditions of Booking) and understand my responsibilities in the event of an accident. I will ensure that other leaders are also aware of it and of their part in it.
• I will not allow non-members of the Scout or Guide Associations to use the Climbing Wall unless such use has been previously advised and agreed with the Earleywood Management Committee and appropriate insurance arrangements agreed.
• I understand and accept the attached Responsibilities of the Climber-in-Charge and General Conditions of Use.

Signed........

Name (Print)..................

Date...........

Auth level:..

For Earleywood Scout Centre

• I have explained the Climbing Wall Usage Agreement to the Supervisor/Instructor and I am satisfied that he/she understand the principles set out in the Agreement.
• I have seen the Authorisations and I am satisfied that he/she is suitably authorised to be in overall charge of the session.

Signed on behalf
of Earleywood Scout Centre:.......

Name (print)..................

Date ..........

Earleywood Scout Centre – Draft Risk assessment - Climbing Tower

NB

•  ‘Level of risk’ is a combination of probability and the reasonably foreseeable worst harm.  Thus a high risk of death would give a very high level of risk while a high risk of minor injury would at worst be medium. 
•  The level of risk has been assessed on the basis the only control measures in place are those, which are permanent, and not subject to significant deterioration or at risk of failure or being defeated or the behaviour of persons using the tower. 

Responsibilities of Climber-in-Charge

One authorised person is to take overall charge of the session. It is the responsibility of that person in charge to open the climbing wall and to ensure that:

• Scout Association POR is observed at all times; in particular, rope work is in accordance with MLTB standards and all equipment is cared for and stored according to the relevant scout fact sheet (currently FS120411)
• Once opened the compound is not left unsupervised.
• All leaders present are aware of the Earleywood emergency procedures.
• Everyone’s attention is drawn to the climbing wall rules.
• The wall and enclosure are visually inspected for hazards and any found are appropriately managed.
• Helmet wearing may be relaxed for adults and explorers where competent, though should be available if requested.
• No one is endangered because of tiredness leading to loss of concentration; in particular instructors and those supervising the activity or running rope systems take adequate rest breaks – should be at least 30 minutes break after every 2 hours on wall.
• The example risk analysis is considered during wall usage.
• The climber in charge must ensure a first aid kit is available within the climbing wall compound and has been fully checked and is visible to all users - Earleywood does not have a first aid kit for the climbing tower.
• Any concerns or problems are reported to the Earleywood Service Team Member on duty.
• At the end of the session, all equipment is removed from the Tower and enclosure, and that the wall is secure and both the compound and tower are locked up.