Climbing walls are a popular type of challenge course, a learning and recreational experience that provides adventure, promotes fitness, and instills teamwork and self-confidence in the climber. It’s a wilderness experience in a fixed location. If the operation is well run, there should be no accidents; but there are risks. To ensure a maximum safety experience for climbers, management should verify that the equipment is completely built, installed, and maintained to all safety standards; that all climbers are given proper instruction; that they understand and agree to follow those instructions; and that the equipment is used only under proper supervision


SAFETY
1 Rules should be posted at the wall.
2 The area should be controlled to prevent unauthorized use – chained-off, room locked – or the equipment covered with panels secured to a height of 8 ft. - 10 ft. This protection should be in place anytime the wall is not supervised.
3 All accidents and near misses should be reported immediately to whoever is specified in the emergency plan to receive such reports. Accidents should be documented, and written reports filed in accordance with facility procedures.
4 If outdoors, the wall should not be used in high wind or when there is a chance of lightning.
5 A first aid kit should be present at the wall. If the wall is outdoors, away from the facility, staff should have a cell phone ready to call emergency authorities in case they are needed. All facilities should be equipped with an AED (defibrillator) on-site, within a 3-minute response time.
6 There should be no hooks, shelves, trees, or other objects near the wall upon which a climber could fall.



EQUIPMENT

1. Climbing walls should be designed and constructed according to ACCT standards. Builders should have appropriate experience and/or be an ACCT preferred vendor. The wall should be designed for the population that will be using it. [ADA standards may apply.]
2. The wall and its elements should be inspected quarterly, with at least an annual inspection by a professional contractor. All inspections should be documented, and the records kept on file.
3. All safety equipment should conform to accepted safety standards, and be inspected before every use by staff.
4. Each piece of equipment should have a usage log documenting the dates of service, hours of usage, inspections, and failures, if any. The documents should be kept on file indefinitely, or at least ten years.
5. The equipment to be inspected before each use includes, but is not limited to:
a. Harnesses
b. Ropes
c. Belay systems – anchors, nuts, bolts, etc.
d. Carabineers
e. Helmets
f. Handholds
g. Fall protection
h. Wall stability
6. There should be a minimum of 6 - 12 inches of fall protection at the base of the wall. If mats are used, they should be connected to prevent them from spreading upon impact. This fall protection should extend away from the wall 6 ft. - 8 ft. It is recommended that all ropes be replaced on an annual basis or more often if condition or heavy usage dictates.