Public Abseil Event
Planning and procedures
NSC Outdoor Adventures Nick Cole
May 2015
Procedures
Preparation and Planning
1. Location
2. Permission – land owners, tenants or building owners
3. Insurance
4. Emergency Services advised of event
5. Advertising
6. Signing up – cover costs through registration fees, with charity collection option
7. Staff recruitment and training
8. Venue set up and management, parking, fencing, refreshments, toilets
9. Date and Time
Risk Assessment
This is to be managed and updated prior to event and available for all staff from training onwards.
Layout and Location
An urban event generates a larger audience and hence greater participation and interest. A tower block with stair access to a flat roof area with a roof block is essential. The roof block should facilitate rope anchorages above head height which are essential to make it easier for clients to weight the rope and step over the edge, as would a staging step. A platform may need to be constructed to facilitate this. Any security fence barriers must have a detachable section to allow easy access to descent route. The descent route should use a section of wall that is devoid of windows or other obstructions. The staging and controlling area should have no loose material that could be knocked down. A 20 to 30m building will provide sufficient height for a challenge. The platform height must be no more than the length of tied off descent ropes, which should be adjusted so that when unloaded are just clear the ground.
A security line anchor must be created to allow staff and clients to be secured while moving around at height.
Rope tubs to be provided to allow ropes to be coiled and stored during use. Two pairs of ropes must be provided allowing for alternating pairs of abseil and safety rope to be used for each descent to allow ‘resting’ between clients. A pre anchored emergency rope to be available to facilitate an assisted descent or rescue.
The alternative to an urban location is an accessible crag, though this will introduce transport and parking problems. Additional permissions may be necessary for this. A crag may offer a non-vertical descent route but will not necessarily be smooth.
Unless the event is in a well lit area, the activity should cease by lighting-up time.
Staffing
Event supervisor, to be at least SPA qualified, will control descents and manage the at-height environment and take responsibility for the overall event. This includes site incident management in the event of an accident.
Deputy supervisor ideally SPA qualified but alternatively with sufficient training and experience. This supervisor to manage the landing area, act as an emergency stop on the abseil rope and also detaches clients from ropes. Oversees crowd management in and around the landing area as required.
Sign on clerk collates names, addresses, disclaimers, and other relevant information.
2 fitting out staff, at least one of whom is female, to ensure that harnesses and helmets are correctly fitted and loose clothing and hair secured prior to ascending to roof. These staff also collect equipment from clients who have completed the descent.
All staff to wear hi-vis jackets and identifiers, carrying hand portable radios. Mobile phone to be available for emergency contacts.
If appropriate all staff to undergo PVG/Disclosure. All staff should be first aid trained to at least NGB standard.
Training
All staff to be trained in procedures, equipment and to experience a descent and participate in and practice rescue scenarios.
Clients
Tight clothing is recommended, with buttons and zips done up. Loose clothing should be removed. Hair bands should be available to tie up client’s long hair to prevent it being trapped in the equipment. Gloves will be unnecessary as the safety rope will be used to control the rate of descent. Clients will be instructed on the best stance to maintain balance, and to watch the ground approaching so they can finish on their feet. Helmets must be worn to protect the head in the event of loose objects being dislodged from above. Only those within the size range of harnesses to take part (waist 72cm – 114cm/28” – 45”). Those under 18 must have parental permission, either with a pre-signed form or confirm with signature at signing on.
Contingency Planning
As appropriate. In event of bad weather, lightning or heavy rain and wind then the activity will be cancelled or postponed. Unless the event is in a well lit area, the activity should cease by lighting-up time.
All staff to be trained in first aid to at least NGB standards. Only clients with waist sizes (as above) can take part. If necessary a chest harness should be worn linked to the waist harness, with the descender then attached to chest harness.
Emergency Services are to be advised prior to event. In the event of an incident the activities cease and appropriate action taken. The event supervisor will assume the role of Incident Manager until the appropriate emergency services arrive.
Equipment and Logistics
Radios to allow for easy communication between all staff.
2 abseil ropes, 2 safety ropes and an emergency rope to be available. Rope tubs to be used to provide a clean and safe location for spare rope and when coiling between client descents.
Sufficient harnesses and helmets to be provided to allow a ‘queue’ of clients to be handled in succession to avoid lengthy delays.
Safety leash ropes and helmets for at height staff, including refreshments and bad weather clothing. Safety clipped rope for clients awaiting descent only to be disconnected when clients have been attached to both abseil and safety ropes.
Fence barriers to be installed around perimeter to keep audience and general public away from the descent and control areas.
Hand portable radios to be used by all staff, using a pre-determined channel.
Charity collection buckets to be available as required.
First aid kits available at height and also in the landing/control area. First Aid shelter to be erected if a large number of clients or a large audience is expected to be present.
The abseil ropes should be taken out of service after a full day’s activities. Belay plates/descenders and associated karabiners are likely to be worn, they will therefore need to be inspected and scrapped if necessary. The safety ropes are unlikely to be loaded but will suffer abrasion as they will be running in contact with karabiners and over the lip of the platform. These should also be closely inspected after the event. During the event recovery of the ropes between clients allows for a continuous check of condition and wear. Replacements should be budgeted for.
Throughput
It is likely that it will take approx 2 mins per person per descent assuming there are sufficient harnesses to allow a continuous stream of people. If there are delays with fitting then after the first round of clients this will probably be the bottle-neck. At best it is safe to assume around 20 to 25 per hour. This will be intense for the staff so changeovers and rest periods are advised especially for the supervisory and safety staff.
On site staff refreshments
These will be essential for staff as well as toilet facilities. A stove and kettle should be available for hot drinks and cold if the weather warrants it. Food should be available as well.
Client processing steps
- Sign on, complete disclaimer, pay.
- Harness and helmet fitting.
- Ascend to platform area.
- Clip to security line before exiting cover or approaching descent location.
- Attach harness to tied off safety rope, attach descender to harness and abseil rope.
- Final brief on stance and how to move and control the descent.
- Unclip security line.
- Descend.
- Unclip from safety and abseil ropes.
- Remove harness and helmet.
- Collect completion certificate.
- Depart.
Appendix
Example of basic layout. For large numbers of clients a duplicated rope set up allows the rope to be rested between descents. If necessary clients awaiting their turn to descend have a security rope attached to their harness which is removed once they are attached to the safety and then abseil ropes.
In the event of a client stuck or ‘wall-bound’ and refusing to move during a descent an assisted rescue is used if they cannot be lowered directly. The ‘spare’ rope can be used for this purpose minimising transfer and re-rigging time, though it may be necessary to lift the client to allow unclipping from the abseil and safety ropes. A neat and rapid rescue will minimise trauma and avoid crowd and client panic. In this event ground level staff must act as crowd control. A loudhailer should be considered as part of the event equipment.