Accidents leading to serious injury on bouncy castles are extremely rare, particularly as it is estimated that there are over 1,000,000 occasions a year when bouncy castles are hired for events*. However, as a recent Court case has shown, it is vital that adequate supervision is provided to ensure the safety of all the children playing on a bouncy castle.
The advent of the warmer weather normally heralds the time when events such as fairs, fetes, outdoor parties, etc. take place most often and is therefore the peak time for the use of outdoor play facilities, including inflatables. It is therefore important to have a policy and risk assessment in place regarding their use.
As the organiser, or hirer of an inflatable castle, you will be responsible for its safe use as well as for the safety of the children using it. Unlike swings and slides, where you can discharge your duty of care simply by displaying a notice to the effect that children should be supervised at all times, i.e. by default the parents, it will be necessary for you to provide adequate and continuous supervision at all times that the bouncy castles are in use at your premises.
In addition, you should have prepared a risk assessment (available as part of the barbox Business Resources subscription package), to cover all aspects of health and safety, to include the siting and erection of the inflatable, adequate maintenance and safety checks, and defining what constitutes adequate supervision.
It is also recommended a safety checklist is completed as part of the risk assessment (available as part of the barbox Business Resources subscription package). These checks must be completed every day before the inflatable is used. Part of this checklist contains a form to be completed in writing to provide a record of the checks carried out, which may be required in order to demonstrate due diligence. If there is any doubt as to its safety, the inflatable must be taken out of service and the manufacturer / supplier contacted for advice.
All supervisory staff must also understand what is required of them and be familiar with the contents of the risk assessment and the safety checklist.
You should also hire inflatable toys from reputable companies only, who must be able to provide evidence that they carry adequate liability insurance cover.
It is hoped that by following these simple measures, children can continue to enjoy the use of these inflatable toys. You can ensure they can do so safely by applying the attached information and a little common sense.
* Figure obtained from the British Inflatable Hirers Association.