Challenge high ropes

Activity scope

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for student participation in challenge high ropes courses as an activity to support curriculum delivery.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

Challenge high ropes refers to any ropes activity where the participant's safety can no longer be achieved by spotting, and which requires safety systems such as harnesses, belay systems, specialist safety equipment or other established methods or systems.

Note: This activity does not include structures or elements that involve abseiling, rock climbing, artificial surfaces climbing or bouldering.

Depending on the scope of this activity, other risk assessments may be required when planning. Curriculum activities encompassing more than 1 CARA guideline (e.g. challenge high ropes while camping) must comply with the requirements of all CARA guidelines appropriate to the activity.

Schools should consider conducting this activity at a Department of Education Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre (OEEC) and consult with OEEC centre staff for risk assessment requirements.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

Risk level

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline.

Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation and collaboration with local expertise (e.g. venue manager) is required for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

Reference to Australian adventure activity standard, challenge courses Australian adventure activity good practice guide (PDF, 813KB) and WorkSafe safety alerts for high ropes adventure courses is required when planning this activity.

Permission/permits are required to be obtained from land managers (e.g. local councils or private landholders), if applicable.

Assessment and management of risks associated with working at heights must occur. Due to the risk associated with falls from height additional fall protection must be applied.

Inspection and maintenance of the ropes course must comply with AS2316.2.2:2016—artificial climbing structures and challenge courses flying foxes and challenge ropes courses—operation requirements.

Routine visual checks must be carried out by the adult supervisor leading the activity before each use of the course to ensure there is no obvious damage; the site is safe;​ and the integrity of the safety systems.

Operational inspection must be carried out by an adult supervisor who has a statement of attainment from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) covering SISOCHC005—manage challenge course or similar every 3 months, or as indicated in the manufacturer's instruction, to confirm no damage or degradation.

Periodic inspection must be carried out at least once every year by an independent certified inspection body (e.g. registered builder of challenge ropes courses) and to include routine visual check; operational inspection; assessment of worn components; and where the inspector deems necessary dismantling of parts; excavation to reveal condition of items underground and/or routine proof testing.

If challenge ropes course is built in trees, the trees must be inspected by a competent person annually or as advised by the manufacturer of the high ropes course.

Records and/or certification of inspections must be made available to participating schools.

Supervision

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Participants must adhere to all rules and advice communicated by the facility operator/owner and any safety signage at the facility/location.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

• must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

• must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
• must remove participants for the safety of the group or individuals, if applicable
• must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
• must not rely on students to recover a person in difficulty at any time.

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. poor visibility, extreme temperatures, high wind, rain, lightning, thunderstorms).

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider challenge courses Australian adventure activity good practice guide (PDF, 813KB), the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

Consideration given to:

• the nature of the challenge ropes course elements
• line of sight and sound for supervision
  
• belay system and transfer (dynamic, static or continuous).

If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

Supervisor qualifications

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—blue cards procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity. Emergency qualifications may include:

• HLTAID009—provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• HLTAID010—provide basic emergency life support
• HLTAID011—provide first aid
• HLTAID013—provide first aid in remote situations.

An adult with concussion management knowledge or training is recommended. Consult concussion in sport resources.

High risk activities

At least 1 adult supervisor is either:

• a registered teacher with qualifications in SISOCHC003—lead challenge course sessions, high elements or similar and with competence (knowledge and skills) in teaching high ropes activities
• an adult supervisor other than a registered teacher, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with either
• qualification or current accreditation in SISSS00139—challenge course supervisor or similar
• Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership or Certificate III in Sport, Aquatics and Recreation, similar or higher, with specialisations in appropriate activities or equivalent.

Refer to the challenge courses Australian adventure activity good practice guide (PDF, 813KB) and SIS—sport, fitness and recreation training package for further information on supervisor qualifications.

See FAQs for further support.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

Vehicle access must be available at all times.

An AS1892 compliant ladder of sufficient height to reach the closest foot peg for an adult supervisor to be able to access the course must be available.

Participants must wear personal protective equipment as relevant (e.g. firmly fitting enclosed non-slip footwear, clothing appropriate to activity and weather conditions).

Harnesses, helmets, ropes and lanyards must be provided for all participants in line with the following standards and practices:

• compliant with International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA), European Community (CE) standard or equivalent (refer to UIAA safety standards for more information)
• harnesses must be worn at all times and fitted correctly when on course, and connected by a safety line (rope or webbing/tape) to an appropriate anchor point or belay
• helmets must be secured and correctly fitted for the duration of the activity.
• the belay system or lanyard arrangement is appropriate for the expected fall factor of a climber. Minimise the risk of entrapment or strangulation by arranging lanyards and connecting equipment to reliably maintain a sufficient gap between each other when loaded.

Equipment must be sized to match the ability and strength of students.

All equipment must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

A process for checking for damage for all equipment used in the activity must be established and employed.

A log of equipment use, maintenance and inspection for each course must be kept and made available to participating schools upon request.

Equipment (e.g. harnesses, helmets, ropes, lanyards) must be retired by manufacturer's nominated expiry date or when significant wear appears that could impact the safety of the participant. A retirement of equipment policy developed.

Procedures used for belay systems must be suitable for the equipment and the task.

An appropriate safety system must be used when at height on all high elements.

Procedures and systems used should be consistent throughout the challenge course activity session.

An adequate rescue kit must be available and suitable for unassisted abseil, and/or haul and lower rescue techniques including, but not limited to, safety equipment used by adult supervisors as outlined in the challenge courses Australian adventure activity standard good practice guide (PDF, 813KB).

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Glossary

Belaying: refers to a variety of techniques used in climbing to exert friction on a climbing rope so that a falling climber does not fall very far.

Spotting: support process provided by a person, or persons, who offer physical protection of the head and upper body of a person should they fall.

Webbing/tape: climbing specific tubular nylon webbing pressed flat. It is very strong. It can be made of Spectra/Dyneema or in combination with nylon.

Additional links

• Outdoors Queensland