Everyone Active recognises that it has a duty of care to you the customer, and The Rules and Conditions of Use have been put in place to enhance your enjoyment of climbing through the adoption of safe practices and a common sense approach. Similarly, you have a duty of care to those around, and should be sensitive to the needs of other users of the centre by applying correct procedures and best practise to ensure that the environment you climb in is as safe as can reasonably be expected for a “risk” activity.
Participation Statement: “The BMC recognises that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are activities with danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.
• Read, understand and accept the BMC participation statement above.
• Report any problems with the walls, equipment or other climbers’ behaviour to a member of staff immediately.
• Beware of spinning holds. These should be reported to a climbing duty manager or written down in the ‘spinner’s logbook’, located by the entrance to the wall. Customers may not interfere with any holds, or attempt to tighten a hold without due care and attention.
• The tall walls are designed to be climbed using a rope for protection. Solo climbing on these walls is not acceptable. Climbers may however, boulder on the roped walls up to the first clip only, (i.e. head level with first clip). Climbers may not traverse beneath or above other climbers.
• Climbers must wear suitable sit/full body harness. Belts or other improvised methods are not acceptable.
• We operate an appropriate clothing policy and ask that you wear clothing suitable for the activity on your bottom and top half.
• No user may climb barefoot, and climbing shoes should be worn in preference to leisure footwear.
• Make sure that your equipment is of suitable quality, not worn or damaged, and within the manufacturer’s recommended limits with regards to age.
• A registered climber may supervise up to two novices or minors, provided they accept full responsibility for the safety of those individuals. A novice or minor may not belay their supervisor. A novice or minor may belay another climber provided that the supervisor is on the ground holding the dead rope.
• Only Everyone Active instructors and approved coaches may coach at the Climbing wall.
• Remember: always check each other – knot, harness, belay device and karabiner!
• Down-climb whenever possible, or at the very least, fall off in control and bend your knees. Remember that the matting below the wall does not make bouldering safer – sprained ankles are all too common on this type of climbing wall, despite the soft matting.
• Harnesses must be removed when bouldering.
• Never climb above or below another climber. Preference should be given to those climbing vertical problems.
• Do no climb on to or sit on top of the bouldering wall, traverse wall or onto support structures or parts of the building.
• Always attach the rope to your harness using a suitable climbing knot. Clipping in with a karabiner is not acceptable.
• Do not swing or pull down any in-situ ropes.
• Where there is a top rope in place, do not attempt to lead the route, even if it is equipped with quickdraws.
• Climbers need to provide their own suitable climbing rope for leading. In-situ quickdraws are provided by the centre.
• When leading, all quickdraws must be clipped without exception.
• If top roping a route that has been lead, ensure that both the karabiners at the anchor point have been clipped and secured; ensure any swings are controlled by climbing on the end that is running through the quickdraws (i.e. opposite end to lead end).
• Do not attempt to lead on or abseil off of the outside slab.
• Belayers must use a recognised belay device attached to their harness in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and take care not to place a three-way load on their belay karabiner. Body belays are not acceptable.
• An Italian/friction hitch is acceptable with the correct HMS karabiner, but may not be used on the top ropes.
• Ground anchors are available for use when there is a danger of the belayer being lifted off the ground during a fall. These may be used to anchor the belayer, and may not be used for a direct belay.
• When belaying, stay within the red floor tiles and refrain from sitting or laying down when belaying at ground level.
• No persons under the age of 18 may use the climbing gym equipment.
• All free weights must be stored away after use.
• Always check the functionality of the machine before ascending.
• Do not climb faster than the machine can take in.
• Always make sure the karabiner is clipped correctly to the belay loop of a correctly fitted harness.
• Do not hit the machine at the top of your climb.
• Do not climb with anything in your pockets.
• Please report any abnormalities with the machine to a member of staff.
• Orientate yourself to rescue provisions at the centre to ensure you know how to deal with a machine failure.