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 you, and should be sensitive to the needs of other users of the centre by applying correct procedures and best practice to ensure that the environment you climb in is as safe as can reasonably be expected.
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.”
General
- 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 instructor.
- Climbing beyond your capability is likely to result in a fall. Any fall may result in injury despite the safety systems in place to prevent it. You must make your own assessment of the risks whenever you climb.
- 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.
- No user may climb barefoot.
- 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 mentor up to two novices or minors, provided they accept full responsibility for the safety of those individuals. The relevant form must be completed prior to entry. A novice or minor may not belay their mentor. A novice or minor may belay another climber provided that the mentor is effectively tailing the rope at all times.
- Be aware of other climbers around you and how your actions may affect them.
- Do not distract people when they are climbing or belaying.
- Stand well back from the walls unless you are belaying or spotting. Never stand directly under someone who is climbing.
- Do not carry mobile phones or other objects that may fall and injure someone below you.
- Remove or cover all jewellery before climbing.
Bouldering
- Down-climb whenever possible. Do not jump from the bouldering wall. Remember that the matting below the bouldering wall does not completely eliminate the risk of injury.
- 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, or onto support structures or parts of the building.
Roped Climbing
- 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.
- Climbers need to provide their own suitable climbing rope (40m+) for leading.
- When leading, all quickdraws must be clipped without exception
- If top roping a route that has been led, 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.
Belaying
- Belayers must use a recognised belay device attached to their harness in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. Italian/Friction Hitches and body belays are not acceptable.
- 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.
Juniors
- Junior’s parent/guardian must give their permission to take part in any climbing activity. Junior registration forms must be signed by the parent/guardian prior to any activity. It is expected that party organisers / group leaders will have obtained these permissions prior to their visit.
All juniors aged 13 or below must be supervised.
Auto-belay devices
- Please do not use the Auto Belay device unless you are competent to do so. If you are unsure please speak to a member of staff.
- We do have rescue measures in place including in situ quickdraws and rescue lines.
- Please orientate yourself to these features.
- We advise you always function check before climbing and that your double check your clipping in method before climbing.