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As we settle back into the grind of work after the holidays, it is important to note that “safety” never takes a holiday.  The outdoor rental industry, and backyard birthday party businesses may have all but shut down by now, depending upon where you live in the country.  Most inflatable units have been cleaned and aired out for the winter, squirreled away in their protective bags, and hopefully placed in dry storage areas. 

Some of us may be lucky enough to have lined up winter gigs in movie theaters, shopping malls, and schools for residual winter income, but generally speaking things are a bit less hectic than the constant pace of spring carnivals, summer cookouts, and fall festivals that are the meat and potatoes of our rental industry.  If you own an FEC you may be a bit slower after the holidays as school- work replaces the free afternoon play of winter vacations.

However, when we think of safety we tend to wait until we hire those high school and college kids in the spring for a quick orientation into the do’s and don’ts of drop offs, and attending units when we are hired to do so.  Many operators rely on young supervisors, or employees that have returned from the past year to teach a quick “how to” to the rookies in April, or have new employees watch a video to train them on operating the inflatables.  At this point you have to ask yourself:  “Is this the most that I can do to operate safely and reduce the risk for accidents?”

With the ever increasing media eye on accidents and the focus and attention consistently pointing out “operator training”, or worse, the lack of it as the culprit in many of these accidents, now is the time to really take a hard look at what, if any, thorough training procedures we have in place.  Are we as operators doing everything that we can to reduce the “risk” of an accident happening?  Do we have a Risk Retention Program in place?  What does a Risk Retention Program consist of?

Let’s examine what it takes to put together a training program, or at the very least a Risk Retention Program, EVEN IF YOU ARE THE SOLE OPERATOR, of your company!

1.  Do you know the rules and regulations of operating inflatable play structures, or air supported devices in your home state, or the surrounding states that you do business?
This is truly the first step! More and more states are joining the bandwagon and creating rules and regulations to make it necessary for operators to comply with standard safety practices to operate an inflatable rental company. 

Whatever your state uses as it’s guidelines, or even if your state has not yet begun to draft rules and regulations that govern the operation of amusement rides and devices, I can not urge you enough to become educated on:
WHO  your governing body is in your state that you can get help and resources
            http://www.naarso.com/
WHAT  the standards are in your state(s) for inspection and operation
WHY  they were written as they are, and most importantly,
HOW  you yourself can become involved in the process, thereby having input into how your future business may be run. Some states have an advisory board comprised of rental operators that help to draft these regulations.

 

Massachusetts is just one state that has some new regulations governing inflatables, such as the classification of slides that are over 12’ in height.  They are also mandating a yearly training and certification course for all owner/operators.  They must come from one of two entities listed below.  If you are caught operating and inflatable amusement ride or device in the state of Mass. without having completed one of these training programs you can and will be shut down, fined, or both.

            NAARSO (National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officers)
            http://www.naarso.com/

            AIMS (Association of International Manufacturers and Suppliers)
            http://aimsintl.org/aboutus.php

 

Becoming trained as a certified ride operator should not be viewed as something that we HAVE to do because a state tells us to.  It is something that we SHOULD do because it is the right thing to do.

2.  Take the time to read and understand the Owners Manuals of every piece of inflatable equipment that is in your inventory.
The Owners Manual is one of the best tools that you have for operating your inflatable units safely, efficiently, and to maintain and preserve the integrity of the unit for years to come.  If you are required to participate an inspection during a public event, or are involved in an accident the first thing that a state official is going to ask for is the Owner’s Manual for that inflatable unit.  You need to know it inside and out. You should also use the manual as part of the training for every employee that is going to operate the inflatable unit, and provide a copy for each inflatable unit that is delivered to any birthday party or event.  If you bought your unit second hand, write to the manufacturer and obtain a copy.

3. Train your employees on the set up, operation, and emergency procedures that are covered in the Owner’s Manual.
Knowing the information in the Owner’s Manual is imperative for you as owner/operator.  But are you confident that each of your employees, independent contractors, or the host/hostess of each event is also knowledgeable about the instructions, and can show you that they can also operate the inflatable units safely?  Setting up a training program for employees and attendants, and then documenting that training is part of the ASTM guidelines on Amusement Rides and Devices.

All of these measures are logical, and look good on paper.  But implementing them and insuring that they get done is a necessary step in reducing risk within your organization, or company.  Now that the winter months are here, take the time to review your safety practices, take a training course to refresh your own knowledge, and then ultimately make sure that knowledge is then passed on to each and every employee or attendant that will operate your inflatables.

If we are all committed to safety then safety can never take a holiday!

Contact NINJA JUMP INC. 3221 San Fernando Road Los Angeles, CA 90065 Toll Free : 1-800-888-8148 Direct : 1-323-255-5418 Fax : 1-323-255-1312 E-Mail: info@ninjajump.com and visit the website @http://www.ninjajump.com