As part of an ongoing commitment to safety within the inflatable play industry Air Inflatables are happy to endorse a new RPII training scheme focussed towards reducing accidents through improving supervisory behaviour throughout the industry.
The INPA and TIPE recently announced the new training scheme, stating that within the industry the majority of accidents and injuries occur, not due to the failure of equipment, but due to ineffective operational procedures for setting up and supervising inflatable play equipment.
The new scheme hopes to remedy this by creating an award for Operators/Supervisors of inflatable play equipment to ensure competency and reduce the number of accidents across the UK. In part, it is a response to the introduction of BS EN 14960:2006, the European Standard for Inflatable Play equipment which covers all aspects of inflatable manufacture and testing but also includes details and guidelines concerned with the operation of equipment and supervision.
The scheme is a result of INPA/TIPE approaching the Register of Play Inspectors International (who already train and examine inspectors) with the idea to create a training programme and award for operators and supervisors, essentially creating an industry safety standard. The syllabus for the course is currently being created and the RPII hopes to get the first course underway at the beginning of 2012. The course will be open to all owners, operators and supervisors of inflatable play equipment which includes bouncy castle hire companies, authorities, theme parks and other attractions.
The initiative is further evidence of the growing importance of recognised safety regulation within the inflatable play industry. Whilst offering the opportunity to gain accreditation in regards to the safe operation of equipment, the training scheme and award is also likely to become a de facto standard for all bouncy castle hire companies.
