Artificial Climbing Wall Operation and Risk Management: Operational Standards, Principles, and Best Practices

Artificial climbing wall operation is complex and characterizedby varied prescriptions and common uses. A climbing wall isnot just another piece of workout equipment like a treadmillor weight rack, each of which come with detailed instructionsand warnings and whose use and risks are commonly knownamong novices. Proper climbing wall use and risks, on theother hand, are not well known, leading to potentially dangerousconditions.Climbing is an inherently dangerous activity; withoutthe possibility of falling the sport would not exist. It is simplyimpossible to remove all the risk because to do so would meanyou would never leave the ground. Human error is the causeof many serious climbing injuries and although with properdesign, operation, training, equipment, maintenance, andsupervision many accidents can be prevented it’s not possible toeliminate all risk. Falling from any height carries the risk forserious injury, paralysis, or even death.This book was written to give climbing wall operators asolid understanding of operating risks and procedures withthe goal of minimizing the possibility of injury to patronsand staff.