AusLeisure

With the rapid growth in commercial trampoline parks over recent years having been paralleled by corresponding, and highly publicised rise in injuries, Standards Australia has published a new Australian standard to help reduce risks in trampoline parks.

As Standards Australia explain “the trampoline park industry in Australia has grown from a few centres in 2012 to over 80 open today. With this increase in popularity comes a higher chance of injury, and a greater role for standards to play in minimising risks that might lead to such injuries.”

Releasing the new standard, Standards Australia refer to a Sydney Children’s Hospital study of 40 trampoline park related injuries and found that 55% of patients had a soft tissue injury or sprain and 37.5% had a fractured bone(s).

Causes of injuries included awkward landings on the bed, larger children bouncing alongside smaller children, and attempted somersaults or flips.

Through collaboration with industry, government, academic and consumer groups, the new Australian Standard, AS 5159.1:2018, Trampoline park facilities, Part 1: General safety requirements and test methods provides a voluntary benchmark for both the design, installation and operation of trampoline parks. It presents minimum safety thresholds to help designers and trampoline park owners to manage risks for park patrons.

Regular inspections are a key feature in the standard. Daily checks look for dangers such as broken springs, tears or deterioration, and tripping or slipping hazards. A detailed equipment integrity inspection is recommended every week to examine the operation and condition of all parts, followed by an even more comprehensive inspection annually.

Associate Professor David Eager, Chair of the Technical Committee that drafted AS 5159.1, explains “earlier this year safety concerns were raised about trampoline parks in Australia.

“The standard cannot control dangerous behaviour or risky manoeuvres that could lead to injuries at trampoline parks.”

“What the standard can do is assist manufacturers and operators in removing known physical hazards that might increase the risk of injury for the Australian public.

“In drafting this standard, we were conscious that we needed to strike a balance between the known hazards of trampoline parks and the benefits that could be obtained from their use.

“The committee is now looking at developing another Australian Standard to specifically cover dismount pits as a next step in the series on trampoline park facilities.”

Related Articles

30th October 2018 - Standards Australia releases new international guidance on risk management

15th September 2018 - Commercial trampoline centre operators struggle to secure insurance

14th September 2018 - Studies show rise in ‘different’ types of injuries at commercial trampoline parks

18th March 2018 - Rising injury numbers lead to calls for regulation of UK trampoline parks

14th March 2018 - Standards Australia looks for industry input to develop crowd management handbook

16th February 2018 - Standards Australia highlights its role in trampoline park safety

15th February 2018 - Injury experts call for mandatory regulation to improve indoor trampoline park safety

14th February 2018 - Flip Out trampoline chain not part of voluntary industry code of practice

31st January 2018 - Damning Sydney newspaper report slams safety record of Flip Out trampoline centres

16th May 2017 - British safety body publishes trampoline arena standards

22nd September 2016 - International Trampoline Parks conference raises bar for industry

14th January 2016 - Australian Trampoline Park Association links with world trampoline body

12th August 2015 - Ongoing growth and increased site competition in trampoline arena sector

28th July 2015 - International Association of Trampoline Parks calls for global trampoline safety standards

30th October 2014 - A Current Affair to focus on injuries at trampoline arenas

24th September 2014 - Trampoline association to undertake facilities safety check

7th November 2013 - Police release CCTV of arson attack on Sydney trampoline centre

2nd May 2012 - Standards Australia develops guidance for aquatic inflatables

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.