Climbing Wall - Conditions of Use
Our Duty of Care
The conditions of use of the climbing centre are not intended to limit your enjoyment of the facilities; they are part of the duty of care that we, as operators, owe to you, the customer, by law. As such, they are not negotiable and if you are not prepared to abide by them then the staff may ask you to leave.
Your Duty of Care
You have a duty of care to act responsibly towards the other users of the centre, follow good practice and abide by the conditions of use of the centre. Statements of ‘Good Practice’ are posted around the centre adjacent to the relevant facilities. These describe the accepted methods of use of equipment and climbing areas.
Unsupervised Climbing
Before you can use the top ropes or lead walls without supervision, the centre expects you to be competent in the use of; a climbing harness, a suitable knot to attach a rope to the harness and a belay device, to secure a falling climber and lower a climber from the wall using a rope. Before you can use the auto belays you must be aware of the safe usage of auto belays and know how to use the auto belays safely. Before you can use the bouldering walls without supervision, you must be aware of safe usage of bouldering and know how to use the bouldering walls safely. You are required to register to say that you are competent and meet the centres expectations above, you will be asked that you are prepared to abide by the conditions of use of the centre and that you understand the risks involved in your participation. Anyone who is not competent to climb unsupervised must be supervised by a competent person.
Supervised Climbing
An adult who has registered at the centre and proved competency, may supervise up to two novice climbers, as long as they are prepared to take full responsibility for the safety of those people.
Groups of three or more novices must only be supervised by an instructor holding the relevant valid Mountain Training qualification and insurance or other relevant qualification. Please contact the centre if you wish to do this.
Under 18s
All under 18s in the centre must be supervised by an adult unless they have been assessed by the management and registered for unsupervised climbing (16 and 17 year olds only).
Use of helmets
Customers should be aware that there is a small risk of holds breaking and falling from the wall as well items being dropped by wall users. These falling items could result in a head injury if they hit you or your climbing partners. There is also the additional risk that a climber could have an uncontrolled fall and hit their head on the wall resulting in an injury. This risk is increased in inexperienced and younger climbers. It can also increase in certain circumstances e.g. when trying new skills or practicing falling.
Calshot therefore requires that all climbers age 10 and under should wear helmets when using the bouldering and roped climbing walls. We also recommend that although helmet usage is uncommon amongst climbers on climbing walls, customers should make their own decisions regarding the use of helmets for themselves and their guests based on the information above particularly when you are introducing novices to climbing.
NB When using Auto belays, the risk of a helmet snagging on a hold during descent causing a possible strangulation is greater than the risks from falling objects or hitting the head during a fall. Therefore, helmets must not be worn by any climber when using the auto belays.
General Safety
Check in at the climbing kiosk on each visit before you climb. You must exercise care, common sense and self-preservation at all times.
Be aware of the other climbers around you and how your actions will affect them.
Do not distract people while they are climbing or belaying.
Never stand directly underneath someone who is climbing.
Report any problems with the walls, equipment or other climbers' behaviour to a member of staff immediately. This is particularly important with broken or spinning holds.
If you have children, you must keep them under control and supervise them directly at all times. Be close enough to affect or control the child’s behaviour at all times.
Please make yourself aware of the location of the fire exits in the building and fire assembly points.
As a user of this climbing wall, you must be aware of and accept the following:
Climbing beyond your capabilities on any wall is likely to result in a fall. Any fall may result in an injury despite the safety systems in place. You must make your own assessment of the risks whenever you climb.
Participants must be aware and accept that climbing holds can spin or break
Volumes on the walls are designed to enhance the quality of climbing but you must be aware of and accept that when climbing above them there is an additional risk of falling onto them.
You must do everything reasonable and practical to avoid endangering yourself or others.
You have to be aware of and adhere to the safety rules of the centre at all times.
Stand back from the climbing walls unless you are belaying or spotting a climber.
You take responsibility for adequately maintaining your equipment.
Please empty your pockets and remove all jewellery before climbing.
Participants must understand that climbing while pregnant can increase the risk posed to mother and unborn child.
Top Rope Climbing
Always use a climbing harness to attach yourself to the rope tying the rope directly into the harness using a figure of 8 knot with a stopper knot, or a bowline knot with a stopper knot.
Many of the climbs in the centre have top ropes already in place. Do not take them down or move them.
It is your responsibility to vet your climbing partner's ability before they belay you.
Lead Climbing
Lead belaying requires a higher degree of skill and understanding from top rope belaying and should only be undertaken if you have received training or are competent to do so. If you are unsure do not climb and ask a staff member for available instruction at the centre.
When using the lead walls, you must supply your own appropriately rated dynamic rope.
Quickdraws/runners/clips are provided on the lead wall. Please don’t use your own.
You must not skip clips and clips must be clipped in order.
When Belaying
Always abide by good practice when belaying.
Always use a belay device attached to your climbing harness with a locking carabiner as per manufacturers' guidelines. ‘Traditional’, or ‘body’, belaying is not acceptable.
To ensure your partner's safety, pay attention to what the climber is doing.
Always stand as close to the climbing wall as is practical. Sitting or lying down is not acceptable.
Bouldering
Whenever possible downclimb, or if this is not possible, use a controlled/planned jump.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you can climb down or land safely; don’t climb into a situation that you cannot safely get out of.
Never climb directly above or below another climber.
Always take your harness off before bouldering.
Remove anything from pockets that could hurt you when landing.
Always be aware of people climbing above and around you.
Training Area
You use the training equipment at your own risk. If you are unsure how to safely use any item, please ask a member of staff.
Auto Belays
If you are unsure in any way on how to use an auto belay, or have never used one before, then ask a member of staff for assistance before using one.
The red tiled area on the ground around the auto belays is a landing zone; be aware of descending climbers when standing within it.
Good practice instructions are located next/near to the auto belay. To ensure your own safety, please follow these instructions.
The Bouldering Wall is the site of most injuries at a climbing wall. THE SOFT MATTING DOES NOT REMOVE THE RISK OF INJURY. Injuries can still occur even after a controlled/planned jump but are more likely after an uncontrolled fall. You should always be doing your utmost to avoid the risk of uncontrolled falls. This includes paying attention to how you will land and always assessing the risk of each climb that you undertake.
Lead climbing also contains inherent risks, which are always present. Any leader fall can result in an injury and you must exercise great caution and preparation before you expose yourself to that risk. In top roping and leading, the greatest risk is presented by the belayer. Always make sure they are skilled enough to keep you safe, if you are unsure consult a member of staff.
