High Ropes Course Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Clothing caught in equipment — Ensure participants wear tight-fitting, non-restrictive clothing and remove any scarves, belts, or loose accessories. Conduct pre-activity checks to confirm all clothing is secure and won’t interfere with ropes or harnesses.
• Course structure failure — Daily visual inspections of the entire structure are mandatory. Annual in-depth checks by external engineers ensure the integrity of all poles, wires, and connections. Any signs of damage trigger an immediate halt to use and repairs are scheduled.
• Unsafe manual handling during setup — Instructors must be trained in manual handling techniques to prevent injury. Use of mechanical lifting equipment should be considered for heavy elements, and team lifting is required for components that exceed safe weight limits.
• Lack of shelter — Ensure shelters are available on-site for participants to use in adverse weather conditions, whether for heat or cold. Shelters should be easily accessible and large enough to accommodate all participants in case of sudden storms.
• Collisions during swinging elements — Clear instructions are given to participants on how to avoid collisions when using elements that involve swinging. Instructors monitor movements and intervene if participants get too close to each other.