Inflatable: Owner

Rules

It is strongly recommended that you have a sign placed at the entrance to the inflatable with pertinent directions and warnings for all participants to be aware of such as the following.  Do not allow participants that have any of the following conditions unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer:

1) Past injury to the head, neck, or back.

2) Chronic knee or other joint         conditions.

3) Any respiratory conditions, including but not limited to asthma or bronchitis.

4) Any heart, circulatory, or muscular conditions.

5) Pregnancy.

By using a sign to properly warn participants, you increase the chances that the participants will heed your warnings as well as improve your liability position should an accident occur.  

Owner’s Manual

One of the most important things to consider when purchasing an inflatable is the owner’s or user’s manual.  In it you should make sure that the intended use described by the manufacturer is in line with your intentions.  If it is not, you open yourself up to more liability if an accident occurs because you are using the item in ways it was not intended to be used by the manufacturer.  Pay close attention to the manuals directions for setup, maintenance, repair, and operation.  You are bound to these manufacturer provided instructions.  Deviation from them puts you at serious legal risk.  If you think deviating will provide a safer or equivalent experience, make sure you get the manufacturer to agree in writing to your deviation.  

Documentation of your pre-opening checklist, training procedures, training log, maintenance schedule, maintenance log, and incident procedure and reports is extremely important.  They ensure that you and your employees are properly administering the inflatables as well as protect you from liability claims.  

As a purchaser of inflatable devices, you cannot expect the manufacturers to build their units properly.  You must know what to look for when purchasing an inflatable to ensure the units you purchase are safely designed.  Here are some things to consider.

1) Sharp edges or hardware on the inflatable that may cause injury.

2) Entrapment points that may cause participants to collide or become trapped in the unit.

3) The inflatable walls must contain the participants and have well defined entrances and exits.

4) It should be designed to allow for easy evacuation should the unit deflate.  

5) Deflation speed should be minimized in the event that inflation is interrupted while participants are using the unit.

6) The material used should be flame resistant and meet local, state, and federal fire codes.  

You should have a fire extinguisher easily accessible at every event, and the fire extinguisher should be rated for electrical fires.  You should also always provide training and safety documentation to the customer or volunteer that will be responsible for or operating the equipment.  

It is very important to have a contract or agreement signed by the customer detailing liability terms and a hold harmless clause.  We recommend having an attorney help you design a contract template that is well written.  In the event court action  is taken or insurance claims are made against you, these documents can be very helpful in your defense.  In some cases you may decide to have the participants sign a liability waiver as well.  When possible, we recommend doing so, as it adds another layer of protection for you and another level of warning and explanation of the risks to the participant.  

As owner or administrator of your company, it is important that you understand how important it is to train your employees well.  These employees should have a well defined emergency procedure to follow should an accident or equipment malfunction occur.  

Maintenance

These guidelines are general guidelines that apply to most inflatables, however, you should always check the manufacturer’s guidelines as they may supersede some of these guidelines.  

Inflatables are very heavy.  When moving them, make sure you are careful and use appropriate techniques and tools, such as lifting with your legs instead of your back, getting help from someone else, and using carts.

Proper maintenance will enable you to keep your inflatables operating safely and properly for many years.  Regular cleaning of your inflatables will also help you identify damage so that you can repair it and keep your customers safe.  Make sure you test any cleaner on an inconspicuous location to make sure the cleaner will not damage the unit.  Never use chlorine or bleach based cleaners.  Additionally, petroleum distillate cleaners like Goof-Off, while they may work well at cleaning certain spots, they will often remove any printed graphics.  It is highly recommended that you occasionally spray disinfectant onto the inflatable regularly to kill any harmful bacteria.