Trampoline health and safety given jump-start

Health and safety has been made simpler for trampoline park operators running multiple facilities across the country, thanks to a new partnership.

Health, safety and quality management expert Right Directions has partnered with South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) and Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) to form what’s known as a primary authority partnership.

This government legislation means parks that operate in more than one local authority area can seek health and safety guidance from a single body. This can then be applied to all their facilities.

Previously, guidelines were given by environmental health officers (EHOs) from each local authority.

The partnership will see SNC act as the primary authority for health and safety, food safety and environmental protection, whilst NCC is responsible for trading standards across Right Directions’ trampoline park clients.

Stephen Wilson, executive director of leading trampoline park operator Oxygen Freejumping, said of the new partnership: “Trampoline parks are still a new concept in the UK, and so there is a lack of fundamental uniform standards that EHOs can review and work from.

“As a result, each EHO provides a slightly different view on the appropriate practices. Just minor variations in guidance are impossible to implement as we try to develop uniform and measurable processes across all of our parks.”

Gill Twell, head of development at Right Directions (pictured above, far left), said: “Our partnership will provide guidance for both businesses and regulators in an industry where there is currently a gap in regulation and published best practice.

“We have created the UK’s only Trampoline Park Safety Operating Plan (TPSOP), which sets out specific guidance on how a trampoline park should operate on a day to day basis, as well as health and safety management processes for the entire building.

“Through assured advice we can drive up standards and promote a consistent approach from regulators, ultimately ensuring better protection for all.”