PLANNING OFF CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

Registration is essential with the TCIA after accreditation of the previous unit cluster.
Equipment
Climbing equipment
All gear such as ropes, harnesses, helmets and belay devices should meet UIAA standards.
Locking karabiners should be used for all connections when belaying and abseiling and the rope
must be tied into the harness when climbing or when used as a safety rope/belay. Karabiners used
as lead climbing protection or at the end of quick draws may be single opening action.
Ropes for use on Artificial Climbing Structures should be certified by the manufacturer as suitable for
single rope belays. For lead climbing, ropes should again be certified for this purpose (e.g. EN 892).
Appropriate footwear must be worn. Emergency equipment including a First Aid kit, and relevant
ascender/descender equipment must be readily available.
Artificial climbing structures (walls, gyms, outside facilities)
Artificial climbing structures including ground and top anchors should be tested in accordance with
European Standards (EN) 12572: 202 Artificial Climbing Structures – protection points, stability
requirements and test methods or equivalent.
Attachments to top anchors must be clearly distinct from any other building fittings and must be
designed such that they cannot be inadvertently wrongly threaded or attached.
Floor coverings in impact zones (climbing gyms) for potential falls of over two metres must be in
accordance with Australian Standards AS/NZS 4422:1996 Playground Surfacing.
The floor surfacing in bouldering areas may be of foam or similar padding but must have uniform
surface with no gaps.
Venues
No specific requirements beyond the Planning Requirements For All Off Campus Activities described
at the beginning of these procedures, and those determined by the school’s or college’s risk
management plan for the off campus activity.
Ratios
Ratios will vary according to, for example, venue, skill, age of participants, time of year, program,
weather and qualifications of the leaders. The supervision ratios will depend on a number of variables
including layout of the facility, internal visibility, equipment, and the age, experience and fitness of the
students. The number of participants will therefore reflect the judgment of the instructor/manager as
to how many can be supervised at any one time. Spectators should be restricted to safe areas where
they will not either distract or interfere with the activity, and where they are themselves safe.
Regulations
No specific requirements beyond the Planning Requirements For All Off Campus Activities described
at the beginning of these procedures, and those determined by the school’s or college’s risk
management plan for the off campus activity.
Please refer to the online copy of this document (TASED-4-1765), located on the Tasmanian Department
of Education’s website to ensure this version is the most recent. P a g e | 69