January 2000
An apprentice instructor who had been 'cleared' to assist with climbing and abseiling on a tower was badly injured when he and another apprentice were carrying out unsupervised maintenance of the wall. The provider was prosecuted.
Don't assume that your (young trainee) staff can transfer skills from helping (under supervision) to run a basic session on a climbing/ abseil tower into an unsupervised wall-maintenance session. If they can't and have an accident, the enforcing authority may conclude you have committed an offence.
