Bouncy slide suppliers fined after school jubilee celebration accident

HSE Press Release:E176-04 - 23 December 2004

On 16 December 2004 Andrew Brian Armitage and Bernard Greaves, who together trade in Stockport as Birthday Bouncers, were each fined £2,500 and together ordered to pay £6,000 costs after they both pleaded guilty at Salford Magistrates’ Court to breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

The charges arose following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive into an incident at St Paul’s Church of England Primary School on Cross Lane in Salford during a celebration organised by the school’s Parent Teacher Association for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in June 2002.

The defendants were contracted to supply a large bouncy slide (measuring 12 feet x 18 ft x 14 ft). It was being used by eight children when it started to tilt backwards and overturn. A teacher who was holding onto the front wall of the slide had to let go so as not to be catapulted. The children slid back and landed in a heap on top of each other in a well formed by the waiting area and the canopy. They were rescued by teachers and an ambulance was called because one child was complaining of difficulty in breathing. Paramedics decided to take six children to hospital, but they were found to have suffered only minor bruising.

The slide was fitted with four anchor points, two at the front and two at the rear. The subsequent investigation revealed that only one of the four (a rear anchor point) had been secured.

The slide was designed for use by a maximum of four people at a time. More people than necessary were put at risk because Birthday Bouncers had not told the school the maximum number.

Gerry Muir, an Inspector in HSE's National Entertainment Section, said:

“HSE has taken this accident extremely seriously because of the risk of children being seriously injured, and indeed killed, should they fall awkwardly. The risks associated with inflatable devices are well known. The precautions that must be taken are very well documented and easily implemented.

“The industry trade associations have worked very hard with HSE to produce guidance for inflatable entertainment devices that is practicable, affordable, and easy to understand. It is available at www.pipa.org.uk. HSE would expect a very firm line to be taken by any organisation whose members behaved with such disregard for public safety.

"This incident is relevant to organisers of school summer fetes and similar events, who should follow the advice issued by PIPA, a play industry inspection scheme. This includes checking that inflatables have a PIPA tag attached and asking to see the current test certificate; asking the supplier for instructions for safe use; and asking the supplier to confirm that daily checks have been carried out.”

Notes to editors

1. Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 requires that a self employed person conducts an undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of persons not in their employment.
   
   
2. In a Magistrates’ Court the maximum penalty for a single offence under Section 3 of the HSW Act is a fine up to £20,000. It is open to the Magistrates to commit cases for trial or sentencing to the Crown Court, where the maximum penalty for each offence is an unlimited fine.

PIPA’s “Essential Reading for Manufacturers, Hirers, Users and Operators” is available at http://www.pipa.org.uk/downloads/PIPALeaflet(2).pdf

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