B.C.’s government is asking the public to provide input on safety standards at indoor trampoline parks after facilities have seen multiple injuries recently.
In the aftermath of a dad-of-two’s accidental death at Richmond’s Extreme Air Park at the Riverport Sports and Entertainment Complex in January, 2018, it became apparent there was no regulatory oversight for the operation of trampoline parks in B.C. or indeed Canada.
The injuries haven’t stopped there, however, and according to CBC, a four-year-old boy suffered a skull fracture earlier this month at Langley’s Extreme Air Park.
Now, the province has tasked independent safety group, Technical Safety B.C., with gathering public feedback through a survey on what safety standards are needed.
“We want to hear from parents of trampoline park users to understand expectations for safety, and what safety measures could be applied across all such facilities,” Technical Safety B.C. says.
The survey contains six questions including asking participants to rank how safe they feel trampoline parks are, their support for safety regulations, which aspects should be regulated and how much more guests would be willing to pay in entrance fees.
The deadline to participate in the survey is Wednesday, April 24.
Technical Safety B.C. is an independent, self-funded organization that issues permits, licences and certificates and works with industry to reduce safety risks through assessment, education and outreach, enforcement and research.
It operates within a legislative and regulatory framework that includes the Safety Authority Act and the Safety Standards Act and Regulations.
TSBC oversees the installation of systems such as aerial trams, ski lifts and amusement devices.
According to TSBC’s website, it has the authority to take enforcement actions, such as providing a warning notice, issuing a compliance order or imposing a monetary penalty or discipline order. In the case of a discipline order, a contractor licence or individual certificate of qualification could be either suspended or revoked.
Last summer, the City of Richmond asked the Union of B.C. Municipalities to make a resolution to amend the laws regarding trampoline regulations. The resolution was adopted by the UBCM in the fall, but the final decision of whether or not regulations will be implemented rests with the province.
With files from Alan Campbell
