Aerial Safety – A Basic Guide
Below is our basic aerial safety guide.
This is to be used only as a guide and is not a complete list of safety practices, it covers some of the most important things to consider when performing any aerial training.
We highly recommend being trained by a qualified aerial instructor before using any aerial equipment.
Aerial safety is extremely important. All the aerial equipment we make and stock at Aerial Hoops has been strength tested and comes with a maximum load rating. This is great peace of mind, however you also need to train safely too, as you can still fall or hurt yourself when using aerial equipment.
– Do not train alone. Always have a spotter, ideally this is someone who is an experienced aerialist as they may be able to prevent problems before they occur, however at home this may not always be possible so make sure you have a responsible adult who can help or get help if needed.
– Do not teach yourself new moves, even if you have a book or the internet. There is no substitute for professional training from a qualified instructor.
– Aerial equipment should always be used in a safe environment with the appropriate safety equipment, eg crashmats.
Check your equipment
– Check the equipment before each use. Make sure there are no signs of wear on any of the aerial equipment you are using, including the platform you are hanging the equipment from. Also check everything is connected correctly.
– Keep a record of the use on your equipment and replace it where necessary (for more information see Inspecting your Aerial Equipment below).
– Check the weight limits and loads the aerial equipment and rig can take and know what loads you will be applying to them, don’t forget to include the weight of the equipment itself. The equipment is only as strong as the weakest point. Remember that dynamic moves, such as drops can radically increase the peak load (up to five times), so make sure your equipment and rig are strong enough for this.
– Please make sure you warm up and cool down before and after each training session.
– Do not train while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
– Always wear appropriate clothing, don’t wear items that are likely to get caught in the equipment.
– Don’t wear jewellery or sharp objects while training.
– Always be aware of other people, animals or objects in your surroundings.
– Aerial equipment should be installed by a compentent professional.
Inspecting your Aerial Equipment – Tips and Advice
If any of the below are true then discontinue the use of the item and mark as unsafe.
– Has the item been used for more than 300hrs?
– Is the item more than 10 years old from date of manufacture?
– Has the item been used for more than 5 years?
– Has the item been dropped? – Invisible hairline fractures can occur in hard materials, eg. hoops, carabiners, etc
– If strap rated capacity tag is missing or not readable.
– Knots in any part of the web sling.
Make sure you carry out a visual inspection of the apparatus before each use:
Check for:
– Fraying of any supportive fibres, such as strops and straps.
– Broken or worn stitching, holes, tears, cuts, snags or embedded particles or abrasive wear that expose the core fibres.
– Any cracks on the metal surface pay attention to around joints or welded joints (like around a hoops tab)
– Changes in the overall shape to the apparatus.
– Rusting or corrosion of the metal components.
– Check carabiner for any damage to threads, gate or overall shape.
Straps/strops/slings shall:
– not be used when wet.
– always be protected from being cut by sharp corners, sharp edges, protrusions or abrasive surfaces.
– not be dragged on the floor or over an abrasive surface.
– not be twisted, shortened, lenghtened or tied into knots or joined by knotting.
Care & Maintenance
The equipment is intended for indoor use, however we know some of you would like to use it outside, if you do please make sure you do not use it in the rain (or any other water) as hoops and things are made of metal which can rust, and fabrics can weaken when wet.
If your equipment becomes dirty we suggest you wipe it with a damp cloth and allow to dry. However, as our hoops are covered in a fabric adhesive tape, the tape may start to peel if it becomes too wet.
After time the tape on your hoop may fray or become loose. Remove and discard the worn tape then clean your hoop thoroughly to remove any residue before applying new tape. See How do I re-tape my hoop? on our FAQ page. Various colour adhesive tapes are available on our website.
Store all equipment in a cool, dry place.