Interesting Use Of An Inflatable |
Date Added: April 04, 2009 05:37:11 PM |
Author: |
Category: |
Every now and then we come across a light hearted story that send chuckles around the office. Here is one we picked up on earlier this year. Health and Safety provide workmen with bouncy castles to play on. “I watched this week as an articulated truck pulling a flat bed trailer arrived at a building site. A bunch of chaps got out and readied themselves to unload the slab of concrete on the back. Meanwhile, a van pulled in behind and disgorged another team of blokes who paced up and down the side of the flat-bed. By this time, the original crew had got ready. They were all wearing hard hats. And gloves. And hi visibility jackets. One guy wore a hard hat with earmuffs, safety goggles and a mask. Cool. He gets all that stuff to play with and he wasn’t unloading a nuclear missile, just a lump of concrete. That’s like getting to wear F1 racing overalls just to drive down the road for the papers. By this time, the second crew had unfurled two enormous blue bags and laid them on the road, down either side of the trailer. They connected pipes and a generator and, to my amazement, inflated the bags to the height of the trailer bed, like two bouncy castles. This is because recent Health and Safety legislation dictates that we are “not allowed” to fall from a height of more than 1.2metres and hurt ourselves. And so every day, all over the nation, trucks are turning up at building sites followed by a large van and a team who set up a bouncy castle. Well, good for them, they’ve got the ideal party set-up - big lorry, fancy dress and not one but two bouncy castles. I’d like to set up a business selling balloons and birthday cake candles to follow them around. I asked the guys if they had to take off their boots to play. I also wondered if there wasn’t a danger that, instead of simply dropping off the side of the trailer, they might fall on to the bouncy castle and bounce significantly higher into the air before pitching over the side to land on their heads. I can’t print what they said... “ We initially found this quite amusing but there is a relevant side to the story. Inflatables have developed over the years and are used in many different circumstances outside of the inflatable play area. The above refers to the construction industry, we have all seen the use of inflatable temporary shelters by the emergency services and inflatable marquees are becoming increasingly popular. We understand that an inflatable mortuary has been developed for use in major emergencies and there is even a plan for an inflatable space hotel. If you come across any novel uses of inflatables then please let us know and we will share them with our readers. In an update to this story Adrian from Southern Inflatables (UK) ltd wrote "Your article regarding the H & S provide workmen with bouncy castle to play on. Sounds like one of ours." Source: Inflated News Issue 12 December 2007 Inflated News Issue 13 March 2008 Article used with permission from Inflated News |
Share this |
A UK Magazine for Bouncy Castles, Bouncy Castle Hire Companies, Users of Inflatable Play Equipment and the play & attractions industry. INPA (Inflated News Play & Attractions) is a free quarterly magazine sent out to bouncy castle manufacturers, bouncy castle testers, bouncy castle sales companies, bouncy castle repair companies, bouncy castle hire companies, venues, entertainment companies, theme parks, Local Authorities, indoor play centres, activity centres, farm attractions and Zoos etc. The magazine is backed up by their web site which is constantly updated to bring you the latest events as they happen. INPA (Inflated News Play & Attractions) Website |
TIPE is a subscription service available to the inflatable play industry and is designed to offer up to date timely advice and guidance on the increasing number of legal, safety and other issues the industry faces on a daily basis. Subscribers will find all the up to date information regarding the complex issues you require for a successful business. Information is continually updated, new material added and many more features. For further information please visit the TIPE website |
The UKs only dedicated Trade Association for owners and operators of inflatable play equipment. The National Association of Inflatable Hirers aims to promote the highest standards of professional practice, responsibility, safety and ethics within the inflatable play industry. All members of the National Association of Inflatable Hirers are required to endorse and affirm the Code of Conduct and uphold the standards laid down in the Code of Practice. The NAIH exists to:
The National Association of Inflatable Hirers Website |