SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2012        FILED ON: 1/16/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 959

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to rock wall climbing safeguards..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.Section 205A of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the seventh paragraph the following paragraph:-No license to operate a portable fabricated rock climbing wall, including an inflatable wall, with a height in excess of 10 feet shall be granted nor shall such a rock climbing wall be operated unless:  all climbers are fitted with a safety harness and a belay safety system is used with each climber and operated by persons trained in the proper use of such system.  No license to operate an inflatable rock climbing wall with a height in excess of 10 feet shall be granted nor shall such an inflatable rock climbing wall be operated unless it is equipped with an inflatable protective base and guardrail surrounding the base of the wall.  No operator shall permit another person to use any portable fabricated rock climbing wall, inflatable or not, with a height in excess of 10 feet unless such person is wearing protective headgear.  The commissioner shall promulgate regulations consistent with this paragraph including, but not limited to: minimum requirements for belay systems and whether such systems shall be automatic or not; minimum training required for those operating belay systems; specifications for surface conditions or preparation, including the installation of protective mats around the perimeter of a non-inflatable climbing wall; specifications for the height and width required for an inflatable base and guardrail for inflatable climbing walls; minimum requirements for anchor support systems for climbing walls, inflatable and non-inflatable; and the use of protective headgear.

SECTION 2.  The commissioner of public safety shall adopt regulations to carry out this act not later than January 1, 2010.

SECTION 3.  Section 1 shall take effect on January 1, 2010.