New Massachusetts Regulations Could Hurt Climbing Wall Industry
SportsOneSource Media Posted: 5/25/2006
Massachusetts Department of Public Safety posted its most recent revisions to amusement regulations for the Commonwealth for public comment. The Climbing Wall Association believes these regulations may have eventual negative consequences for the climbing industry nationally.
The CWA has continued to work on the regulatory process underway in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The CWA drafted and submitted recommendations for revisions to the amusement regulations in writing to the Department of Public safety regarding the regulation of climbing facilities. Our aim was to introduce reasonable measures in the licensure and inspection process for climbing facilities if they were to be regarded as amusement venues in the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, very few meaningful concessions were granted to climbing gyms and facilities through this process.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Safety (DPS) intends to regulate artificial climbing structures and challenge courses, in all settings, as amusements in the Commonwealth as of September 1st, 2006. The CWA opposes this regulatory approach. Initially, this date was set at April 1st, 2006 but a coalition of organizations, including the CWA, was effective in postponing this deadline pending revision of the Massachusetts amusement regulations.

The CWA, in cooperation with the ACCT, Massachusetts YMCA's, Project Adventure and other organizations, has been working on alternative legislation and regulations to license climbing facilities outside of the amusement arena. We intend to introduce this alternative licensing statute this legislative session. We feel it is very important that climbing facilities used as sporting venues are not considered amusements.

The Department of Public Safety has advised us that there will be a meeting of the Massachusetts Amusement Advisory Board on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. to discuss the recently revised regulations concerning challenge courses and artificial climbing structures. This hearing is the first step towards promulgating the regulations by the target date of September 1, 2006 and this meeting is intended to provide a public forum for comment.

The Department of Public Safety will hold at least one additional public hearing in the coming months prior to promulgating the revised amusement regulations.

According to CWA, it will be very important for the indoor climbing community to have a strong presence at this public hearing, and any future public hearings regarding this matter. At this point, we believe only strong public pressure and a large turn out of those affected: builders, facility owners and managers, and climbers will move the DPS to promulgate more reasonable, less costly regulations for our industry.

:roll: Amusements :?: ....typical crap, gotta hate the New England mindset. Almost as bad as CA. Can we please regulate farting? It really bothers me. :D

Inflatable rental company cited in rock wall death
(Friday, December 2, 2005) - A Massachusetts amusement rental company and one of its employees have been cited in connection with the death of a woman who fell from an inflatable rock climbing wall in May. The Massachusetts Department of Public Safety reported that the company, Just For Fun Rentals of Danvers, failed to get licenses and permits for the structure, failed to train employees to use it properly, and failed to give those employees the users manual. State officials say that the employee who was guiding the victim as she scaled the wall failed to follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Jaro maintenance worker pleads guilty in Massachusetts Sizzler death
(Wednesday, March 15, 2006) - Former Jaro Amusements ride supervisor and maintenance manager Brian McCullough pleaded guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a man who fell out of a Sizzler amusement ride when his car fell apart at a Massachusetts church carnival in 2004. Investigators determined that the accident was a result of loose and undersized nuts and bolts that held the victim's seat together. Prosecutors said that McCullough failed to ensure that the ride was maintained properly. McCullough was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of probation.

:roll: Amusements :?: ....typical crap, gotta hate the New England mindset. Almost as bad as CA. Can we please regulate farting? It really bothers me. :D

but damn the whole of mass has got some anger issues that they need to iron out. Oh yeah and their driving is...well..appalling.

f---ing mouth-breathing Okie , WTF do you know about the "New England Mindset".
Obvoiusly, you're too stupid to realize that the handful of politicians attempting to respond, legislatively, to these traveling carnival amusement park deaths don't actually speak for the climbing populace at large, or even the "eastern massachusetts" population at large.

f---ing imbecile.

Too many years in Norfolk, Springfield, Pitsfield, and Malone NY....All of my relatives are New Englanders. Basically, if it moves, breaths, or is enjoyable, it's regulated. :D

No, I don't think everyone on the East and West coast is nuts

just the vocal majority who make the rules :D

robbovius...you should join the world of the decent conversant humans...spaying and throwing around words that shouldn't be spoken in mixed company, and name calling, is just so high school.

I am from Maine...

robbovius...you should join the world of the decent conversant humans...spaying and throwing around words that shouldn't be spoken in mixed company, and name calling, is just so high school.

Om shanti shanti shanti.