Our Approach to Safety

Climbing is a technical sport that requires training, knowledge and discipline. The climber must understand and acknowledge the risks involved, take personal responsibility for his/her own safety and make a personal commitment to safe climbing practices.

We believe that the best way to ensure safety is to follow the same safety principles used outdoors:

• Understand that climbing can never be made perfectly "safe." Like any other sport, there is always the possibility of accident or injury.
• Risk tolerance is always a personal decision.
• Through training and personal discipline, risk levels can be made acceptably low for most people.
• Making the effort and taking the time to learn proper climbing and belaying techniques reduces risk for the participant and other climbers.
• Discipline is required to avoid complacency and to consistently perform double-checks on equipment, tie-in and communications.
• Climbers must actively assume personal responsibility for their own actions.
• Experienced climbers are encouraged to assist others to follow protocol while climbing and belaying.
• We require that our customers acknowledge that climbing entails risks by signing our Participant Agreement. All climbers and belayers must be willing to take personal responsibility for their own safety as well as that of their partner.
• Trust, but verify! Anyone wanting to belay in the gym must pass our belay test.

Facility Rules and Regulations

All climbers must have a signed Participant Agreement on file atCityROCK. Minors must have their Agreement signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Climbing and Belaying

1. Climbers will tie the rope directly into their harnesses with a figure 8 retrace knot.
2. Climbers must be 14 or older to belay (at staff discretion).
3. All belayers and climbers must pass a belay test administered by staff.
4. In addition to the belay test, all lead climbers and belayers of lead climbers must pass a lead test administered byCityROCK staff.
5. Top-rope belayers, lead climbers and lead belayers under the age of 18 will have one opportunity to pass the relevant test. If they fail, they must take our applicable class before they may retest.
6. Lead climbers must provide their own UIAA approved rope and the rope must pass an inspection by the CityROCK staff.
7. No sitting or lying down while belaying.

Bouldering

Boulder only in designated areas, use good judgment in determining how high you should go. Remember, the higher you climb, the farther you can fall.

General Rules

1. No running, jumping, yelling, swinging on ropes, swinging ropes, horseplay, or profanity.
2. No smoking, drugs, or alcohol allowed. Anyone suspected of being under the influence will not be permitted in the gym.
3. Parents are responsible for their children at all times. Any children not conducting themselves in a responsible fashion will be asked to leave. Children 7 and under must have a parent in attendance at all times.
4. Inform other climbers of any situation seen as unsafe or not in accordance with the Safety Policies. All climbers are asked to assist and encourage less experienced climbers. All accidents or equipment damage must be reported immediately.
5. CityROCK reserves the right to deny access to its facilities to any individual temporarily or permanently for unsafe or inappropriate behavior.