Bungee Jumping

Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 22, § 11B. (1) Code Reference. The Department hereby adopts by reference version 2.1 of the United States Bungee Association Standards Code. Other comparable bungee codes or standards may be used provided the bungee company can demonstrate to the inspector from the Department that such codes or standards provide equal or better protection. (2) Application. Any bungee company wishing to operate in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must make application to the Department of Public Safety and shall obtain a permit to operate from said department before commencing operations. Such application shall be submitted along with a fee of $250. Such fee shall in the form of a certified check or money order and shall be made payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (3) Insurance. Any bungee company operating in the Commonwealth must carry a minimum of $2,000,000 per incident liability insurance. This policy must cover all aspects of the bungee operation, including all spectators, participants and any operators involved including hoisting engineers who may operate a crane. (4) Crane Usage. If a crane is to be used by a bungee company, the on-site hoisting engineer must possess a Commonwealth of Massachusetts 1A hoisting license. Nothing smaller than the use of a 20 ton crane shall be used to hoist personnel for the purpose of bungee jumping. All cranes used for the purpose of bungee jumping must have an “anti-two block” safety system in place and operating. (5) Employee Requirements. Any bungee company operating in the Commonwealth shall have a job site of no less than five employees, each of which must meet USBA requirements. One employee shall ride in the man basket, at least one employee shall be on the ground continually monitoring the activities in the man basket; one employee shall be the hoisting engineer; and the remaining employees may handle ticket sales, money collection and other related matters. At no time shall the employee designated on the ground to monitor the man basket handle ticket sales or monetary transactions. The license to operate shall only remain valid if five or more employees are present. No bungee jumping is permitted without compliance with 520 CMR 5.09. (6) Inspector Presence. An inspector from the Department of Public Safety shall be present for the set up of the crane, inspection of the log, and the testing of the bungee cord. At the discretion of the inspector, the inspector or their designee may perform a test jump as a final check of the bungee safety system and devices. (7) Communication System. A communication system shall be established, which will allow the hoisting engineer, the ground crew and the personnel in the man basket to remain in direct communication at all times. (8) Minimum Age. No person under the age of 16 shall be allowed to bungee jump. Bungee companies shall require prospective jumpers to provide proof of age before being allowed to jump. (9) Medical Conditions. Any person with a medical condition that could be adversely affected by bungee jumping shall be prohibited from bungee jumping. Prospective jumpers have the exclusive responsibility to notify the Bungee Company that a potential medical condition exists, and to seek professional medical advice prior to making a jump. Bungee Companies shall not be responsible for injuries sustained as a result of an undisclosed medical condition of the jumper. (10) Proper Signage. A sign shall be erected on all jump sites, listing any medical restrictions, age restrictions, and weight restrictions of jumpers not exceeding 275 pounds. (11) Emergency Plan. Each bungee jumping site shall have a plan in place in the event of an emergency. Every employee of the bungee company shall have a good working knowledge of the plan. At least one member of the ground crew or jump master must hold a minimum of a first aid rating or the equivalent, including a cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification. (12) Injury Notification. In the event of an injury requiring medical attention, the bungee company shall immediately cease operations on that site and shall notify the following telephone number 508-820-1444 within one hour of the serious injury incident. The site shall remain closed until an inspector of the Department has granted approval for reopening. (13) Intoxication. No individual who is visibly intoxicated or appears to be under the influence of drugs shall be allowed to bungee jump. (14) Restrictions. Bungee jumping shall be allowed exclusively over air bags or water only. Bungee companies must maintain a safety space beyond the jump some of at least 15 feet over the air bag or water with a depth of less than ten feet. No safety space shall be required when jumping is conducted over water which is more than ten feet deep and there is a means in place to reduce water surface tension, such as a water spray. Bungee jumping from hot air balloons and bridges are prohibited. Stunt jumping, tandem jumping, reverse jumping, launching, sandbagging, and catapulting is strictly prohibited. (15) Site Jump Master. Each bungee site shall have a site jump master who is designated as the person in charge of the operation. The site jump master shall stop jumping operation when the wind speed, lightning or any other weather condition exists that may effect the safe operation at the bungee site. (16) Man Baskets. Man baskets used for hoisting personnel must meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) specifications. Such man baskets must be approved by the Department of Public Safety. All baskets shall have the following: (a) Slip resistant floors (b) A gate chain or a suitable means that blocks access to the jumping platform while said platform is not in use. (c) Solid or semi-solid sides around the four sides of the man basket to prevent prospective jumpers from attempting to abandon a jump after forward motion has begun. Man baskets shall not have any means for a prospective jumper to hold on or re-grasp after the jumper has begun their jump. (17) Daily Logs. (a) The site jump master shall ensure that daily logs are kept on all bungee equipment. Such logs must include the following; 1. Inspection of the cords; 2. Inspection of the harnesses; 3. Inspection of the ropes; 4. Inspection of the crane; and 5. Inspection of any other equipment subject to stress during the act of bungee jumping. (b) These logs must be kept each day regardless of whether or not the equipment was used that day. The information in the logs must include the number of jumps and results of inspection. (c) The platform owner is responsible for keeping a daily log of all activities, maintenance and inspections performed on said platform. Any welding on a platform must be performed by a certified welder welding in accordance with ASME Code Section IX. (d) All logs shall be made available, at any time, to any inspector of the Department upon request. Failure to provide the requested information may result in the revocation of the permit to operate. (18) Bungee Cords. (a) Only “multiple sheathed bungee cord” sets shall be used for bungee jumping in the Commonwealth. Bungee cords must meet the requirements as listed in the USBA standards code as adopted. If cords do not meet the requirements, they must be destroyed by cutting them into five foot lengths. (b) Bungee cords must be destroyed when any one of the following conditions exist: 1. Exposure to daylight exceeds 250 hours. This does not apply when the cord cover of the sleeve fully protects all of the cord from visible and ultra-violet exposure. 2. It is past six months from the date of manufacture. 3. Evidence of threads exhibiting wear, such as bunched threads, thread bands or uneven tension between threads. 4. Broken threads in excess of 5% 5. Cord has been in contact with solvents, corrosives or shows evidence of abrasion. 6. When the dynamic load capacity reduces to less than the maximum designed dynamic load; as the bungee cord stretches over the course of its jump life, the dynamic load required to extend the bungee to four times its unloaded length will reduce. When the cord or its connectors are not in compliance with the manufacturers specifications. 8. When the cord has been used for the maximum allowable number of jumps of 300 jumps. (19) Revocation. Failure to comply with 520 CMR 5.00 may result in the immediate revocation of the permit to operate. Such revocation may be issued by any inspector of the Department. Appeal to any revocation shall be made to the Chief of Inspections or his or her designee. Such appeal may begin by notifying the Department as listed in 520 CMR 5.04(10).