You know the drill. You’re opening up new business premises, and you need to carry out a full health and safety assessment as well as evaluating insurance risks.
But when the business in question is an Escape Room filled with nooks, crannies and secret features, it can be hard to label up less-than-obvious hazards for fear of ruining the fun.
After all, putting a ‘mind your head’ sign over a hidden door would reveal the existence of that secret room contestants are meant to find…
So what are the requirements?
Every business must comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which requires you to have a health and safety policy in place. The legislation requires you to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent accidents or injuries.
Consider the activities involved in your particular game, and the set and props you are building. Outline any potential risks and think about how you can mitigate them.
Most puzzles involved in Escape Games challenge the players’ logic and problem-solving skills rather than physical feats, but if there are any moving parts or elements which require full physical fitness, you must make sure players are informed beforehand.
But won’t risk management prevent full immersion?
When it comes to safety features, they can be subtle while serving their purpose. Must-haves such as fire alarm sensors and electrical wiring can be camouflaged to fit into your theme, as long as it does not inhibit functionality and equipment can be accessed for maintenance when needed.
Fire exits (and exits to the outside world in general) will still need to be clearly labelled, but a quick safety and rule run-down by a member of staff upon customer entry should take care of other worries. For example, if you don’t want to reveal the existence of certain features such as concealed doors, giving a general warning to mind your head when moving between rooms should suffice.
While some insurers may not know how to approach Escape Rooms, The Insurance Centre’s experienced brokers specialise in arranging protection which understands this niche business. Get in touch today for more information.
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