Schools, community groups issued urgent jumping castle warning ahead of end-of-year celebrations

WorkSafe has issued an urgent warning to schools and community groups about the dangers of inflatable equipment after they found two Melbourne schools breached safety procedures last month.

WorkSafe is urging jumping castle and inflatable equipment operators to do their due diligence to avoid tragedy during end-of-year celebrations.

Principals and community group leaders hiring inflatable equipment and rides for end-of-year celebrations are being warned to conduct safety checks, after WorkSafe found dangerous setups at two Melbourne schools.

Victorian major event organisers have also been warned about their use of hired equipment, following 380 WorkSafe inspections at 44 events and theme parks this year, including at the Royal Melbourne Show, Australian Grand Prix and Australian Open.

The inspections resulted in 41 improvement notices, and orders for another 44 safety issues to be addressed immediately.

Common problems included poor anchoring of inflatables, lack of weather-protection on electrical blowers and inadequate guarding to prevent children accessing them, as well as inadequate systems for supervision of patrons and pedestrian management.

It comes as a hearing into the Tasmanian Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy — that resulted in six child deaths — continued in the Devonport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

At the Melbourne schools, WorkSafe found a jumping castle wasn’t anchored down, unprotected electrical equipment and an inflatable ride set up beneath powerlines.

Principals and community group leaders hiring inflatable equipment and rides for end-of-year celebrations are being urged to conduct safety checks. Picture: Sarah Matray

WorkSafe health and safety director Sam Jenkin said well-meaning parents and volunteers organising events on a tight budget might be tempted to choose a cheaper, less professional amusement hire option, but backyard operators weren’t worth the risk.

“That’s why it’s crucial that event organisers ask questions about safety equipment, systems and processes – and if you’re not satisfied with the answers, go elsewhere,” he said.

“Anyone considering hiring amusement rides or inflatables for events must do their due diligence and ensure the ride hirer prioritises safety in all aspects of their operation, including delivery, set up, operation, pack-up and maintenance.

“Operators who can’t demonstrate safety procedures and provide evidence of their competence and maintenance checks, such as a logbook and training records, may not be a suitable choice.”

The warning comes as a hearing into the Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy continues in a Tasmanian court. Picture: Rob Burnett

Six children – Zane Mellor, Peter Dodt, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan, and Chace Harrison – were killed in the Tasmanian Hillcrest tragedy, when the jumping castle they were on became airborne and flew 10m into the air at an end-of-year celebration at the primary school in 2021.

Taz-Zorb owner Rosemary Gamble has pleaded not guilty to one count of failure to comply with health and safety duty category 2 in relation to the incident.

Ms Gamble is fighting that charge in a nine-day hearing that is scheduled to end on Friday.

On Wednesday mechanical engineer, Rodrick McDonald, reiterated his belief that the Taz-Zorb workers were ill-equipped to handle the extreme winds that struck the jumping castle on the day.

Mr McDonald told the court he did not believe the Taz-Zorb owner was adequately trained on how to operate a jumping castle.