As an axe-throwing business owner, safety is your top priority. Ensuring that your guests are safe while they’re in your facility is essential to running a successful business. To do this, you must implement safety regulations that will help protect the safety of your guests and staff.
We are not attorneys and we always find it to be best practice to consult with an attorney on best practices.
Utilize Waivers for all participants
A waiver is a document that is used to protect your business from legal responsibility in the event of an accident or injury during an activity. It should be signed by all participants of the activity and outlines the risks associated with it and the responsibilities of the attendees. Having all participants read and sign a waiver is an important safety measure to ensure everyone is aware of the risks and responsibilities associated with the activity. This is typically a requirement with any insurance company. We always highly advise to have a professional and trusted lawyer write your waiver for you.
Set a Dress Code
Axe throwing can be a risky activity, so it’s important to set a dress code to ensure everyone’s safety. Closed-toe shoes are highly recommended, along with tying back long hair. Restrictive clothing like dress shirts or multiple layers should be avoided, and simple, comfortable clothing that allows for good mobility is best.
Implement Food and Beverage Rules
Having dedicated areas for eating and drinking can help ensure safety in your axe-throwing establishment. It’s a wise idea to provide a separate area where patrons can enjoy their food and drinks while they’re throwing. This helps prevent any potential accidents or mishaps that could occur if people were eating or drinking while they were throwing. Additionally, this can help maintain the integrity of the throwing area, as no food or beverage should be consumed in the vicinity of the targets or other equipment.
Keep Customers Supervised
Having a team of staff members to monitor the throwing area is essential for a safe and efficient axe-throwing venue. It is their job to make sure all participants are following the rules and keeping the area safe. If someone forgets a protocol, it is up to the staff to remind them and keep the area running smoothly. It is best to have a full staff on hand to ensure all areas are being supervised for the best possible outcome.
Create Axe-Handling Rules
It is essential to provide visitors with clear instructions on handling axes. Make sure they know how to hold the axe in a way that does not come into contact with the blade. Also, it is important to emphasize that they should never try to catch or stop the axe if it rebounds. Finally, for the safety of all involved, it is recommended that participants only hand off axes to employees and not to other participants. This will help to prevent any mishaps and allow staff to monitor the throwers more effectively.
Establish a No-Tolerance Environment
Enforce a strict policy that prohibits any form of horseplay in your axe-throwing establishment. Make sure that customers are aware that this kind of behavior is not allowed and could result in them being asked to leave. This will help ensure that your business remains a safe and enjoyable space for visitors and that fun is not ruined by inappropriate activity.
Guidelines to Setting-Up and Operating a Venue
AxeThrowingInsurance.com has a very close relationship with the World Axe Throwing League. They have thorough established set protocols and procedures to help promote safety. You can find those in the link below. Some prominent items that we recommend from the below, include but is not limited to:
- Obtaining a Coach Training Program
- Under no circumstances are live targets allowed
- No thrower is to throw an axe at a target while there is a person or live object in between or in front of the thrower. If a lane consists of two targets, throwers throw together and retrieve together. Axes shall never be thrown when a participant is picking up an axe from the target area or when a judge is in the lane.
- All spectators must be to the side or at least 5 ft behind throwers.
- 10 ft minimum/clear ceiling height (within the throwing lane) is recommended for safety reasons.
- It is recommended for a lane to be a minimum of 12 ft in width with the targets evenly distributed.
- Any and all lights are protected by safety caging, and not exposed to being hit with the axes (like a fluorescent that is under the top cage most likely will get hit)
- When there is rubber on the walls (like horse mats) ensure they are not pinned tight to the walls, but “floating” so that they absorb and deaden the axe impact so it does not bounce. Rubber fixed tight to the wall will just bounce that axe back, especially with a rubber-to-rubber impact
https://worldaxethrowingleague.com/axe-throwing-rules/
Conclusion
Axe-throwing is a popular activity that is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. But, as the nature of the activity goes, things can easily go wrong. As such, it is important to ensure that the activity remains safe for all involved by providing clear instructions, enforcing safety guidelines, and establishing a no-tolerance environment. Taking these steps will help ensure that your axe-throwing establishment is a safe and enjoyable place for everyone. More importantly, it’ll help you avoid any liabilities that could potentially shut down your business for good!
AxeThrowingInsurance.com is an insurance agency built to help axe-throwing businesses run business with peace of mind, thanks to affordable and thorough insurance coverage. If you are looking for axe-throwing insurance, check out what we offer for you.
