SAFETY - RISK ASSESSMENT - INSURANCE - NHS REQUIREMENTS

We supply 2 types of ball play devices.
Type 1: Attachments to wheelchairs, manually propelled or powered.
Type 2: Complete wheelchair ball play devices, manually propelled or powered.

Type 1: Attachments
Many attachments are mounted onto National Health Service wheelchairs. National Health Service rules require that any user of an NHS wheelchair, (manual or powered), undertakes not to alter or modify the wheelchair in any way.
In many instances the wheelchair is made specifically to suit that person’s disability, as a medical device and therefore must not be altered.
The attachments that we provide are registered accessories with the National Health Service. Therefore, wheelchair users are allowed to alter the wheelchair (medical device), by fitting our designed ball play devices.
Should any damage occur to the wheelchair, the player is responsible for any repair costs.

Design Criteria – Risk Assessment
Type 2: Complete wheelchair ball play devices
Our associate company Gobalgame.com Ltd is an amusement ride manufacturer and all designs comply with the BALPPA (The British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions) code of practice, entitled ‘Guidance on safe practice’.
This requires that the designs are submitted for inspection by independent consulting engineers. When the design is approved and manufactured, the products and the instructions for use are again approved by other independent consulting engineers.
The method of use of play devices is, in effect, the game rules, and provided that the game is played under qualified supervision, according to the rules, the equipment is completely safe to use. Therefore fulfilling all play supervisors and players duty of care.

Risk Assessments Impact Testing
The game rules allow for tackling, i.e. impact between Type 1: Attachments and/or Type 2: Complete B(Ball)-Chairs.
During the Risk Assessment impact testing was carried out to ensure that both Type1 and Type 2 products met the design standards required.

Player Insurance
Players playing Wheelchair Football, according to the rules approved by The FA are football players.
Therefore, providing the players are members of an FA County affiliated football club, and part of that clubs Wheelchair Football team, they would be covered by the normal amateur football player insurance.
Alternatively, players can be members of a Wheelchair Football club and providing that the club is affiliated to the local County FA, they should enjoy the same insurance benefits, as arranged through their County FA insurance broker.

Referee Insurance
Providing that the referees are members of a recognised refereeing association, i.e. FACA, and have been coached to the appropriate level, including disability football, they can enjoy the normal referee insurance cover.