Safety Information

UK Bungee Club Safety Standards and BERSA Code

The UK Bungee Club is recognised as a leader in bungee jumping safety in the UK. Our safety procedures, training, and equipment standards are designed to meet and exceed industry best practice. The safety of every participant is our highest priority. This page explains how we operate as a competent, professional and safe organisation, following a strict code of safe practice for all bungee jumps.

Introduction to Modern Bungee Jumping

Bungee jumping was inspired by the traditional vine jumpers of Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. Contrary to popular belief, modern commercial bungee jumping began in the UK, not New Zealand. On 1 April 1979, four simultaneous jumps were made from the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol by members of the Oxford Dangerous Sports Club, and a worldwide adventure activity was born.

In the early years, bungee jumping was unregulated and considered a high-risk activity. As the sport grew, incidents occurred worldwide, including serious and even fatal injuries. Over time, industry experience made it possible to define safe methods for commercial bungee jumping, including:

• Clear specifications for safety-critical equipment
• Defined training and qualifications for operators
• Procedures designed to minimise human error
• Independent checks to protect participants

This experience was brought together in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and resulted in the creation of the BERSA Code of Safe Practice, the first formal safety standard for commercial bungee jumping in the UK. It played a crucial role in shaping the early development of safe operational methods and provided a strong foundation for the industry.

Although the BERSA Code was groundbreaking at the time and remains an important historical reference, it has not been updated for many years. Its core principles continue to hold value, and we still operate in line with those foundations. However, bungee jumping has evolved significantly, and modern operations now require a more comprehensive and current approach.

Over the past two decades, and through extensive collaboration with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), we have developed our own enhanced and modernised code of practice. This updated UK Bungee Club Code builds upon the spirit of the original BERSA guidance while incorporating ongoing developments in safety methodology, operational experience and regulatory expectations.

In practice, this means that while the BERSA Code remains an important part of our history, the UK Bungee Club now operates to a higher and more current standard one that reflects decades of learning, continuous refinement and a commitment to leading safety within our industry.

The BERSA Code Safety Principles

The original BERSA Code set out three fundamental safety principles:

• Informed Participation
• Redundancy (Back-Up Systems)
• Competence

These principles still underpin every activity delivered by the UK Bungee Club.

Informed Participation

Bungee jumping is an adventure activity and should be viewed in the same way as rock climbing, mountain biking or abseiling, rather than a simple theme park ride. It involves managed risk, and it is important that participants understand this before they jump.

At the UK Bungee Club, we support informed participation through a clear registration process. All participants are provided with safety information, health guidance and documentation before taking part. This includes:

• Access to safety information and FAQs before jumping
• The opportunity to declare medical conditions and ask questions
• Signing an insurance waiver form in the presence of a trained crew member

Our crew are always available on site to answer questions, explain procedures and help you assess whether the activity is right for you on the day.

Redundancy – Back-Up Systems

The principle of redundancy means that if one component in the system were to fail, the overall system would still protect the participant. In practice, this means that every critical task and every key piece of equipment has a back-up.

Examples of redundancy in our bungee operations include:

• Multiple attachment points and back-up harnesses
• A secondary waist harness that takes over if ankle harnesses fail
• Independent checks by at least two crew members for all safety-critical procedures
• Structured checklists and sign-off protocols

This approach significantly reduces the likelihood of a single point of failure and is a core part of how we keep participants safe.

Competence

The principle of competence applies both to people and equipment. It requires that everyone involved, and everything used, is proven to be fit for purpose and able to perform safely in all anticipated conditions.

For equipment, competence means:

• Meeting or exceeding safety standards
• Ensuring suitability in a wide range of operational conditions
• Undergoing regular inspection and maintenance

For personnel, competence means:

• Only trained and assessed individuals carry out safety-critical tasks
• Crew have the experience and knowledge required for their roles
• Ongoing monitoring, training and reassessment to maintain high standards

These three principles form the backbone of all UK Bungee Club operations.

Operating Crew and Training

The UK Bungee Club crew are highly trained professionals with extensive experience in bungee jumping operations. Senior crew members have completed written, oral and practical assessments to verify competence.

Our crew are:

• Professionally trained in set-up, safety and rescue procedures
• Skilled at supporting nervous participants
• Friendly, approachable and focused on delivering a safe, positive experience

A licensing system ensures that each crew member only undertakes tasks appropriate to their training and experience. A detailed log is kept of each role they perform at every event.

Equipment and Safety Checks

High-quality, well-maintained equipment is essential to safe bungee jumping. The UK Bungee Club uses rigorous controls for all ropes, harnesses and hardware used on site.

Our equipment procedures include:

• All equipment is logged and serial numbered
• All safety-critical equipment is independently tested
• Each bungee rope is tracked for use and exposure
• Daily equipment checks are completed and signed off by two crew members

In addition to strict inspection and testing protocols, we also manufacture our own commercial natural-rubber bungee cords used across all UK Bungee Club sites. These cords are produced in-house to precise wrap profiles and operator specifications, giving us full control over quality, stretch behaviour and safety performance. Approved operators can now source the same cord systems from us - learn more here.

Safety Review and Participant Protection

To maintain our safety record and continually improve our systems, we review our activities and procedures on an ongoing basis. Key points include:

• Activities are aligned with the principles of the BERSA Code
• Equipment is logged, checked daily and independently tested
• Senior crew complete written, oral and practical assessments
• Each participant is independently checked by multiple crew members
• Redundancy is built into equipment, harnesses and connections
• Full insurance cover is provided for every participant

These measures ensure that your bungee jump is delivered to the highest safety standards, giving you confidence and peace of mind.

If you have any additional questions, please see our FAQ page or contact us.