GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TOURS

A tour of your facility can be a fun, interesting, and SAFE time for all. The most important thing to remember is that guests need to be protected from injury by guarding or eliminating hazards along the way. The tour path and facility is unfamiliar to people from the outside. When planning your tour, consider the following suggestions.

• Before the tour starts, guides should advise guests of requirements, such as proper behavior. An example would be "no sitting on ledges or railings."
• Any special situations on the tour should be discussed with the group and posted on a sign prior to entry on the tour. An example would be "Steep or Shallow Steps."
• Require schools or groups to provide adequate supervision - as a general rule - a ratio of 1 to 10 maximum. Limit the size of the group to a controllable size.
• The tour guide should be trained to know all exits along the path and proper emergency procedures for the group.
• Plan emergency procedures. Make sure there are enough exits along the tour path.
• EXITS: All doors that are non-exit doors should be marked "not an exit." All exit doors should be marked "exit."
• Mark the tour path with a paint stripe, as an additional control in the event a guest gets lost.
• Walk through the tour path every day to look for trip and fall hazards such as slippery or wet floors, obstacles, or uneven walking surfaces.
• Keep guests off ladders. Try to use elevators whenever possible instead of stairs. If stairs are used, make sure they have substantial handrails and proper step height.
• Any areas that are wet or slippery must have tread or non-slip carpet protection.
• Any changes in elevation in the walkway should be brightly marked. Look for places where someone could fall off an edge and put up railings.
• • All railings should be substantial enough to take pressure from guests. Railings need to be a minimum of 42" from the walking surface.
• Electrical outlets along the tour path should be capped off (childproof caps.) Provide electrical grounding where needed (ground fault circuit interrupters.)
• Any areas of the tour that go by moving equipment or other hazards should be beyond reach of guests. All equipment should be guarded.
• If dust or "flying" particles may be encountered, or your tour enters any area where personal protective equipment is required, be sure your guests are supplied with hardhats, goggles, safety glasses, etc.