AFC Safety Protocols & Risk Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student reports a previous shoulder labrum tear that has been cleared by a physician. What is the most appropriate action before allowing them to participate in aerial fitness?
- Allow full participation without modification
- Review their medical clearance letter and modify poses that stress shoulder abduction (Correct answer)
- Refuse participation entirely regardless of medical clearance
- Only permit ground-based exercises
Correct answer: Review their medical clearance letter and modify poses that stress shoulder abduction
A physician's clearance should be respected, but the instructor must still review the specifics and modify any movements that could re-stress the healed injury.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a pre-class equipment inspection in aerial fitness?
- To satisfy insurance requirements only
- To identify and remove or repair any rigging or apparatus defects before students are exposed to them (Correct answer)
- To document the age of equipment for replacement scheduling
- To verify the brand of hardware meets marketing standards
Correct answer: To identify and remove or repair any rigging or apparatus defects before students are exposed to them
Pre-class inspections are a primary risk control measure designed to catch defects before any load is applied by students.
Question 3: During an inversion, a student's hair becomes caught in a carabiner. What is the instructor's immediate priority?
- Document the incident and report later
- Instruct the student to spin free on their own
- Assist the student to a safe position and free the hair calmly and systematically (Correct answer)
- Continue class and address the issue after the session
Correct answer: Assist the student to a safe position and free the hair calmly and systematically
Entanglement in hardware is an emergency requiring immediate, calm intervention to safely return the student to a supported position before freeing the obstruction.
Question 4: What is the recommended minimum ceiling height for aerial fabric (silks) practice to allow safe drops?
- 8 feet
- 10 feet
- 18 feet (Correct answer)
- 30 feet
Correct answer: 18 feet
A minimum ceiling height of approximately 18 feet is commonly recommended for aerial silks to allow adequate fabric length and safe execution of drops.
Question 5: A new student admits to being afraid of heights but still wants to try aerial fitness. Which response is most professionally appropriate?
- Dismiss them from class as they are not suitable
- Begin them at low heights, use progressive desensitization, and monitor their comfort level throughout (Correct answer)
- Push them to high apparatus immediately to overcome the fear quickly
- Tell them fear is irrelevant in aerial fitness
Correct answer: Begin them at low heights, use progressive desensitization, and monitor their comfort level throughout
A gradual, supportive approach using low apparatus and checking comfort at each stage respects student autonomy while managing psychological risk.
Question 6: Which load rating standard should aerial performance rigging hardware minimally meet according to most aerial fitness safety guidelines?
- 2:1 safety factor
- 5:1 safety factor
- 10:1 safety factor (Correct answer)
- Hardware rating does not matter if it looks intact
Correct answer: 10:1 safety factor
A 10:1 safety factor (working load limit to minimum breaking strength) is the widely accepted minimum for overhead human-load aerial hardware.
Question 7: When is it appropriate to use a swivel in an aerial apparatus setup?
- Never, swivels weaken the rigging
- Only when using aerial hoop (lyra) or other apparatus where rotation is part of the discipline (Correct answer)
- On all apparatus at all times to prevent twisting
- Only when the ceiling height exceeds 25 feet
Correct answer: Only when using aerial hoop (lyra) or other apparatus where rotation is part of the discipline
Swivels are appropriate when rotation is inherent to the discipline (e.g., lyra) but must be load-rated for human loads and not used indiscriminately.
AFC Safety Protocols & Risk Management 2
A student reports a previous shoulder labrum tear that has been cleared by a physician.
What is the most appropriate action before allowing them to participate in aerial fitness?