Almost a year after a UNC student fell and severely injured her legs and lower body, the indoor climbing walls at Rams Head Recreation Center and Fetze?r Hall will reopen after spring break.
Christopher Payne, the associate vice chancellor for student affairs, said that the facilities will reopen after recommendations from the UNC’s department of environment, health and safety have been implemented.
On April 21, Lizzie Smith, then a UNC student and Campus Recreation employee, fell off the Rams Head climbing wall. She was taken to the hospital after a security guard found her, and the walls were closed indefinitely.
The department completed an evaluation of the walls’ safety last year, and recommended an independent review, which concluded on Jan. 28.
The review consisted of a detailed inspection of the walls, safety equipment and the program’s staff training practices. The department also suggested enhancing employee training, including a review of procedures for staff roles and responsibilities when working at the climbing walls.
Other recommendations included a formal assessment of the safety of employment at the walls, and a review of climbing wall sign-in procedures as well as record-keeping practices.
“The reason for the recommendations was to assure the policies and procedures meet industry standards and best practice, based on the Climbing Wall Association’s industry practices,” said Mary Beth Koza, the department’s director.
A working group was formed after the accident, and has been responsible for overseeing the implementation of these recommendations. Payne, Koza and Marty Pomerantz, director of Campus Recreation, are members of the group.
A new climbing program coordinator was hired as well, and began work immediately following the evaluation.
