Outdoor Safety Management Planing

1. Program Analysis:

Safety Management begins with an in-depth program analysis to identify the areas of possible risk. This analysis should be performed on each activity that is offered. [In some cases, you might decide to do the analysis of your leaders first and then, based on the skill levels of your leaders, determine what activities you can offer at what levels (see below).] The analysis should include:

1.   Activities - the types of program activities (canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, etc.) will all have different types of Environmental Hazards and potential accidents
       What are the risk management factors in the activity? Which can be controlled and which cannot
          be controlled?
          What skills are needed by participants?
          What skills are needed by leaders?
          What equipment is needed?
          What training in the use of the equipment is needed by leaders, participants?

2.   Populations - there are a number of factors in the populations that you program for that can have impacts on safety. These include:
       Age of participants
          Previous experience - programs that are introducing new people to outdoor activities versus
          programs that are providing activities for experienced outdoorspersons or program with a mix of
          both.
          Physical condition
          Mental & emotional conditions
          Willingness to participate - voluntary (free or paying to attend) versus required to attend

3.   Locations - the location of the activity is also an important factor
       How much travel and what type is required to get to the activity and return?
          How will the participants or group travel?
          Individual cars, group vehicle, who is driving?
          How remote is the activity?
          Activities which are more remote may require additional support and have less
          chance for rescue in an emergency. This may require the group to operate at a lower level of difficulty than in an
          area closer to "civilization." For example, paddlers on remote whitewater rivers will often increase the rating of a
          rapid by one class because of the remoteness (a Class IV rapid would be considered a Class V in terms of the
          consequences if something goes wrong).

4.   Weather - typical weather for the activity, location, and season will be a significant factor in determining the experience level, physical condition, age, and experience level of those who are appropriate to go on a trip.

2. Participants:
 
 

Who participates in the trip is important. There are a number of factors that define different levels of "relationship" between the participant and the sponsoring organization. As a result, there are different levels of responsibility both from an educational and ethical perspective and from a legal/contract perspective that develop between the participant and the sponsoring organization.

These include:

      Is the participant paying a fee to go or is someone else paying (such as a parent), or is the person going at no cost?
      Is the person providing all their own equipment or is the sponsoring organization providing some or all equipment?
     How was the program advertised?
     Was it announced in some official publication or newsletter?
     Did the participant have to sign up or register in some way?
     Does the participant sign a waiver or release?
     What, if any, implied or explicit contract exists between the participant and the sponsoring organization?

3. Leaders & Leader Training:
 
 

Who "leads" a trip varies greatly from program to program. In some cases there is a paid leader, in others the leader is a volunteer, and in some there is no leader, everyone just meets some place and goes (typically referred to as the "common adventurer model"). The common adventurer model is a format often used by recreational activity clubs where no one is designated as a leader or officially in charge. In some cases, where the experience level of all participants is high, the common adventurer model works extremely well.

All of the participants have the knowledge and experience to do the activity safely and clearly understand and accept the potential risks. For many clubs however, the club serves to introduce beginners to the outdoors and I believe this creates at least an ethical obligation to structure activities to provide a safe environment for participants who do not have the experience and judgment (yet) to understand and protect themselves from potential risk. This means that the organization is not just the activity (e.g. hiking), it is about educating people about how to do the activity and do it both safely and with proper respect for the wilderness. This is the role taken on by the trip leader, teaching skills to those with less experience and managing safety for the group.