1. You cannot manage risk by eliminating it. Especially in our business! Otherwise we’d clip the barbs off fishhooks & issue bubble suits day 1. Risk is inherent.

2. Risk Management vs. Emergency Procedures What’s the Difference? Risk Mgmt  Process of evaluating potential exposure for humans, financial resources and property resources through analysis of previous incidents and current conditions and formulating a plan for reducing, preventing, or controlling loss through specific procedures for emergency response, analyzing new incidents, adopting new policies, and evaluating the effectiveness of plans. Emergency Action Plan  Specific set of procedures to follow in case of an emergency.

3. In Parentis Loci… The Good News The law recognizes the essential nature of risk in a learning experience such as a backpacking trip to or rockclimbing. It is a parental responsibility to “educate” children in a variety of ways. Therefore as the “acting parent”, we have some protections…As long as we are not negligent.

4. Legal Issues that Should Concern You  Prudent & Reasonable  Negligence  Duty to Act  Standard of Care

5. Common Sense vs. Careful & Prudent What’s the Difference? Careful & Prudent represents a legal standard by which behavior will be judged in a legal proceeding to determine if an individual or an organization was negligent. Common sense? Has no meaning in a Risk Management discussion and no place in an EAP.

6. Steps to Minimizing Risk  Identify Risks & determine acceptable levels of risk.  Formulate a written plan to minimize the risk by avoiding it, eliminating it, educating it, or regulating it.  Train staff and document mastery.  Rehearse.  Observe and provide feedback.  Include campers as part of risk management & safety culture through practice & education.

7. How much risk is acceptable? For the individual…  Risk must be purposeful and understood.  Plan in place to minimize risk thru training.  Informed participation; never coerced. To the agency…Very little  Follow industry standards & documented procedures  Appropriate Training  Active Supervision  Appropriate, well-maintained equipment To Employees … Zero

8. PROMINENT EXPOSURES Inaccurate representation of inherent risks Staff who do not meet min. requirements Failure to train in actual environmental conditions Poor preparation of staff to enact a written EAP Not equipping staff/youth for conditions expected Failure to follow written procedures Law breaking or violating rules & recommends Not substantiating outfitter’s exp. or coverage Failure to establish agreements in writing Failure to provide safe transport inc. not researching practices of hired firms

9. Challenge by Choice Many lawsuits on adventure courses and on activities like treks & boating have to do with a violation of Challenge by Choice… “I was coerced into participating”. What is CBC?  Fundamental C5 Belief  Fundamental Participant Right Participants choose “how” not “if” they participate.  Are never coerced.  Informed of risks prior to activity … ”You could fall”.

10. Coercion vs. Encouragement COERCION  It’s perfectly safe!  Nothing to be afraid of, watch me. [demos]  If I can do it, you can do it!  Come on you, sissy!  If you don’t do it, then you can’t go with us.  All the cool people are doing it…  Be a man! Make me proud! ENCOURAGEMENT  Nice job!  If you can get your foot a little higher you can make it.  You’re working hard. Keep it up!  Take a deep breath. Are you sure you’re ready to come down?  I’m very impressed. Coercion negates any sort of risk acknowledgement.

11. A Discussion  Who is responsible for safety?  Everyone  Establishing a culture of safety …  A good safety culture is one where everyone has a stake in safety and everyone acts in ways that protect the safety of others.

12.  ACTIVITY: Think of …  1-2 Headlines we don’t want to see and how we’re going to avoid them.  1-2 Headlines we want to see and how we’re going to achieve them.

13.  ACTIVITY: Hazard Identification  Identify 3 hazards  Sketch a plan for minimizing this hazard.  Keep to Bulleted Points