Overall, taking part in outdoor education, even where it involves adventurous activities is relatively safe when compared to other every day activities such as crossing the road or being in vehicles.
One of the keys to maintaining safe, enjoyable and learning experiences is to ensure that those leading an excursion are adequately trained ensuring that they possess the appropriate competencies.
For outdoor activities, National Governing Bodies provide training and assessment courses and these are the mainstay of ensuring leaders have the required skills.
The Highland Council as the employer is responsible for the Health and Safety of its employees, and to fulfil this duty it has to monitor what actually takes place. Therefore, from time to time the Outdoor Education Officer will attend off-site excursions where adventure activities are being provided to offer support.
Highland Council Documents
Procedure and Guidelines for ‘All Off-Site Excursions’
The above document is applicable to all establishments within the auspices of Highland Council that undertake excursions outwith the boundaries of their establishment. Within the document you will find reference to approval forms which help you collate all the appropriate information prior to submitting the form for approval. You can download the Approval forms on the 'Off Site
If the excursion involves an adventure activity please also refer to the ‘Outdoor Education Safety Document’
Generic Risk Assessments
All off-site excursions have hazards associated with them; in many cases the risk of something going wrong is slim. Never the less, as leaders, it is important to evaluate the hazards associated with the excursion you have in mind. Aware of the hazards, steps must be taken to keep the risk of being affected by any one of the hazards to a minimum. Generic risk assessments for adventurous activities are available on this web site or by request from the Outdoor Education Resource Centre, outdoor.ed@highland.gov.uk
Excursion Specific Risk Assessments
Each leader will have to prepare one of these; an example can be seen on the Off Site Excursions web site.
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