Issue: Combined Water/Rock Activities (CWRA or CWR Activities) are activities where hazards associated with a rock environment may at times combine or alternate with those of a water environment.
1. Combined Water/Rock Activities (CWRA or CWR Activities) are activities where hazards associated with a rock environment may at times combine or alternate with those of a water environment. It represents a spectrum of activities some of which are mostly rock activities and some of which are mostly water activities, and includes, but may not be limited to the following. To make matters more complicated many of the following names are used by different people to mean quite different activities;
Each activity is potentially serious in that apparently innocuous incidents or accidents can have serious or compounding consequences.
2. Caving activities also regularly combine the elements of rock activities and water activities. The principles underlying this safety check list would apply equally to caving and potholing. There are well established training and qualification schemes for these activities.
3. Some of the variations are well established and are considered by one or more National Governing Bodies (NGBs). The Mountain Training Board UK (MTBUK), the British Canoe Union (BCU), and the National Caving Association (NCA) have perhaps the closest connections although there is also an overlap with the work of the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), the Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain, the British Surfing Association and others.
4. The main hazards include, but may not be limited to:
5. Control measures could be thought of in three contexts:
6. It would be appropriate, in cases where participants may end up in the water to apply the precautionary principle, and control measures (and test them accordingly) as though participants will end up in the water.
7. Because of the large number of variations of activities and the wide range of local conditions and site specific hazards it is unlikely that one universal set of guidelines is going to be successful. Each provider will need to determine their own position. However, in the preparation of specific guidelines providers may find it useful to assure themselves that the following issues have at least been considered. It should be very apparent that not all issues will apply to any one venue, or any one provider.
8. The list of issues which providers may choose to consider includes, but may not be limited to:
9. Identification of appropriate leader competence - a system of identifying and verifying the required competence of leaders and assistants is required. Each venue and the way it is used should dictate the required competencies and these should include getting to and from the activity site (which may involve potentially hazardous, loose or slippery terrain) as well as any problems in conducting the activity. There may be a single NGB award or a combination of more than one which adequately provides the necessary competencies. Alternatively a process of ratification by one or more suitably experienced and qualified person(s) may be appropriate. It may be necessary to determine 'suitable' from first principles.
10. Instructor induction - an induction process is likely to be required, i.e. accompanying someone who knows what they are doing, and learning from them. This would need to address, amongst other things, control measures for the hazards and risks identified above. It must be clear who is to conduct this induction, what it covers, what form it takes, etc. An induction checklist will help to ensure consistency. (A synopsis of issues addressed in 1, 2 and 3 could constitute a 'risk assessment'.) This is the point where providers can begin to develop 'local knowledge' in new staff. Local knowledge is likely to be one of the major safety factors in the delivery of these activities.
11. Monitoring - once staff are competent the employer needs to monitor them from time to time. This will involve going and watching them work; it cannot be substituted with a paper trail. The main benefits are to:
12. Instructor Training - this may be in addition to Instructor Induction. Providers should ensure that instructors are equipped with the skills necessary to deal with any reasonably foreseeable and relevant occurrences at the venues used. This will often include training at the venues themselves and ideally should include at least some practical incident and accident scenarios and responses. An induction day with a real group could be followed by a day of training where optional exit points etc. could be explored or practised.
13. Identification of group competence - increasingly these activities are being offered as 'one-off' activities to a wide range of groups, from primary schools to corporate groups. A policy of identifying the competence, experience, special needs, physical and medical condition of the participants is advised. Particular attention may be needed to try to establish the water confidence and swimming ability participants before undertaking activities which may result in them finishing up in deep, or moving water. As a result of identifying group competence it would be equally acceptable to either:
14. Acknowledgement of risk - a policy on informing the participants of the nature and extent of risks, and what to expect from the activity is encouraged. This is particularly important where the participants may have no concept or prior knowledge of this type of activity. It may be unreasonable to expect a commercial provider to detail the hazards in their primary advertising. However, it may be reasonable, for example, to leave this information until the point of booking or even (in some cases) to the point of departure. The identification of risks should be clear, and allow realistic and uninhibited options to any participants who, as a result, wish to decline the activity.
15. Identification of venue options - it may be beneficial to have alternative venues or alternative start or finish points. In some cases the degree of difficulty or the duration of the trip or both can be determined by varying these. On the day the most appropriate venue or variation on the venue could be used depending on factors such as the weather conditions, nature, experience and expectations of the group, the number and experience of staff available.
16. Alternative exits - some venues have a number of possible entry and exit points. Knowledge of the existence of these as escape routes and familiarity with the practicalities of using a range of these may have clear benefits, particularly if it becomes necessary or desirable to cut a trip short. Some consideration should be given to any extra equipment which may be required for particular exits, ascents or indeed a retreat.
17. Grading Systems - some providers establish their own grading system to facilitate issues of venue selection etc. Some examples already exist. There may be some benefit in at least differentiating between 'wet' and 'dry' venues, 'technical' and' non-technical' venues, and escapable and inescapable venues.
18. Jumping into Water - on arrival at a planned jumping location it is advisable, particularly after flooding or for a new venue (or if in the sea, at a new stage of the tide) to carry out a reconnaissance. Depending on the location and proposed activity this could include, for example:
19. The unexpected 'panicker' - sometimes even strong swimmers will panic when they fall or jump into deep, cold water. They may not be able to help themselves and their violent actions can sometimes make rescue of them very difficult. It is good practice to anticipate this by:
20. Wild swimming - we all know that 'having a dip' in a mountain stream (as part of a hill-walk perhaps) is appealing to young and old alike. Whilst the very spontaneity of the activity in itself can be one of the hazards, with a little caution and forethought these hazards can be safely managed.
21. 'Wild swimming' in this context refers to planned or spontaneous swimming in streams, ponds, pools, etc. where any participant can be reliably rescued by any one of many non-swimming rescues (e.g. talk, reach, throw, wade, etc). There are more to these techniques than just common sense. Even group management at the water margins is a skill which can be trained (and assessed) by someone with considerable expertise in this environment, although not necessarily any specific qualifications (swift-water rescue, life-saving, lifeguard qualifications, will all be relevant, but none fully cover the hazards in wild swimming which can be varied and site-specific).
22. The session should be as organised as any other 'adventure activity', with briefings and explanations (in particular this offers a great opportunity to teach youngsters sensible risk awareness and risk management in a well controlled environment).
23. Other topics in these notes will be relevant; particularly 'pool jumping' and 'the unexpected panicker' will give some relevant tips. Similarly, sections such as the identification and management of hazards, leader competence and induction, group competence, and so forth, will help to develop a safe and systematic approach to one of outdoors' most wonderful adventure activities.
24. Forecast of conditions - a policy for obtaining and interpreting weather forecasts, water levels, sea state etc. is generally needed. It must be clear who is to do this, when it is to be done, and what action they will take for a range of possible forecasts. These could include, but may not be limited to, modification of the venue, change of venue, cancellation and/or return of payment. If the addition of an assistant instructor is the response then there must be a mechanism whereby a suitable person can be deployed in the given time span, etc.
25. Cut-off criteria - Each venue may require "cut-off" conditions or levels identifiable by leaders and/or management. Fluctuating and rising water levels will be particularly significant. Again the considerations of who, when and 'what do they do about it' apply here.
26. Plan B - Accidents have happened in the past when groups did not have an alternative plan in mind - something to do if the original plan of action becomes impossible or ill-advised. Not having such a plan B can and has, resulted in the group going ahead even though they knew the conditions were far from ideal.
27. Identification of appropriate clothing and equipment -
It will also need to be clear who checks it, when and where they do this, and what they do if it is not correct or acceptable.
28. Ratios - it will generally be appropriate to have a policy on ratios, maximum group size, use of assistants, etc. This should take account of group management difficulties associated with only having one instructor, which can arise at some venues. Similarly some providers find it useful to have two separate groups operating at the same venue and available to give mutual support if required.
29. Briefings - there will generally need to be a policy on the existence, content and presentation of a safety briefing. Participants should be advised on what they can do to help ensure their own safety. It may not be appropriate for instructors to deliver all relevant instructions in one briefing. Verbal communication at some venues can be very difficult. Providers should decide whether a system of hand signal is necessary and introduce this at an appropriate point.
30. Technical Advice - if the activity falls beyond the experience of management it would be advisable to get advice from one or more appropriately experienced and qualified person or persons. It may be necessary to determine 'appropriate' from first principles by considering the requirements of a particular venue. For example appropriate Technical Advisor(s) could be holders of the Mountain Instructor Certificate (MIC), Mountain Instructor Award (MlA), British Mountain Guide (BMG), Cave Instructor Certificate (CIC), one of the BCU sea kayaking, surfing or white water rescue awards, Swift-water Rescue Technician, Surfing awards or other rescue experience and/or qualifications. The choice will depend on the characteristics of the venue and the very specialised expertise of the individual.
31. In either event the Technical Advisor(s) should be able to offer useful, constructive advice on the activity including, amongst other things, staff competence, operating procedures, equipment, ratios, use of assistants, etc.
32. Ideally the provider will be suitably experienced and qualified to fulfil this role.
33. First aid - specialised first aid, life saving and/or rescue skills may be necessary. Some of the life saving and rescue skills may be NGB based or developed through in-house training and assessment. It may be appropriate to include scenario-based training at the venues to be used in order to identify the problems as well as the solutions which particular venues may present. First aid considerations will generally include a procedure for rewarming cold participants and should take into consideration the nature of the venue, transport arrangements etc.
34. Appropriate first aid equipment will need to be carried in the group. At some venues it may be appropriate to have additional equipment (like spare clothes and hot drinks) available in for example a nearby vehicle.
35. Emergency action plans;
36. Safety boats - some providers find it helpful to have groups accompanied by, or to have access to, a rescue boat. This solution is rare and careful consideration should be given to the effectiveness and safety of such a solution. However, it has been effective, for example, where there is a risk of the group being cut off in sheltered but inescapable bays by a combination of delays and rising tides.
37. Coast Guard - consideration should be given whether to notify the Coast Guard or similar emergency services. If so, it must be made clear what the emergency service and the provider are expected to do thereafter.
