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ABSTRACT
Inadequate risk assessment has been implicated as a contributory factor in the deaths and injuries of participants on led outdoor activity (LOA) programmes in both Australia and overseas. The identification and assessment of risks is a required component of LOA programmes, and multiple risk assessment methods and techniques are available to the practitioner. Little, however, is known about the risk assessment approaches currently applied in practice. This study surveyed Australian LOA practitioners to: (1) determine which risk assessment methods and policy guidance are currently used in practice (if any); (2) understand practitioner perspectives around the utility of risk assessments; and (3) identify perceived challenges and barriers in applying these methods to the LOA context. The results paint a concerning picture of confusion and uncertainty in relation to conducting risk assessments, as well as a lack of policy guidance and formal training. The results imply that new and more suitable methods of risk assessment should be developed, focussing on the development, planning and delivery of led outdoor activities.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to express genuine thanks to the two anonymous referees whose comments and feedback improved an earlier version of this manuscript.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1. ‘Led’ outdoor activities have been formally defined as facilitated or instructed activities in outdoor settings (Salmon et al., Citation2010).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Clare Dallat
Clare Dallat is a PhD researcher in accident analysis and prevention within the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems at the University of the Sunshine Coast. For almost 15 years, she led the risk management programme at The Outdoor Education Group in Australia where approximately 40,000 students participate annually in multi-day outdoor education programmes.
Natassia Goode
Dr Natassia Goode is a senior research fellow and theme leader within the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Paul M. Salmon
Paul M. Salmon is an Australian Research Council future fellow and holds a chair in Human Factors at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC). He is the Inaugural Director of the Centre for Human Factors and Sociotechnical Systems at USC.