RAMS - Outdoor Rock Climbing
Potential Risks (the things that could go wrong)
- Head/neck/spinal injury
- Break/sprain
- Death
- Medical emergency
- Loss of self-esteem/confidence
- Lost students
- Hypothermia
Causal Factors
Management Strategies
Hazards caused by people
Risks not known
Instructions not followed
Personal medical conditions/special needs
Students too far out of their comfort zone
Lack of skill - instructors/teachers
Poor belay technique
Climbing too fast
Students leaving climbing area
Poor communication between climber and belayer
Incorrect knots tied
Students wandering off
Hazards caused by equipment
Damaged rope
Inappropriate footwear
Lack of toilet paper/sanitiser
Insufficient safety gear
Damaged hardware
Clothing not suitable
Hazards caused by the environment
Mosquitoes in area
No defined track to crag
Rain
Cold weather
Loose rocks
Slippery/rough track
Dead/rotting possums
Bee/wasp/insect stings/bites
Dirt floor contaminating rope
Weather bomb or extreme weather
Hazard management strategies
Brief students on risks
Students to follow all instructions
Medical information obtained and understood by trip leader. Students to have their medications on hand
Encourage challenge by choice
Instructors/teachers to have sufficient knowledge, skills, and experience to lead the trip
Correct belay training and monitoring by staff
Sufficient communication between belayer and climber
Clear boundaries set out at the climbing area
Ensure students maintain focus and use correct calls for safe climbing
Teach climbers to tie retraced 8’s before trip day
Students have their cell phones on them. Move in pairs. Number off
Hazard management strategies
Check all ropes prior to trip, teach students how to check ropes
Everyone to wear climbing shoes supplied by the school
Bring hygiene supplies
Students issued with helmets before departing school
Hardware checked prior to use
Issue students with a gear list
Hazard management strategies
Bring and apply insect repellent (clean hands with sanitiser after use)
Slash and mark out track where necessary, prior to trip day
Bring appropriate wet weather gear
Bring suitable clothing
Check crag for loose rocks before climbing, wear helmets
Wear sturdy shoes and warn students about the track
Check area prior to trip day for animal carcasses
Bring appropriate medication
Use tarps to put ropes on
Postpone trip
Emergency Protocols (if management strategies fail and an incident happens)
Risk
1. Neck/spinal injury
2. Break/sprain
3. Death
4.. Medical emergency
5. Loss of confidence
6. Lost students
7. Hypothermia
Procedures to deal with emergency
Stabilise patient, call for an ambulance, apply first aid
Stabilise effected area, call for an ambulance, apply first aid
Cover body, remove students from area, contact school and emergency services
Give medication, call for an ambulance
Coach and support student, remind them about "challenge by choice" to empower them
Student to stay where they are and call for help, activity lead to assess situation and take actions to
find the student; whistle blasts, call out, send for help, notify police/search and rescue
Remove student from cold environment (bothy bag), feed them, evacuate to the van
Emergency gear required
Cell phone
First aid kit, cell phone
Nil
Personal medications, antihistamines,
adrenaline
Nil
Cell phone, whistle
Tarpaulin