In the first of
this series of blogs where our Chairman William Mackay IFMGA looks at the Safe
System of training/ operating in the Adventure Tourism sector we looked at “Safe Culture”. What we are trying to do
is see how the evidence can be analyzed against an established safe system which
we have identified as The Safe System. A model that can be referred to when considering most
accident in this sector.
To recap: The Safe System of Training/ Operating is a safety
management analysis protocol the consists of 4
separate elements where the hazards have been assessed and the consequent
control measures have been integrated, at a high level, into formal procedures,
in order to reduce the inherent risks to as low as is reasonably practicable (within the constraints imposed by the
operational imperative). The 4 elements of the Safe System has had recently
a fifth element “Safe Culture” introduced,
and we looked at that in the first of our 5 blog series. Today we continue and
look at “Safe Place” in this overall
concept.
When looking at this element we must
consider further that The Safe
System of Training / operating can/ is used to evaluate the operation/ incident
where the injury and/ or damage occurred and evaluate whether or not the
operating culture/ organization have a ………….:
Safe Place.
A safe place is one in which the controls necessary to enable authorised activities
to be conducted safely have been identified by a site-specific risk assessment
and directed through appropriate safety management operating procedure (HSE
guidance in this action). In most potentially high risk activities Dynamic (on-going) risk assessments are inherent
methodical tasks that instructors, supervisors and competent participants
continually undertake during the entire course of the activity.
IEW experts who specialise in
accident investigation have used the 4 elements of the Safe System as a tool to
identify what happened, how it happened and why it happened and the safe place
is paramount to the operation and is a key stone to the other elements we are
going to explore in future blogs.
Look out
for subsequent blogs when we address the other elements of the Safe System.
For any questions regarding Safe Systems or if you need expert witness advice on a case in the Adventure Tourism industry, please do not hesitate to contact our Expert Witnesses on 0117 986 2194 or at enquiries@iew.org.uk.
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