Managing Visitor Safety in the Outdoors Guiding Principles

Paddy Harrop

Recreation and Public Affairs Manager

Forestry Commission England

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Managing Visitor Safety Outdoors

1. Background and Principles

2. How the Forestry Commission has managed visitor safety

3. Outcomes and further information

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Background and Principles

Adams, J. & Thompson, M. Taking account of societal concerns about risk Framing the problem

Health and Safety Executive (2002) http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr035.pdf

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Background and Principles

Low risk countryside activities?

How many non fatal accidents per million hours of activity?

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‘landowner liability risk is low… in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland’

Bennet & Crowe (2008) [for CRN]

Background and context

• No nasty surprises?

• Some activities inherently risky

• Accidents do happen.

• Not the land managers role to change the nature of the activity

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04/03/2014

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• Add VSCG table

04/03/2014 RPA Management Board 8

Forestry Commission Approach

• Managing recreation since 1930’s

• Formal role and duties since 1960s

• Large investment 1970s, 1990s and 2000s

• Formalisation of policies mid to late 1990s

• Part of the VSCG group

• Operational Guidance Booklets 2000s

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Forestry Commission Approach

Plan

Implement

Monitor

Analyse

Legal Framework

Civil Law

- Occupiers liability acts (1957&1984)

- Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977

Criminal Law

- The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)

- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSWR)

- Construction, Design and Management Regulations (CDM)

- Mines and Quarries Act (1954)

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Management Framework

Analysis

Consider :

• Existing facilities

• Current use

• Surrounding area

• Trends

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Plan

Implement

Monitor

Analyse

Planning

Plan

Implement

Monitor

Analyse

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• Construction Design Management Regs

• Skills and expertise

• Design standards

• Future management

• Type of use

• Risks and Benefits

Implementation

Plan

Implement

Monitor

Analyse

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Do what you have planned!

• Welcome visitors

• Staff responsibilities and training

• Maintenance

• Replacement and repairs

• Decommissioning

• Keep records

Monitoring

Plan

Implement

Monitor

Analyse

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• Who uses the facility and when

• Recorded facility inspections

• Act on defects and record actions.

• Good accident reporting system

• Robust claims management

• Keep records!

Outcomes

• More visitors to the outdoors doing more things

• Recreation that is enjoyable and good for health and wellbeing

• People voluntarily taking challenges and risks

• More outdoor skills and greater self reliance

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Outcomes

Keep things in perspective

• 40 million visits per year to FC land in England

• 502 reported accidents per year

• Less than 2 successful claims per annum

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Further Information

1. Visitor Safety In the Countryside Group. www.vscg.org.uk:/g.co.uk/

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4. Bennet, L. & Crowe L. (2008) Landowners' Liability? Sheffield Hallam for CRN. http://shura.shu.ac.uk/678/

2. Adams, J. & Thompson, M. Taking account of societal concerns about risk Framing the problem Health and Safety Executive (2002). http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr035.pdf

3. Managing Risk in Play Provision www.playengland.org.uk

5. Denny, D (2005) Risk and Society, Sage Publications, London.

6. McNamee, M. (2007) Philosophy, Risk and Adventure Sports, Routledge, London.

End

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