Risk Management
Academic: Risk Management Class
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Course Outline/Description:
Students are exposed to theoretical and practical applications dealing with risk in the outdoor adventure industry. Risk assessment, systems-based planning and prevention, control, and mitigation strategies are studied. Managing emergency situations, training, planning, and documenting are covered from the guide's perspective. The Canadian legal system, liability and negligence, waivers and releases, and insurance are looked at from the business perspective. This course is considered essential to the program and, as such a passing grade is required in order to advance to the next level
(Algonquin College, 2022)
Practical:
Working in a dynamic outdoor environment opens up doors to possible dangers and injuries. As a professional in the outdoor adventure industry, it is our job to identify these possible risks, prepare for them to the best of our abilities in an effort to control the amount of risk, and mitigate any injuries or hazards that pose danger/risk.
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Being an active and adventurous person, my whole life has consisted of identifying risks and doing my best to avoid them, or manage them in the safest manner possible. Over the last 2 years specifically, I have been trained by outdoor industry professionals on how to identify risks and manage them appropriately and efficiently. This process has become second nature to me and I am now able to constantly scan and evaluate any and all situations as I move through life. When the risk is higher than normal, I am trained on how to react accordingly, for example:
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Example: White-water Kayaking Instructor
- I am in charge of scouting a rapid and assessing whether or not my group should proceed. If I determine it is safe to do so, I then use my risk management skills, along with some hard skills, and decide the safest route down the rapid for my team.
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