SAFETY AT OUTWARD BOUND
At Outward Bound, your safety and well-being are our top priorities. Our courses take place in the breathtaking Marlborough Sounds, an ideal outdoor classroom, where students can learn and grow through real-life challenges in a managed, supportive environment. We follow a comprehensive and rigorous safety program to create meaningful, transformative experiences safely.
Our safety program covers every aspect of our operations - from instructor training to the maintenance of our gear and the safety of our environment. All instructors complete an extensive training and mentoring program to handle diverse outdoor conditions and support students in a wide range of activities. Our program complies with the highest standards, continuously evaluated to maintain excellence in safety.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
Your safety and welfare is our primary concern, however, you do participate at your own risk and there are times without direct staff supervision. Our courses are designed to be mentally, emotionally and physically challenging, with long days and a good night’s sleep not guaranteed. Activities occur in all weather conditions. When undertaking any activity, you will be briefed on the risks and how to manage them. There is a chance you could get an illness or injury, and may be asked to sit out certain activities.
There have been no major life-changing injuries at Outward Bound in over 20 years, however, serious risks can never be completely eliminated. These include death or injury from falling, drowning, burns, hypothermia, heat stress or road accidents. To reduce the likelihood of a serious accident we have a comprehensive safety management system as outlined below.
HOW WE MANAGE RISK
A Duty Manager is assigned per course to oversee the smooth operation of courses and ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff.
Their primary responsibility is to approve or veto activities based on multiple factors, including programme outcomes, student and instructor wellbeing, weather conditions, logistics, and resource availability. They also play a key role in coordinating daily plans, ensuring that schedules run smoothly, and responding to any unexpected challenges.
In the rare event of an emergency, the Duty Manager is the first point of coordination, ensuring an effective response by bringing in the right expertise and support. They also help set the tone for each day, monitoring culture and behaviour to create a positive and safe learning environment.
Instructors are integral to safety. We select only the best for the job. We look for people who have the right combination of skills, experience and abilities. On top of their existing experience our instructors are required to complete an extensive training and induction programme.
New instructors go through a rigorous 2 month training programme followed by 4 months of intense on-the-job mentoring by senior kaiako. Mentoring, training and supervision continues throughout their employment period as they transition from the receiver to the provider of mentoring and supervision.
All instructors undertake 3 weeks of staff training each year and are allocated funding to undertake further training with external providers. Instructors are employed full time for 3 year contracts.
Outward Bound uses modern, well maintained safety and emergency equipment appropriate to each activity. Critical safety equipment is subject to pre-use checks, monthly inspections and scheduled replacement to ensure it is fit for purpose.
ESAC is made up of outdoor sector safety experts. Alongside our Safety Manager and School Director, they advise the Board on health & safety matters. This includes oversight of our schedule of regular audits, and approving any substantial changes to our safety management policy or system.
AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS
We have three tiers of review
AdventureMark (meets Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016)
Outward Bound International
Maritime New Zealand (Maritime Transport Operator Certificate and Outward Bound Launch Master training scheme)
Schedule and scope approved by ESAC
Undertaken by technical experts
Recommendations and Observations reported to ESAC
Annual checks of critical infrastructure by external professionals
Scheduled internal reviews of activities