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Standards can be obtained from the appropriate national body or professional organisation. For example:
- Education Outdoors New Zealand has developed standards
required for leading students on day and overnight trips
in the bush on marked tracks (Outdoor 1 Award);
- Standards New Zealand has lifejacket safety standards;
- Hillary Commission (1996) Outdoor Pursuits: Guidelines
for Educators 4th Edition has guidelines for most outdoor
pursuits. This can also be found at www.safeoutside.org
click on: Outdoor Activities Guidelines;
- Outdoor Centres and facilities must have a current building
warrant of fitness and it is accepted practice that ropes
courses have an annual external safety audit;
- The Outdoor Safety Institute (www.risk.net.nz)
has developed a checklist of standards required for safe
operation of an outdoor programme / facility (available
for self-reviews).
If no standards have been set, the yardstick to use is the current accepted professional practice for that activity, equipment, or facility. Professional organisations can assist schools with recommended standards. In addition, a provider should be able to produce evidence of their adherence to relevant legislation and safety standards or produce a recent audit report (self, peer, or external) demonstrating the above.
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