Risk management
Safety is not just following certain practices; it is also an attitude that must be carried through all the planning and implementation phases of any off-site activity. Unless this attitude pervades, it will be impossible to operate safe, high-quality outdoor education experiences.
Off-site trip safety is the responsibility of the entire community. Young people come to school with attitudes about safety that they have learned at home and in the community. Every safety conscious action taken by parents and community members sends a message to young people and makes it easier to plan these experiences.
Standard of Care
There exist an inherent risk of injury in most off-site settings and because of this educators must be careful not to breach the standard of care owed to their students. The Supreme Court of Canada used the following four criteria to provide for an expanded standard of care for physical education. Yukon Education is adopting these criteria for off-site activities.
Off-site trip safety is the responsibility of the entire community. Young people come to school with attitudes about safety that they have learned at home and in the community. Every safety conscious action taken by parents and community members sends a message to young people and makes it easier to plan these experiences.
Standard of Care
There exist an inherent risk of injury in most off-site settings and because of this educators must be careful not to breach the standard of care owed to their students. The Supreme Court of Canada used the following four criteria to provide for an expanded standard of care for physical education. Yukon Education is adopting these criteria for off-site activities.
- Is the activity suitable to the age, mental and physical condition of the participants(s)?
- Have the participants been progressively taught and coached to perform the activity properly and to avoid the dangers inherent in the activity?
- Is the equipment adequate and suitably arranged?
- Is the activity being supervised properly for the inherent risk involved?
Teacher/Trip Leader Responsibilities
The staff member in charge of a field trip is responsible for:
- Ensuring that the principles and requirements of the Field Trip Policy and other Yukon Education policies are followed when field trips are planned and carried out.
- Ensuring that all aspects of risk management for the field trip have been considered and that effective mitigation measures have been incorporated to minimize the risks identified.
- When a prior site visit is required, conducting the site visit to ensure full familiarity with the conditions that will prevail when the field trip takes place.
- Ensuring that all Consent Forms include full identification of known hazards and risks and that a plan to mitigate those risks is in place to maximize the safety of the students, staff and volunteers.
- Ensuring that the process for obtaining informed consent from parents has been completed and that a meeting is held when required to fully inform parents about the field trip.
- Planning and submitting paperwork for the approval of field trips in the required time lines.
- Ensuring that all field trips have clear and expressed links to the curriculum and clearly defined learning outcomes.
- Ensuring that all field trip participants are fully informed of the supplies and gear required for the field trip.
- Using a Medical Form to document all known medical conditions of students participating in the field trip, and determining whether the student will self-medicate and if the staff member in charge will maintain possession of the medication and/or a back-up supply of the medication.
- Inspecting all material and gear that will be used on the field trip to ensure that it is operational, appropriate, and well maintained.
- Advising any volunteers of their responsibilities and duties required of them during the field trip, in accordance with the Volunteers in the Schools Policy and using the Volunteer Registration Form.
- Maintaining a record as part of the field trip documentation of any unanticipated incidents on the field trip, including near misses, accidents, discharging of a firearm, illness/injury, and any other relevant incidents and information that the staff member in charge deems to be important.
- Assuming full responsibility for the students at all times during the field trip, leading the field trip in accordance with what was approved, and making any changes in accordance with the Contingency Plan or with approval from the school administrator.
Risk Analysis Form
This form is part of all Complex Trip Applications. If you require assistance with risk analysis please consult your school's administration or the Off-Site Review Committee.
Field tripping in the backcountry? Please read:
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