Safety audit standard for adventure activities

Outdoors New Zealand media release

19 March 2013

Safety audit standard for adventure activities another step in the right direction

Outdoors New Zealand (ONZ) believes the Safety Audit Standard for adventure activities is another step in the right direction. The standard was published on 14 March 2013 by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and it has the potential to provide significant benefits for the adventure tourism and outdoor commercial sector.

ONZ was delighted to be the principal developer of the ‘Safety Audit Standard for Adventure Activities – Requirements for a Safety Audit of Operators’, which is the first standard created by MBIE under the Health and Safety in Employment (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2011.

ONZ Chief Executive, Garth Dawson, says the standard is a major advance in implementing the recommendations from the Adventure Tourism and Outdoor Commercial Safety review.

“This development is a holistic suite of measures including the adventure activities regulations, the audit standard, operator registration scheme and guidance resources.

“Through this initiative the New Zealand outdoor sector, in combination with MBIE, is establishing one of the most comprehensive adventure safety environments in the world,” he says.

“It is a unique combination of regulation, education and enforcement that increases the assurance of safe operating practices in New Zealand's outdoors.”

OutdoorsMark, the national outdoor safety audit programme managed by ONZ, is already aligned with the standard. Operators, who are OutdoorsMark certified, can have confidence that their operation meets the requirements of the standard.

Minister of Labour, Hon. Simon Bridges, says the new standard sets a bar for adventure activity operators who are required to pass a safety audit before they can become registered.

“There will always be a level of risk with these types of activities, but commercial operators must take all practicable steps to operate safely.”

Mr Bridges says New Zealand is renowned for its adventure tourism and the standard is part of a range of initiatives introduced over the last three years to strengthen the safety of the industry.

The standard can be read at www.dol.govt.nz/adventure-activities

Key Facts

Outdoors New Zealand (ONZ) is the peak organisation providing leadership and support to the outdoor recreation, outdoor education and adventure tourism community. It is responsible for coordinating and supporting organisations and individuals within this sector.

ONZ encourages collaboration and cooperation within the outdoors community. It also advocates for and actively promotes the outdoor sector.

MBIE enlisted ONZ to help develop the Safety Audit Standard, in consultation with a reference group convened by MBIE.

OutdoorsMark, the national outdoor safety audit programme, is managed by ONZ. The requirements contained within the OutdoorsMark audit are closely aligned to the requirements of the Safety Audit Standard.

ENDS

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