Risk Analysis and Management System

Activity: Waitomo Caves Float Thru

Party becoming lost; trapped by flood waters over the weir; lack of lights; fatigue; drowning in deep pools; protracted trip due to poor evaluation of conditions; psychological stress; hypothermia.

Inexperience; lack of fitness; lack of water skills; poor leadership; lack of risk disclosure; too large a party; uneven strength; lack of pre-trip  planning/briefing; poor technical skills; large physical size.

Lack of: spare lights, energy, emergency food,  wetsuits, thermals, flotation.

Loose rocks; cave stream in flood; aerated pools; cold.

Normal Operations

Pre-trip planning; careful selection of party; good leadership/co-leader; briefing/risk disclosure; high level of skill in water; emergency contingency; leader has previous knowledge of system.

Check all personal gear: wetsuits, thermals, spares; logged/checked group and gear.

Water level recorders checked; weather forecasts checked; local knowledge  checked.

Emergency

Party has left detailed trip plan with realistic time estimate; at least two members of group have knowledge of cave to exit independently; "Safe" areas have been pre-determined; whereabouts of potential rescue cavers known, as are SAR callout procedures; cellphone in vehicle/land line available near cave exit. 

Disclosure of any medical problems in the group; planning to include food / drinks for pupils; emergency packs always carried on each activity (thermos, chocolate, warm clothes, First Aid).

Good communications; group control; crisis management; on site guide management; prior training in the activity; continual environmental assessment.

email us at: education@waitomodiscovery.org               21/12/2007