Live For Today LTD Activity Specific Guidelines. 2016 Live For Today Adventures Harrogate Business Centre Harrogate HG2 8ER 01423 876 379 Live for Today LTD is owned and managed by Geoff Storey, Dan Miller and Marc Wise. They are jointly responsibility for safety management and the day-to-day running of all activities organised by the company. Our operating procedures and activity specific guidelines are detailed here and are available for inspection by interested party. Technical Advisors for Live For Today LTD: Caving Mountaineering Rock Climbing Gorge Walking Canoeing and Kayaking Mountain Biking Geoff Storey CIC Geoff Storey MIA Geoff Storey MIA Geoff Storey CIC Lindsay Williams BCU Lv 5 coach Liam Scott MBLA Lv2
Caving When caving a safety sack must be carried and be available to the party. First aid and emergency equipment must accompany the group underground. Helmet lamp and belt must be worn by all participants and staff participating in caving. In addition fur suits and over suits should be used as appropriate. All students should have suitable footwear i.e. wellingtons or boots. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of any equipment must be given. All ropes and equipment used for caving must be checked prior to, during and at the end of each session. Mountaineering Hill walking All ropes and equipment used for Mountaineering must be checked prior to, during and at the end of each session. On all mountaineering and hill walking activities each individual should wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and carry waterproofs, spare clothing, and food and drink as appropriate. The instructor must ensure that a complete appropriate safety sack is carried. For all advanced mountaineering and walking, the safety sack should also include a hill rope. The instructor is responsible for also obtaining a daily weather forecast before commencing the activity Activity location and parking must be left with the Designated Emergency Contact person, who will follow specified procedures in case of emergency. In addition to the summer hill walking requirements, in winter or poor conditions the means to provide a hot drink should be carried. When ice axe or crampons are carried instruction in their correct use must be given at the earliest opportunity. All unaccompanied groups must receive training in emergency procedures appropriate to the terrain they are to encounter. Orienteering Rock Climbing Abseiling For orienteering participants should wear full body cover (arms & legs) carry a whistle and be made clearly aware of procedures to follow if they get lost or injured. Instructors must ensure that an appropriate safety sack is carried Instructors will hold an MLTB Summer Award, or an appropriate Orienteering Award. When rock climbing an appropriate safety sack should accompany the party. Helmets must be worn by all students and staff participating in outdoor rock climbing and in the vicinity of the crag. Harnesses must be worn by students when climbing or abseiling.
Screw gate karabiners must be used for all belays, Belaying and for abseiling. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of any equipment must be given. All ropes and equipment used for rock climbing must be checked prior to each session by the instructor running the activity. A safety rope must be attached to participants at all times whilst undertaking abseils and under no circumstances should participants on courses ever abseil without safety ropes. The choice to wear helmets at indoor climbing venues is to be made by the instructor Gorge Walking Problem solving All ropes and equipment used for Gorge walking must be checked prior to, during and at the end of each session by the instructor running the activity. Participants must wear helmets and boots or wellingtons. Wet suits should be used if appropriate. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of any equipment must be given. Instructors will hold relevant qualifications and will be approved to run sessions after being accompanied by an MIA or CIC holder with at least two years of experience in Gorge walking. The instructor should ensure that participants involved in problem solving are appropriately dressed for the location and that an appropriate safety sack is carried. Improvised Rafting Sea Level Traversing When rafting an appropriate safety sack should accompany the party to the site. All participants must wear appropriate clothing, a buoyancy aid, and appropriate footwear. Wherever necessary, a wetsuit and/or a windproof top must be issued to all participants. The choice of location must be suitable for the group. Only inland sheltered locations may be used. A safety boat might be available if needed. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of any equipment must be given. Instructors will hold relevant qualifications and will be approved to run sessions after being accompanied by a BCU Lvl 3 Instructor with at least two years experience of Improvised Rafting. When sea level traversing an appropriate safety sack should accompany the party to the site. All participants should be appropriately equipped with helmet boots buoyancy aid and waterproofs if necessary. Only 1 locations are to be used, Humphrey Head and can only be used with no tide. The tide and weather must be checked. and appropriate instruction and
supervision in the use of any equipment must be given. Instructors to hold White Water Safety award and will be approved to run sessions after being accompanied by an MIA holder, with at least two years experience of Sea Level Traversing. Canoeing/Kayaking Mountain Biking All participants must be suitably equipped for watersports including the use of wetsuit, buoyancy aid and helmet. A windproof should also be available if necessary. Appropriate safety briefings must be given before each activity. Instructors should carry towline and throw line along with emergency equipment and first aid kit. Cycle helmets must be worn at all times by instructors and participants. An appropriate safety sack must be carried for the duration of the activity. Instructors will hold a minimum of an MTE Summer Award together with at least two years regular experience of mountain biking as verified by or an accredited Mountain Bike Leader qualification e.g. Mountain Bike Leader or Trail Cycle Leader. High Ropes Course Site Specific This is site specific to the Ropes Course at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal. All participants must be suitably equipped for the High Ropes Course including appropriate footwear (training shoes or boots). Each participant must wear a helmet and have a correctly fitting harness. Participants should be asked to remove jewelry & watches and any items that could cause trapping or snagging. Instructors must take a Rescue Bag and First Aid Kit to the site, both are provided in the on site equipment store in the Hotel. Instructors should have a minimum CWA qualification and or have completed on site training before using the site. Participants aged 16 and under must be supervised by an adult at all times who should tail any belay rope until participants are comfortable and competent with the belaying process. All belayers should wear properly fitting gloves to protect their hands from the rope and improve grip. (See specific element guidelines below) Zipwire Access to the Zip wire is via a fixed ladder system under the tower this must be protected by the fall stop device fitted to the 12mm cable above the platform security hatch. For younger participants age 16 and under the use of a safety rope should be considered to belay participants from the ground to the platform. A demonstration of the safe technique to descend from the zip wire must be given at the start of a session. Attachment to the Zip wire is by a Petzl speed pulley and multi locking carabineer. Participants must be attached to the petzl id descending device and to the safety strop with separate carabineers, special attention must be taken to ensure that the carabineers are attached to
the correct part of the harness and to the correct loop in the safety strop. Climbing Wall Harnesses and helmets must be worn by participants when climbing. Belaying is direct through two eyes on the belay bar and there must be a minimum of two belayers for each climber. Younger participants age 16 and under must be supervised by an adult at all times who should tail the belay rope until participants are comfortable and competent with the belaying process. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of all equipment must be given. All ropes and equipment used for climbing must be checked prior to each session by the instructor running the activity. The safety rope must be correctly attached to a participants harness using only the front attachment point on the harness. Under no circumstances should participants be aloud to lead climb. Abseil Wall Access to the abseil wall is via a fixed ladder system under the tower this must be protected by the fall stop device fitted to the 12mm cable above the platform security hatch. For younger participants age 16 and under the use of a safety rope should be considered to belay participants from the ground to the platform. Harnesses and helmets must be worn by participants when abseiling. Belaying is direct via Italian hitch on the belay cable above head height. Belaying for the abseil wall is to be done by VerticalAir staff only. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of all equipment must be given. All ropes and equipment used for abseiling must be checked prior to each session by the instructor running the activity. The safety rope must be correctly attached to a participants harness using only the front attachment point on the harness. Leap of Faith Jacobs Ladder Crate Stack Participants must be attached to two safety ropes and the third pull line whilst taking part in the activity. The belay ropes should be operated with a minimum of two participants on each rope and the pull line operated by an instructor or trained participant under supervision. Participants must be attached to their harness at an approved attachment point by screw gate carabineers. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of all equipment must be given to both belayers and climbers. Participants must be briefed not to hold the safety rope whilst leaping from the pole as it can cause sholder injury. Three participants can climb the Jacobs ladder at any one time. They must be briefed not to use or hold any of the steel cables supporting the ladder. Participants must be attached to the safety ropes whilst taking part in the activity. The belay ropes should be operated with a minimum of two participants on each rope. Participants must be attached to their harness at an approved attachment point by screw gate carabineers. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of all equipment must be given to both belayers and climbers Two participants can crate stack at any one time. They must be briefed
not to pull on, use or hold the safety ropes. Participants must be attached to the safety ropes whilst taking part in the activity. The belay ropes should be operated with a minimum of two participants on each rope. Participants must be attached to their harness at an approved attachment point by screw gate carabineers. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of all equipment must be given to both belayers and climbers. High All Aboard Four participants can climb the high all aboard at any one time. Participants must be attached to the safety ropes whilst taking part in the activity. The belay ropes should be operated with a minimum of two participants on each rope. Participants must be attached to their harness at an approved attachment point by screw gate carabineers. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of all equipment must be given to both belayers and climbers High Step Across Only one participants can climb the balance poles and step across at any one time. Participants must be attached to the safety rope whilst taking part in the activity. The belay rope should be operated with a minimum of two participants. Participants must be attached to their harness at an approved attachment point by screw gate carabineers. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of all equipment must be given to both belayers and climbers High Y Two participants can climb the High Y at any one time. They must be briefed not to use or hold any of the steel cables supporting the Y. Participants must be attached to the safety ropes whilst taking part in the activity. The belay ropes should be operated with a minimum of two participants on each rope. Participants must be attached to their harness at an approved attachment point by screw gate carabineers. Appropriate instruction and supervision in the use of all equipment must be given to both belayers and climbers Low Elements There is a range of permanent low elements on the site. Giant swing Pole to pole See saw Low cross Mohawk walk Low V Balance beams All the above activities need supervision and briefing before use.
Particular attention should be given to supervision and spotting and the use of appropriate spotting techniques demonstrated. Participants should be asked to remove jewelry & watches and any items that could cause trapping or snagging. Participants should wear properly fitting helmets for all the above activities. Orienteering Hotel Grounds For orienteering participants should be made clearly aware of procedures to follow if they get lost or injured. Instructors must ensure that a first aid kit is available on site. Instructors should hold an appropriate Orienteering Award and/or have completed an on site, site specific training.
Instructor Participant Ratios The following ratios will be adhered to as a maximum requirement. as per National governing Body guidelines and regulations. Higher staffing ratios will be implemented on some more advanced courses and whenever participants with special needs are taking part. Such special needs may include : people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, behavioural, emotional and /or mental health related needs and people displaying challenging behaviour. Additionally accompanying adults, teachers and support workers may be included in the activity sessions to support people with special needs in participating within activities. Caving Novice 1-8 Ladder and Line 1-6 SRT 1-2 Mountaineering Hill walking 1-12 Scrambling 1-6 Orienteering 1-12 Rock Climbing Novices 1 8 Indoor 1 9 Multi pitch 1-3 Leading 1-2 Gorge walking No pitches 1-12 Pitches 1-8 Problem solving Grounds 1-12 Rafting Inland / sheltered 1-8 Sea Level Traversing Coastal (tidal location) 1-8 Canoeing /Kayaking Inland flat water 1-8 Mountain biking Novices 1-8 High Ropes All levels 1 12 When working with special needs groups, the ratio of instructors to participants will be increased accordingly ( 1 to 1 if appropriate)and/ or additional adult helpers will be included in the group.
Instructor Qualifications Minimum qualifications for instructors leading participants on activities. Caving Novice Local cave leader level 1 Ladder and Line Local cave leader level 2 SRT CIC Mountaineering Hill walking Summer or Winter ML, Bela, Hill + Walking leader award Scrambling Orienteering AMI qualified or internal verification. Summer or Winter ML BOF Inst Rock Climbing Novices SPA Multi pitch/leading Climbing Wall MIA (or CWLA for indoor) CWA Gorge walking No pitches Summer or Winter ML, Cave leader or in-house training Pitches Summer or Winter ML plus SPA & Cave Leader / cave lvl 2, CIC or MIA, or Caving lvl 1 + assessment Problem Solving Hotel/Centre grounds In house trained Improvised Rafting Inland / Sea Level Traversing BCU Lvl 2 Instructor Coastal In house trained (non technical low tide). MIA (use of rope traverses and high tide) Canoeing/ Kayaking Flat Water Moving Water Mountain biking All locations High ropes Inland Level 2 Coach or level 1 + 3* + Assessment Level 3 Coach or Level 1 + 4* + assessment Minimum ML summer with two years experience of mountain biking or accredited Mountain Bike Leader qualification On site assessment minimum
Assistant Instructor Qualifications Minimum qualifications for assistant instructors on activities. Caving Novice Local cave leader level 1 trained Ladder and Line SRT LCL training Local cave leader level 2 trained CIC CIC Mountaineering Hill walking Summer or Winter ML trained Scrambling Orienteering AMI trained or internal verification Summer or Winter ML BOF Inst trained Rock Climbing Novices SPA trained Multi pitch Leading MIA MIA Gorge walking No pitches Summer or Winter ML trained or Cave leader Pitches Summer or Winter ML plus SPA trained or cave leader Problem solving Hotel/Centre grounds In house trained Rafting Inland / sheltered RYA Powerboat Certificate or BCU Instructor or relevant waterbased instructional certificate or RLS life saving Sea Level Traversing Coastal In house trained (non technical low tide). MIA (use of rope traverses and high tide) Canoeing/ Kayaking Inland Level 2 Coach on flat open water Level 3 Coach on moving water Mountain biking All locations Experience of mountain biking Summer ML and current first aid certificate. High ropes VerticalAir site Minimum on site training day
Internal validation Scrambling and Gorge walks. Scrambling on the fells falls into two categories. Level 1 scrambles requiring none or ML type rope work. Level 2 scrambles that require the use of ropes to safely complete the route. (this may include pitched climbing) Instructors with AMI or higher qualification no further training required Instructors with ML or lower qualifications need training and /or validation by AMI or higher qualified instructor. For example Level 1 Striding Edge requires non qualified instructor to lead group whilst being observed by assessor and then validated to lead groups.. Level 2 Jacks Rake requires non qualified to assist with a group and then be seen competently leading group to be validated. Assessors should be AMI or higher qualification. Gorge 1 No pitches Summer ML or Cave leader Gorge 2 Pitches Summer or Winter ML plus SPA or cave leader Instructor without relevant qualifications competently leading group to be validated. Trained by AMI or CIC to assist with a group and then be seen Training and validation for scrambling and Gorges includes location, parking, access, relevant individual and group equipment, Use or belay ropes and hand lines as appropriate. Emergency procedures. Following training and or validation the record of training and validation must be completed. Venue, date and signature of trainer assessor and any relevant comments. The Instructor database should then be updated to reflect this.
Record of training and validation for gorges and Scrambling. INSTRUCTOR SCRAMBLE 1 SCRAMBLE 2 GORGE COMMENTS NAME VENUE, DATE & SIGN VENUE, DATE & SIGN VENUE, DATE & SIGN
External Activity providers and sub contractors. Live for Today will check external providers ability to deliver the chosen activity using the Sub contract questionnaire. If the questionnaire is completed satisfactorily the provider will be added to our approved sub contractors list and work will be commissioned. Following any sub contracted activities a check and evaluation will be made to assess the quality and delivery of the chosen activities. We will endeavour to get feedback from providers and clients to maintain quality of delivery. If we receive negative feedback about a provider, we will investigate the claims before any further work is commissioned. This will be recorded on the sub contractors list. Complaints