Page 1 of 5 Respond to non-routine situations and perform rescues when using high ropes courses Level 5 Credits 9 Purpose This unit standard is intended for people wanting to be a lead instructor on a high ropes course programme. People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of high ropes course emergency procedures; demonstrate knowledge of high ropes course emergency equipment; demonstrate knowledge of high ropes courses and belay systems; demonstrate an ability to access all parts of a high ropes course using leading edge climbing; demonstrate an ability to respond to non-routine situations; demonstrate an ability to perform rescues for climbers requiring assistance. Subfield Domain Status Outdoor Recreation Adventure Based Learning Registered Status date 25 February 2008 Date version published 25 February 2008 Planned review date 31 December 2013 Entry information Accreditation Standard setting body (SSB) Recommended: Unit 24667, Instruct a programme using high ropes course activities; or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills. Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry. Sport, Fitness and Recreation Industry Training Organisation Outdoor Recreation Advisory Group Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference 0102 This AMAP can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do. Special notes 1 Simulations may be used for assessment against this unit standard.
Page 2 of 5 2 Definitions Non-routine situations include taking action to remedy problems with belay systems (eg performing belay equipment retrievals, performing belay escapes, resetting belay ropes). Emergency can include incidents related to first aid/health, environmental, rescues. Belay systems include belay cables, cable pulleys, rapid links, shear reduction devices, belay ropes, lanyards as applicable to the elements. Leading edge climbing is where conventional fall protection or an overhead belay system is not available. Climbing in this environment will require the use of alternative techniques and anchors. Personal fall arrest system includes a double lanyard system with a dynamic component sufficient to limit the maximum arresting force on the person to 4.0 kn when used with a seat harness and to limit the free fall distance to no more than 1.83 metres. 3 Before a candidate is assessed against this unit standard it is recommended that they have logged a minimum of 20 hours of supervised experience practicing responding to non-routine situations and performing rescues on high ropes courses. 4 All activities must comply with any relevant environmental, legislative and/or regulatory requirements set out in New Zealand Environmental Care Code; New Zealand Water Care Code; Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992; Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Act 2001; and their subsequent amendments. The New Zealand Environmental Care Code is available from the Department of Conservation, Head Office, PO Box 10420, Wellington and at http://www.doc.govt.nz/. 5 There are minimum assessor requirements for the assessment against this unit. The details of these requirements are available on the Sfrito website http://www.sfrito.org.nz/. Elements and performance criteria Element 1 Demonstrate knowledge of high ropes course emergency procedures. 1.1 Policies and operating procedures to avoid non-routine and emergency situations are described. 1.2 Policies and operating procedures related to emergency situations are described. emergency situations include first aid/health, environmental, rescue.
Page 3 of 5 Element 2 Demonstrate knowledge of high ropes course emergency equipment. 2.1 Emergency equipment required when operating a high ropes course is identified and possible applications described. may include personal fall arrest system, cable pulleys, ropes, steel karabiners, belay devices, slings, Prusiks, harnesses, helmets, rope-cutting equipment, rope pulleys, Etriers, Jigger. 2.2 Equipment required for belay equipment retrieval is assembled and assembly explained. scenarios include a traversing element, a non-traversing vertical element. 2.3 Equipment required for evacuating a climber requiring assistance is assembled and assembly explained. scenarios include a climber who has accidentally clipped-in to a permanent piece of hardware such as a staple or cable, a climber who has become stuck on a fully tensioned/non-releasable rope or lanyard. Element 3 Demonstrate knowledge of high ropes courses and belay systems. 3.1 High ropes course structures are inspected prior to use and inspection is explained. at least 3 elements of a high ropes course; structures may include nut eye bolts, cables, cable terminations (strand vises, thimbles, cable grips, swages, serving sleeves), poles/trees, staples, ground attachment points; 3.2 Safe anchor points for leading edge climbing are identified. 3.3 Belay system is inspected prior to use and inspection is explained. belay system may include belay cables, cable pulley, rapid links, shear reduction devices, belay ropes, lanyards;
3.4 Belay equipment is inspected prior to use and inspection is explained. 24664 version 1 Page 4 of 5 belay equipment may include ropes, harnesses, karabiners, helmets, belay devices, lanyards; Element 4 Demonstrate an ability to access all parts of a high ropes course using leading edge climbing. personal safety maintained, correct use of equipment, efficient use of time and energy. 4.1 A personal fall arrest system is used to climb and descend a high ropes course. 4.2 Appropriate equipment is used to traverse an element. includes passing a fixed point on a belay cable. Element 5 Demonstrate an ability to respond to non-routine situations. safety of self and others maintained, correct use of equipment, efficient use of time and energy. 5.1 Belay equipment is retrieved. scenarios include a traversing element, a non traversing vertical element. 5.2 Belay escape is completed. scenario includes transferred under load without releasing the load.
Page 5 of 5 Element 6 Demonstrate an ability to perform rescues for climbers requiring assistance. safety of self and others maintained, correct use of equipment, efficient use of time and energy. 6.1 An emotionally traumatised unwilling climber is coached along the element or back to the ground. must include clear instructions to climber; clear instructions to other participants on the ground; use of empathetic language. 6.2 A climber who has accidentally clipped-in to a permanent piece of hardware such as a staple or cable is assisted to get back to the ground. climber is responsible, willing and able to help themselves but is without specialist expertise or equipment, assistance is available from other people on the ground. 6.3 A climber who has become stuck on a fully tensioned/non-releasable rope or lanyard is evacuated. no other assistance is available, climber is unwilling and unable to help themselves. Please note Providers must be accredited by NZQA, or an inter-institutional body with delegated authority for quality assurance, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment. Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards. Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards. Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements. Comments on this unit standard Please contact the Sport, Fitness and Recreation Industry Training Organisation Limited info@sfrito.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.