Land's Edge - Safety Management

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Land’s Edge’s track record with regard to participant safety during its 12 years of operation is impeccable. 

Land’s Edge has documented Safety Management Procedures in place for every program and every activity, for adherence by Land’s Edge staff and participants at all levels and at all times.   The documentation includes:

• Land’s Edge Common Practice Manual
• Land’s Edge Safety & Emergency Procedures (Location-specific)
• Land’s Edge Standard Operating Procedures
• Land’s Edge Activity-Specific Risk Management Matrix
• Land’s Edge Area Assessment Documentation
• Land’s Edge Safe Camping Checklist
• Land’s Edge Program Schedule (including ‘Terms & Conditions of Business’ which specifies contractual obligations)
• Land’s Edge Roles & Responsibilities Documentation - Land’s Edge Staff and Client School Staff
• Land’s Edge Medical Form
• Land’s Edge Dietary Requirements Form
• Land’s Edge Consent Form
• Land’s Edge First Aid Incident & Management Forms (x 3)
• Recommended Clothing & Equipment List for Client School Staff
• Recommended Clothing & Equipment List for Students
• Land’s Edge Preparatory Day Itinerary/Agenda
• Land’s Edge Crisis Communications Documentation (including Media Liaison)

All safety management documentation is under constant review.

Regardless of its exemplary safety record, Land’s Edge remains fastidious in its safety analysis management. Land’s Edge stays abreast of all industry developments in safety management in order to ensure best practice in this key area. It does this in a number of ways including:

• networking with other organisations that have an interest and enthusiasm for best practice in this area
• adhering to legislative and authoritative bodies’ requirements
• adhering to the Land’s Edge philosophy in an operational capacity in the field at all times

Land’s Edge founder & director, Antony Butcher, is also currently studying for a Master of Emergency Management through Charles Sturt University.  Antony’s thoughts about current safety management strategies when taking young people out of the classroom can be read by clicking the link on this page.

In addition to its documented safety management procedures, an internal review of the company’s safety management protocols is conducted on completion of all Land’s Edge programs.  Following this, Land’s Edge meets face-to-face with each client school to ensure the school’s satisfaction with Land’s Edge’s response to Safety Management protocols and any health & safety incidents.

In regards to staffing of its outdoor education programs, Land’s Edge complies with all statutory staff/student ratios and staff qualification requirements according to the Victorian Adventure Activities Standards, in place since 2005.

Occupational Health & Safety

Land’s Edge adheres to Section 8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 (OHS Act 2000) which states that as an employer, Land’s Edge ‘must ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all the employees’. To meet employer responsibilities under the OHS Act 2000, Land’s Edge provides:

• safe premises
• safe equipment and machinery
• safe systems of work
• provision of information, instruction, training and supervision
• suitable working environment and facilities

Land’s Edge also acknowledges its responsibility for the health and safety of people other than its workers, who may be present at the workplace and on programs.