Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare equipment and participants.
- Assess characteristics, condition and capability of participants, as they present, and obtain informed consent.
- Confirm participants have clothing and footwear appropriate for the activity and anticipated weather conditions.
- Select and set up personal protective equipment (PPE) to match participants, high elements and prevailing conditions.
- Complete, for PPE, required safety and serviceability inspections and reports according to organisational procedures.
- Direct and assist participants to fit and adjust personal protective equipment; check comfort and safety of fit.
- Brief participants.
- Explain planned objectives; communicate instructions and information about activity in a manner appropriate to participants.
- Encourage participants to ask questions and seek advice before and during session.
- Inform participants of known and anticipated risks, safety procedures, safe behaviour, safe areas and boundaries.
- Advise participants of roles and responsibilities of activity leaders, and communication protocols to use during activity.
- Instruct belay techniques for high elements.
- Fit and adjust harnesses and belay equipment to participants to ensure comfort and safety.
- Attach participants to established belay system, tie suitable knots, as required, and complete safety checks.
- Explain importance of belaying and demonstrate essential components of belay technique.
- Explain communication protocols and their importance.
- Verify participant understanding of belay technique, communication protocols, and safety procedures.
- Supervise belayer’s practice of belay techniques in a low risk situation.
- Observe and monitor participant performance of belay technique and provide feedback and corrective instruction.
- Lead high element activities.
- Explain and demonstrate techniques for use of independent and linked high elements.
- Position belayer appropriately for the course element, to allow effective use of belay system.
- Provide clear and accurate instructions and demonstrations throughout the session.
- Monitor performance of belayers and participants, and provide directions, encouragement and corrective instruction to improve techniques.
- Facilitate effective group communication and interaction to maintain group control, engagement and safety.
- Implement required modifications to activity to ensure participant engagement and comfort, and completion within timelines.
- Manage safety during activities and complete basic rescues.
- Monitor activity conditions and hazards, including signs of participant difficulty, to ensure safety and welfare.
- Monitor participant behaviour and adherence to safety procedures, adjust level of supervision and assertively correct breaches, as required.
- Respond immediately to adverse participant reactions and hazardous situations.
- Complete ongoing risk assessments to minimise risk of injury to participants and others.
- Amend activities if risk is unacceptable; cease activities when required.
- Respond to participants in difficulty and provide verbal directions to recover and continue.
- Use safe approach procedures to provide direct assistance for participants to recover and continue.
- Respond to emergency situations according to organisational safety, emergency response and first aid procedures.
- Complete post activity responsibilities.
- Debrief participants and encourage discussion on their technique and satisfaction with session.
- Notify relevant personnel of activity completion.
- Retrieve equipment, inspect for wear or breakage, tag faults and store in designated area.
- Document any equipment faults, and incidents including injuries and near misses.
- Evaluate the activity through a team debrief and identify improvements for future activities.