Your Safety
Health & Safety Policy
Wide Open Trails Limited deliver multi-day trail running tours through rugged, mountainous regions, sometimes in remote wilderness areas. Essentially this is an adventurous activity being undertaken in locations that might be difficult or time consuming to reach should an evacuation of injured or sick people be necessary.
The Directors of Wide Open Trails expect our Tour Leaders to promote the following risk management policy as part of their working practice while employed by us.
We recognise and accept our duties under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and delegated legislation. We are committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of each other, as employees, and of those affected by our operations, be they clients, partners or the general public. These are obligations which apply to all of us, irrespective of where our work for Wide Open Trails is carried out. So far as is reasonably practical this duty includes:
- the provision of information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety of those working for us
- minimising the risk of personal injury, emotional trauma and occupational ill health of those working for us
- loss or damage to possessions caused through any involvement with Wide Open Trails business activities
- arrangements for ensuring safety and absence of risk to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances
- harm to the natural environment caused by our activities.
Wide Open Trails expects its Directors and Tour Leaders to promote a safety culture, to manage health and safety as an integral part of their work, and to ensure that appropriate consideration is given to safety issues. Practical guidelines will be produced, followed and monitored as appropriate.
To enable our Health & Safety Policy to be effective we will:
- prepare and revise a written statement of policy with respect to health and safety (this statement and any subsequent revisions will be brought to the attention of all those working for us)
- ensure that all those working for us are competent to carry out the duties expected of them, and provide training where required
- consult with those working for us on issues relating to health and safety, consider their feedback and suggestions, and implement changes where necessary
- provide appropriate safety and emergency related equipment to our Tour Leaders working in the field
- monitor performance measures to ensure the above objectives are being achieved.
Responsibilities for Health & Safety
Directors of Wide Open Trails are responsible for the management of health and safety and the provision of effective policy statements and operating Guidelines for Safe Working Practice. This responsibility extends to the monitoring of our health and safety performance, the implementation of necessary changes and improvements, and the periodic revision of policy and operating guidelines.
Tour Leaders working for Wide Open Trails are responsible for promoting an overall culture of safety during our tours, and more specifically following the practical conditions described in our Guidelines for Safe Working Practice. Tour Leaders are also responsible for highlighting any desired changes to health and safety policy or working practice. In remote areas, far away from Wide Open Trails’ office, we will also expect our Tour Leaders to carry out basic risk assessments of accommodation, transport and other hired services associated with the tour.
The reporting of any incidents, near misses or accidents must be carried out following the standard procedure described in the Guidelines for Safe Working Practice.
The well-being of those working for us, clients and anyone else affected by our activities is paramount and we will take all reasonable steps to ensure their safety. The management of health and safety is a dynamic process. Awareness and risk assessment, setting clear expectations (Guidelines for Safe Working Practice), training, regular consultation, active and reactive monitoring, and good communications are all vital steps in creating a safety culture and building an environment in which our tours can take place safely.
Risk Assessment
Awareness and “risk assessment” is the process by which we identify hazards and manage the likely risk to people and / or property. The Directors of Wide Open Trails hold the responsibility for the management of all risk assessments associated with our tours.
The Directors are also responsible for assessing the experience and competence of our Tour Leaders and employing them with regard to their abilities to deliver a safe and enjoyable trail running tour for our clients.
Risk assessments will be documented and stored on a database and referred to during any revisions of health and safety policy or guidelines. We will review individual risk assessments on an annual basis.
Note: Comprehensive, practical “Guidelines for Safe Working Practice” will be added soon.