1 Education Division’s Safety and Techniques Committee Proposal to develop Caving Safety and...

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Education Division’s Safety and Techniques Committee

Proposal to developCaving Safety and Techniques

Training Program Model

2I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karstI dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

The National Speleological Society (NSS) is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the scientific study of caves and karst; protecting caves and their natural contents through conservation, ownership, stewardship, and public education; and promoting responsible cave exploration and fellowship among those interested in caves.



The NSS believes that :

•Caving is a specialized pursuit best undertaken by knowledgeable and responsible persons using safe equipment and techniques.

•There is an ongoing need for outreach and education addressing the importance of caves and karst.

•It serves as a national resource for cave- and caving-related information and advice.

The NSS believes that :

•Caving is a specialized pursuit best undertaken by knowledgeable and responsible persons using safe equipment and techniques.

•There is an ongoing need for outreach and education addressing the importance of caves and karst.

•It serves as a national resource for cave- and caving-related information and advice.


With Act 91-330, the NSS BOG established the Safety and Techniques committee:

•Goal “Safety through knowledge”

•Activities• Analyze and report accidents and near accidents• Test and study equipment• Development of safe caving techniques

With Act 91-330, the NSS BOG established the Safety and Techniques committee:

•Goal “Safety through knowledge”

•Activities• Analyze and report accidents and near accidents• Test and study equipment• Development of safe caving techniques


Aligning activities to the new initiatives:

•NSS mission to promote responsible caving: • Caving is “specialized”• Cavers should be knowledgeable, responsible and use safe

techniques • Need for outreach & education for cave stewardship• Serve as the national resource on cave and caving related

information

“Safety through knowledge”


•NSS mission to promote responsible caving: • Caving is “specialized”• Cavers should be knowledgeable, responsible and use safe

techniques • Need for outreach & education for cave stewardship• Serve as the national resource on cave and caving related

information

“Safety through knowledge”



•NSS mission to promote fellowship among those interested in caves

•Need for outreach & education for cave stewardship•Serve as the national resource on cave and caving techniques•Development of safe caving techniques

“Cavers mentor spelunkers”


•NSS mission to promote fellowship among those interested in caves

•Need for outreach & education for cave stewardship•Serve as the national resource on cave and caving techniques•Development of safe caving techniques

“Cavers mentor spelunkers”


Proposal:

The NSS Education Division is developing a caver training program as one initiative that will promote responsible cave exploration and fellowship among those interested in caves.

Proposal:

The NSS Education Division is developing a caver training program as one initiative that will promote responsible cave exploration and fellowship among those interested in caves.


The NSS Education Division believes that:

Since the NSS serves as the national resource on caving information and advice, it is the logical organization to lead the effort to develop a caver training program that is national in scope and carries the message,

“Cave Safely, Cave Softly”

The NSS Education Division believes that:

Since the NSS serves as the national resource on caving information and advice, it is the logical organization to lead the effort to develop a caver training program that is national in scope and carries the message,

“Cave Safely, Cave Softly”


•People are going to go caving•People work in caves•People conduct research in caves

•People are going to go caving•People work in caves•People conduct research in caves


•Caving is a specialized activity and many people enter caves with little to no background knowledge of the cave environment, or WNS and subsequent decontamination protocols

•Caving is a specialized activity and many people enter caves with little to no background knowledge of the cave environment, or WNS and subsequent decontamination protocols


• Expectations of our partners• BLM’s Cave Safety Guidelines (Goodbar, 2008)• Ill-prepared or uniformed personnel face the

greatest risk in cave entry• MOU provides for the cooperative development

of cave safety plans including standards for equipment, experience, and rescue procedures

• The NSS should be contacted to assist BLM in conducting uniform safety analysis for each cave under BLM administration

• Expectations of our partners• BLM’s Cave Safety Guidelines (Goodbar, 2008)• Ill-prepared or uniformed personnel face the

greatest risk in cave entry• MOU provides for the cooperative development

of cave safety plans including standards for equipment, experience, and rescue procedures

• The NSS should be contacted to assist BLM in conducting uniform safety analysis for each cave under BLM administration


•People engage in caving beyond their skill level•People engage in caving beyond their skill level


• Reported fatalities and injuries in US caves from 1986-2008 (Keeler, 2011)• 75 lives lost through fatalities• 1,159 lives changed due to injury

• Based on National Safety Council values, the cost of

the fatalities and injuries range from $86.5 - $135.8 million dollars. (NSC, 2010)

• Reported fatalities and injuries in US caves from 1986-2008 (Keeler, 2011)• 75 lives lost through fatalities• 1,159 lives changed due to injury

• Based on National Safety Council values, the cost of

the fatalities and injuries range from $86.5 - $135.8 million dollars. (NSC, 2010)


• Tremendous negative impact• Individuals• Families and friends of lost loved ones• Cave vandalism (unintentional)• Cave rescue has very high impact on the

resource• Cave closures • Temporary • Gating• Blasting

• Tremendous negative impact• Individuals• Families and friends of lost loved ones• Cave vandalism (unintentional)• Cave rescue has very high impact on the

resource• Cave closures • Temporary • Gating• Blasting


• Decrease cave related injuries and fatalities• Increase in cave and karst advocates/stewards• Increase the “value” of being an NSS member• Increase NSS membership• Increase number of skilled cavers • Clean-caving and low-impact caving ethic practices• Expand our network• Revenue generation

• Decrease cave related injuries and fatalities• Increase in cave and karst advocates/stewards• Increase the “value” of being an NSS member• Increase NSS membership• Increase number of skilled cavers • Clean-caving and low-impact caving ethic practices• Expand our network• Revenue generation


Other National organizations like:National Outdoor Leadership SchoolLeave No TraceBoy Scouts of America

Other National organizations like:National Outdoor Leadership SchoolLeave No TraceBoy Scouts of America

Other non- profits like:Calleva Outdoor AdventuresColumbus Outdoor Pursuits

Other non- profits like:Calleva Outdoor AdventuresColumbus Outdoor Pursuits

A for-profit business like:Caving 101True Adventure Sports

A for-profit business like:Caving 101True Adventure Sports

All organizations listed offer

Caving Training programs!

All organizations listed offer

Caving Training programs!


To develop a full bodied curricula Allure of Cave Exploration / Cave Environments Caving Equipment and Equipment Care/ Cleaning and DecontaminationCaver skills; maneuvering, navigation, inventory, problem solving

To develop this program learning from successful models like

National Cave Rescue CommissionAustrian Speleological AssociationBritish Caving Association

To develop this program through strategic partnerships with

Expert Advisory BoardUniversitiesOrganizationsFederal Agencies


•Initiate dialogue with potential partners- In progress•Develop basic level curriculum for test group – In progress•Initiate Advisory Board Development- April 2011•Observe best-practice delivery of cave-skills and related training in the US and in Europe- Summer 2011•Present basic level curriculum to test group- June 2011•Evaluate curriculum effectiveness for revisions- July 2011•Present progress to date at the Safety and Techniques session on Thursday of 2011 NSS Convention


•“Close Calls” Database•Perceptions of the value of formal cave-skills training courses•Interviews with experts


Why we need to knowWarrant funding through donors and grantsEstablish new partnerships Potential impact on other departmentsFinancial support from the NSS to establish

Questions….

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• Interactive table-top exercises• Presentations of best-practice approaches• Practice and reinforcement in real cave scenarios• Testing to measure achievement/retention of learning outcomes

I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karstI dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

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• Goal-based training with feedback on performance along with experience (knowledge) from results helps to improve safe behaviors (Reber, 1984).

• Most effective trainings involve modeling of best-practice behaviors by experts and engagement of the learners (Burke et al., 2006).

• Learners requires feedback on their progress in order to achieve learning objectives (Komaki et al., 1998).

• Task-based training, hazard analysis and understanding, and effective leadership/followership, among others, helps to support positive and safe behaviors that are responsible and ethical (Walters, 1998).


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Brian Masney• Yahoo Hollow Cave• Hoya del las Guaguas• Cass Cave• Rumbling Falls Cave• Simmons Mingo Cave• Larson’s Well• Cagle’s Chasm

Aaron Bird• Whigpistle Cave• New River Gorge Bridge


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