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Proposal to develop Caving Safety and Techniques Training Program Model

Education Division’s Safety and Techniques Committee. Proposal to develop Caving Safety and Techniques Training Program Model. Presented at the Board of Governors Meeting April 2, 2011 Albuquerque, NM.

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Proposal to develop Caving Safety and Techniques Training Program Model

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  1. Education Division’s Safety and Techniques Committee Proposal to develop Caving Safety and Techniques Training Program Model Presented at the Board of Governors Meeting April 2, 2011 Albuquerque, NM

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

  3. 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. I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  4. 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. I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  5. 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 I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  6. 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” I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  7. Aligning activities to the new initiatives: • 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” I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  8. 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. I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  9. 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” I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  10. Why a Caver Training Program? • People are going to go caving • People work in caves • People conduct research in caves I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  11. Why a Caver Training Program? • 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 I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  12. Why a Caver Training Program? • 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 I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  13. Why a Caver Training Program? • People engage in caving beyond their skill level I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  14. Why a Caver Training Program? • 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) I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  15. Why a Caver Training Program? • 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 I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  16. Why a Caver Training Program? • 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 I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  17. If NOT the NSS then WHO? A for-profit business like: Caving 101 True Adventure Sports Other non- profits like: Calleva Outdoor Adventures Columbus Outdoor Pursuits All organizations listed offer Caving Training programs! Other National organizations like: National Outdoor Leadership School Leave No Trace Boy Scouts of America I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  18. Caving Safety and Techniques Training program will promote excellence in responsible caving through engaging and interactive courses that expound the knowledge, skills and abilities of people entering cave environments for work or recreation. I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  19. Caving Safety and Techniques The CST training program objectives are: 1) Increase cave and karst knowledge 2) Reduce human injury and fatalities 3) Reduce impact to caves 4) Increase caver skills and skill sets 5) Promote cave and karst stewardship I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  20. Caving Safety and Techniques • The CST training program will be: • Developed collaboratively • Engaged Hands-on Curriculum based • Instructed by caving experts • Reviewed and revised for continuous improvement I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  21. Planning To develop a full bodied curricula Allure of Cave Exploration / Cave Environments Caving Equipment and Equipment Care/ Cleaning and Decontamination Caver skills; maneuvering, navigation, inventory, problem solving To develop this program learning from successful models like National Cave Rescue Commission Austrian Speleological Association British Caving Association To develop this program through strategic partnerships with Expert Advisory Board Universities Organizations Federal Agencies I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  22. Action Items • 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 I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  23. Current Parallel & Supporting Activities • “Close Calls” Database • Perceptions of the value of formal cave-skills training courses • Interviews with experts I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  24. Press forward? Or Turn back? Why we need to know Warrant funding through donors and grants Establish new partnerships Potential impact on other departments Financial support from the NSS to establish Questions…. I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  25. Supplementary Materials Engaged Hands-on Training • 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 karst 25

  26. Research Supporting the Impacts and Benefits of Engaged Training Approaches • 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). I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst 26 26

  27. Citations • Burke, M.J., S.A. Sarpy, K. Smith-Crowe, S. Chan-Serafin, R.O. Salvador, and G. Islam (2006). Relative Effectiveness of Worker Safety and Health Training Programs. American Journal of Public Health, 96(2), 315-324. • Goodbar, J (2008). Bureau of Land Management Cave Safety Standards. • Keeler, R. (2011). NSS Incident and Accident Report. • Komaki, J., A.T. Heinzmann, and L. Lawson (1980). Effect of Training and Feedback: Component Analysis of a Behavorial Safety Program. Journal of Applied Psychology, 65(3), 261-270. • National Safety Council (2010). Estimating the Costs of Unintentional Injuries. Accessed 02/23/2011, http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/injury_and_death_statistics/Pages/EstimatingtheCostsofUnintentionalInjuries.aspx. • Reber, R.A. and J.A. Wallin (1984). The Effects of Training, Goal Setting, and Knowledge on Results of Safe Behavior: A Component Analysis. Academy of Management Journal, 27(3), 544-560. • Walters, H.A. (1998). Identifying and Removing Barriers to Safe Behaviors. Professional Safety, 43(1), 34-36. I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

  28. Photo Credits • Brian Masney • Yahoo Hollow Cave • Hoya del lasGuaguas • Cass Cave • Rumbling Falls Cave • Simmons Mingo Cave • Larson’s Well • Cagle’s Chasm • Aaron Bird • Whigpistle Cave • New River Gorge Bridge I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst 28

  29. Thank you! I dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of caves and karst

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