Safety Programme

OUTDOORSMARK FAQ FOR PROVIDERS

ACCREDITED OUTDOOR ACTIVITY PROVIDERS

AUDIT DOCUMENTATION

AUDITORS

8 STEPS TO ACCREDITATION

APPLICATION FORM AND FEES

8 Steps to Accreditation

EIGHT STEPS IN THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS

STEP 1 - Initial Application

1. You complete the application form and submit it with the application fee to Outdoors NZ.

2. Outdoors NZ confirms receipt of the application.

STEP 2 - OutdoorsMark Organisational Self-Assessment

1. You complete the OutdoorsMark Organisational Self-Assessment Ratings Sheets and return this document to Outdoors NZ along with any relevant supporting documentation. Clarification and assistance is readily available from the Outdoor Safety Programme Manager at Outdoors NZ.

2. Outdoors NZ checks the document to ensure it is complete and then assigns an OutdoorsMark auditor to conduct the audit.

STEP 3 - Desk Audit

1.    The OutdoorsMark auditor undertakes a desk audit of the completed OutdoorsMark Organisational Self-Assessment Ratings Sheets and the supporting documentation. This information is assessed and compared to current, accepted practices and the quality standards necessary to achieve OutdoorsMark accreditation. This audit may, or may not, occur at your workplace.

2.    The desk audit requires a minimum rating of ‘Meets Standard’ in all audit sub-sections for a ‘pass’.

3.    A ‘deferment’ result on the desk audit may occur should your organisation not meet the standard in any of the sub-sections assessed.

The move from ‘deferment’ to ‘pass’ requires a recommendation from the OutdoorsMark auditor following your organisation upgrading the sub-sections to the required standard or better. The deferred sub-sections must be submitted to the OutdoorsMark auditor for re-audit. Consultation with the OutdoorsMark auditor is recommended as the most efficient method of completing the ‘deferred’ desk audit.

STEP 4 - Field Audit

1. The OutdoorsMark auditor conducts the field audit at your workplace and activity areas. It will be at a time convenient for you and should demonstrate, if possible, the depth and breadth of your operation. It is the occasion for you to show how your policies and procedures are implemented in the field with your activity participants.

2. Failure to follow accepted safety practices may result in serious consequences to human health and welfare. Thus, there are no deferments in the field safety audit.

STEP 5 - Accreditation Determination

1. The OutdoorsMark auditor collates the desk and field safety audits and provides an overall report, including the accreditation status (‘pass’ or ‘deferment’), to your organisation and to Outdoors NZ. You have two weeks to provide comment on the report to the OutdoorsMark auditor.

2. The OutdoorsMark auditor finalises the report and makes the necessary recommendation to Outdoors NZ regarding accreditation status.

STEP 6 – Notification of Accreditation

Outdoors NZ notifies your organisation of your accreditation status.

• A ‘pass’ status results from a ‘pass’ of both the desk audit and the field audit.
• A ‘deferment’ status results from a ‘pass’ of the field audit and a ‘deferment’ of the desk audit.

OutdoorsMark Granted

1.    Outdoors NZ sends your organisation the OutdoorsMark Licence for signing.

2.    The annual Certificate of OutdoorsMark Accreditation is issued.

3.    Accredited organisations are profiled on the Outdoors NZ website.

OutdoorsMark Declined

If your organisation is declined OutdoorsMark accreditation, then the OutdoorsMark audit has identified gaps in organisational policies and procedures. These gaps need to be addressed in order to meet industry standards of current, accepted practice. A subsequent application and full desk and field re-audit is required should your organisation wish to attain OutdoorsMark.

Appeal Process

If there exists disagreement over the decision, you may (within one month of receiving notification) appeal in writing to Outdoors NZ. You must specify the reasons and request a review. Outdoors NZ considers the appeal in consultation with the OutdoorsMark auditor and, if appropriate, another OutdoorsMark auditor.

If the original ruling is upheld, your organisation is granted two weeks in which to seek a re-audit with a different OutdoorsMark auditor. On payment of a $500 deposit, a different OutdoorsMark auditor is appointed by Outdoors NZ to conduct the re-audit. If the re-audit reaches a different conclusion from the first audit, then Outdoors NZ pays the OutdoorsMark auditor costs and the $500 deposit is returned to your organisation. If the same outcome is reached, your organisation pays the cost of the re-audit and the $500 deposit is applied to that purpose.

Outdoors NZ and the OutdoorsMark auditors ensure the confidentiality of any
and all information, self-assessments, and audit reports obtained through the
OutdoorsMark accreditation programme.

STEP 7 - Annual Declaration

1. After the twelve-month initial accreditation period, you review your assessment ratings annually and submit an Annual Declaration specifying the continuation of your activities and operation to the standard (or better) of the most recent OutdoorsMark accreditation audit.

2. Following the Annual Declaration and receipt of the annual OutdoorsMark fee, Outdoors NZ then issues a one-year Certificate of Accreditation.

STEP 8 - Re-Audit

Prior to your organisation’s third anniversary of OutdoorsMark accreditation, a re-audit is conducted with a different OutdoorsMark auditor. The OutdoorsMark auditor reviews previous audits, annual declarations, and current policies and procedures in a desk and field re-audit.

The process of annual declarations and re-audits continues in this format.