WHAT IS OUTDOORSMARK?
OutdoorsMark is the outdoor safety audit programme designed by the New Zealand outdoor sector for the New Zealand outdoor sector.
It is a safety-focused systems audit providing an independent process for assessing operational safety policies, procedures and practices. The audit is aligned with currently accepted outdoor sector standards. It is specifically for organisations involved in outdoor recreation, outdoor education and adventure activities.
WHY DO I NEED OUTDOORSMARK?
OutdoorsMark certification:
- promotes safe participation in outdoor recreation and education
- raises standards in outdoor programme delivery
- provides assurance that national outdoor sector standards for safety and professionalism are being met
- reduces the risk of injuries and accidents in the outdoors
- establishes procedures for continuous review and revalidation
OutdoorsMark certification demonstrates a commitment to participants and staff that sound policies, procedures and practices exist and provides an assurance of safety and quality.
If you operate on public conservation land, you must obtain a concession from the Department of Conservation. Part of the concession process is providing proof of an independently audited safety plan. Your OutdoorsMark certification is proof.
From 1 November 2011, the Health and Safety in Employment (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2011 will be in force. If your operation comes within the scope of these regulations, you are required to be registered. In the first instance, you notify the Department of Labour of your operation. Once you have done that, you are then required to obtain and pass a safety audit by November 2014, or earlier if the Department so instructs. Passing a safety audit moves your operation from 'notified status' to 'registered status'. OutdoorsMark certification enables your operation to be registered, and thus, conform with the regulations.
IS IT COMPULSORY?
No. It is not compulsory to undertake an OutdoorsMark audit. It’s your professional choice.
However, from 1 November 2014 some organisations in the adventure tourism and outdoor commercial sector will be required to be registered with the Department of Labour under the terms of the Health and Safety in Employment (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2011. It will be compulsory to obtain and pass a safety audit. OutdoorsMark is a safety audit.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Many different organisations apply for OutdoorsMark, including adventure tourism operators, schools running outdoor education programmes, camps and outdoor activity providers. If you’re involved in outdoor activities, OutdoorsMark is for you.
Use of the certification mark, OutdoorsMark, is available to any outdoor activity operation that conforms with the OutdoorsMark certification regulations and trades in their specified services.
WHO RUNS OUTDOORSMARK?
OutdoorsMark is administered and managed by Outdoors New Zealand, the lead organisation supporting outdoor recreation, outdoor education and adventure activity providers in New Zealand.
The OutdoorsMark programme receives funding from Sport New Zealand, NZCT and the Lion Foundation. Public funding for this public safety initiative helps to keep fees as affordable as possible, whilst ensuring the programme has a sustainable future.
WHO CARRIES OUT THE AUDIT?
Outdoors New Zealand contracts a group of approved OutdoorsMark auditors to conduct the document audit and field audit process. OutdoorsMark auditors are independent contractors.
For further details, go to the Auditors section.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
There are three separate costs: application fee, audit fee, and annual fee.
1. The application fee is $200 + GST. Paying this fee gives you access to the full functionality of the OutdoorsMark audit process.
2. The audit fee is charged at a half-day ($495 + GST) or full day ($985 + GST) rate.
It is difficult to estimate the total cost of an audit because each organisation is different. The audit fee is based on how much time it takes the auditor to complete a thorough audit and provide you with some real value. The standard of your documentation and the resources you put into the process will determine to a large extent how long your audit will take.
A full OutdoorsMark audit involves a document audit and an audit of practice. The audit of practice is an integral part of the process as OutdoorsMark is not just a paper exercise. We believe it is vital that the auditor meets you in person and observes what you do, watches how you run your operation, and discovers what your staff and participants think about your approach to safety.
However, for some operations an audit of practice is not possible or not appropriate. Examples include start-up operations, one-off events and community activities. For these operations a document audit is conducted. But, because it is not a full OutdoorsMark audit, no OutdoorsMark branding material is issued nor permitted to be used. The organisation gets an approval letter to demonstrate that it has passed a document audit. The approval letter satisfies the requirements of some land managers, funding organisations and so on.
In the case of an audit of practice, the auditor needs to get to your place of work. So, there might be some expenses involved such as travel, accommodation and food. Your auditor will inform you of these additional expenses.
3. The annual certification fee is $200 + GST. This covers your annual conformance requirements and associated work in maintaining your certification with a nationally recognised outdoor safety audit programme.
You will find further information in the Fees section.
WHAT DO I DO NOW?
The first step is to check that OutdoorsMark is right for your operation. We think it will be but we want you to be sure it will provide value to your operation. Read the information on the website, talk to others who have gone through the OutdoorsMark process, and discuss it with your staff, Board, and other key people involved with your organisation.
We strongly believe external assessments are a good thing to do regardless of Government directives. They are a tremendous investment to make for your organisation. But, if legislation or some other compliance requirement is what is driving you, then you may need to check with that Government agency that you are heading down the correct track.
If you have decided to go with OutdoorsMark you need to complete and submit the application form. You will receive login details once your application has been processed.