Page 204 - Risk Management for Outdoor Programs

194 Chapter Summary 1. Documentation provides an official record of what should be done, and what has been done. 2. Documentation can be in written, audio, video, still image or other forms. 3. Legal requirements for documentation vary per jurisdiction. 4. Outdoor industry standards require certain documentation. 5. Documentation should be securely and durably recorded in established locations. 6. Examples of documents showing what should be done include field manuals, employee handbooks, and risk management plans. 7. Having written documentation on a subject is useful if it is important for individuals to have knowledge of that subject. 8. Examples of documents showing what was done include sign-in sheets, check-off forms, rope logs and incident reports. 9. Documentation of incidents and mistakes helps organizations learn and improve. 10. Documentary evidence that appropriate practices were followed can help in legal defense. 11. Documents alone are not helpful without a culture and system to ensure they are used. 12. Documentation may not absolve one from negligence. 13. Excessive documentation should be avoided. 14. Documenting failures may alter exposure to liability; it has value in promoting continuous improvement. Section 3: Risk Management Systems