Acknowledgement of Risk

Please read this document carefully before taking part in your course or activity.

Outdoor and mountain activities take place in environments where conditions can change and where some risks are an inherent part of the activity. This document is intended to ensure that you understand the nature of those risks and the importance of following the guidance and instructions provided by Nature’s Work and its instructors or guides.

Signing this Acknowledgement of Risk does not waive or limit your legal rights and does not release Nature’s Work from any duty or responsibility it has towards you. It is intended simply to confirm that you have been informed about the nature of the activities and the risks that may reasonably be encountered.

Nature’s Work will take reasonable steps to plan and deliver activities safely, taking account of the activity, prevailing conditions, participants’ abilities and experience, and any reasonably foreseeable hazards. However, no outdoor or mountain activity can be completely free from risk.

1. Inherent risks

Some risks are an inherent part of outdoor and mountain activities and cannot be completely eliminated without fundamentally changing the nature of the activity.

Depending on the course or activity, these risks may include:

• loss of or damage to personal clothing, equipment or other belongings;
• slips, trips and falls;
• accidental injury;
• illness, exhaustion, dehydration or hypothermia;
• physical or mental fatigue;
• contact with rocks, trees, vegetation, equipment or other environmental features;
• uneven, steep, loose, wet, muddy, rocky or otherwise difficult terrain;
• changing or adverse weather conditions;
• reduced visibility, darkness or difficult navigation;
• water, streams, rivers or areas affected by flooding;
• falling rocks, ice or other natural debris where relevant;
• other hazards associated with the particular location or activity.

Some incidents may have more serious consequences because of the remote, exposed or rugged nature of the environments in which outdoor activities take place.

2. Terrain and environmental conditions

Activities may take place on mountain, moorland, woodland, forestry, agricultural or other outdoor land. The terrain may be uneven, steep, slippery, loose or otherwise difficult to negotiate.

Weather conditions can change quickly, particularly in mountainous areas. Rain, wind, snow, ice, fog, high temperatures, cold temperatures, lightning, flooding and reduced visibility may affect the safety and difficulty of an activity.

Nature’s Work may alter, shorten, postpone or stop an activity where conditions or circumstances make this necessary for safety.

3. Physical effort and fitness

Outdoor activities can require physical effort and may involve periods of sustained walking, climbing, scrambling or other exertion, depending on the course.

You are responsible for informing Nature’s Work, before the activity where possible, of any relevant medical condition, injury, medication, allergy, disability or other circumstance that may affect your ability to participate safely.

If you are unsure whether an activity is suitable for you, you should seek appropriate medical advice before taking part.

You should also tell the instructor or guide if your condition changes or if you become unwell, injured, excessively fatigued or otherwise unable to continue safely during the activity.

4. Your responsibilities

To help maintain your own safety and the safety of others, you should:

• provide accurate and relevant information about your health, fitness, experience and ability;
• wear appropriate clothing and footwear and use any equipment as instructed;
• follow reasonable instructions given by the instructor or guide;
• remain with the group or follow the agreed arrangements for the activity;
• tell the instructor or guide about any concern, injury, illness or change in circumstances;
• behave responsibly and consider the safety of other participants;
• avoid taking unnecessary risks or undertaking activities beyond your ability;
• comply with any safety briefing or instructions provided before or during the activity.

If an instructor or guide considers that your participation presents an unacceptable risk to you or others, they may modify, restrict or stop your participation in an activity.

5. Nature’s Work’s responsibilities

Nature’s Work recognises its responsibility to take reasonable care in the planning and delivery of activities and to manage reasonably foreseeable risks.

However, outdoor activities involve circumstances that cannot always be predicted or completely controlled. Following safety procedures and instructions can reduce risk but cannot remove all inherent risks associated with the activity.

Nothing in this Acknowledgement of Risk is intended to exclude, restrict or otherwise affect any liability or legal right that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.

6. Acknowledgement

By signing below, I confirm that:

• I have read and understood this Acknowledgement of Risk;
• I understand that outdoor and mountain activities involve inherent risks that cannot be completely eliminated;
• I understand that the risks may be different from those I encounter in everyday activities;
• I understand the importance of following the instructions and safety guidance provided by Nature’s Work and its instructors or guides;
• I have provided, or will provide, relevant information about any medical condition, injury, medication, allergy, disability or other circumstance that may affect my ability to participate safely;
• I understand that conditions may change during an activity and that the activity may be altered or stopped where necessary for safety;
• I understand that signing this document does not waive my legal rights or release Nature’s Work from any legal responsibility or obligation owed to me.

Participant name: ________________________________________________

Course / activity: _________________________________________________

Date of activity: __________________________________________________

Signature: ________________________________________________________

Date: _____________________________________________________________