Outdoor Risk Management

The Outdoor Risk Management objective is to increase patroller value by providing patrollers with depth-and-breadth appropriate risk management educational content, information, resources, and skills that address the risks they may encounter in their daily patrolling activities. 

Program Structure

This program is web-based, educational and is free to NSP members. It is recommended for patrollers with some experience with on-the-hill duties.  There are no instructors, it is designed to be taken by individuals and is self-paced.  It addresses topics such as legislation, industry standards and practices, risk Identification and mitigation along with operational basics of other departments such as ski & ride schools, lift operations and maintenance, terrain parks, snowmaking and grooming.

Key Responsibilities

The mission of the Outdoor Risk Management (ORM) program is to increase patroller value by providing patrollers with depth-and-breadth appropriate risk management educational content, information, resources and skills that help address the risks they may encounter in their daily patrolling activities.  The ORM content has been specifically developed for patrollers who have little to no formal training in risk management, and is also helpful as a foundation for patrol leadership. Anyone who is interested in risk management and/or being asked to take on risk management as part of their patroller duties should participate in the new ORM course. In mastering these concepts, patrollers will develop and enhance pre and post-loss knowledge, tactics and skills to help increase their value to the ski areas, their patrols and ultimately the guests they serve.

• ORM Program Supervisors will be acquired at the Divisional and Regional Level.
• These Program Supervisors will monitor and recruit new users.
• This recruitment will be done through constant communication with Divisional, Regional, and local leadership, as well as Patrol Directors and line-level patrollers.

ORM Program Content

Outdoor Risk Management currently has one online course that is available to members of the National Ski Patrol. ORM content is depth and breadth appropriate and suitable for all patrollers, from basic to Certified level. The purpose of the Outdoor Risk Management course is to provide patrollers with the resources, background knowledge, and practical tools they will need to effectively execute the risk management duties and activities they may be assigned and through this training will be better able to meet the needs of area operators, patrollers, patrols and the skiing and riding public. The purpose of this course is for patrollers to have a framework to understand their roles as essential components of an area’s overall risk management program.  The ORM program content will provide a foundation of general risk management knowledge, as well as knowledge that is specific to the risk management duties and activities that patrollers may perform as part of their daily patrolling responsibilities as well as tools for their own personal well-being.  

1. Module 1: Overview
2. Module 2: General Concepts of Risk Management
3. Module 3: Personal Risk Management
4. Module 4: Ethics and Legal Considerations
5. Module 5: Standards and Regulations
6. Module 6: Patrol Operations
7. Module 7: Snowmobile & On-Slope Vehicle Operations
8. Module 8: Guest Safety Education Programs
9. Module 9: Incident Investigation
10. Module 10: Collaboration with Other Departments