Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have selection standards for the staff you employ?

Yes.  We employ folks who have current outdoor and first aid qualifications, and relevant experience. All staff must be familiar with the area and activities before instructing. The Centre Manager is responsible for employing staff and checking their competency.

Do you employ staff who are in training?

We most certainly do.  When they have been given responsibility for leading an activity for which they are not fully qualified, we always place a qualified staff member at that site and they must over-rule if the need arises.

Can our staff run the activities?

Yes, provided they have achieved ‘the Boyle standard. This means they have to be assessed by the Centre Manager, or their delegate. Their qualifications, training and experience at the Boyle are all considered on application.

Do you have training standards?

Our staff are usually engaged in at least two weeks of in-house training per year.  Where necessary outsiders are employed to deliver the training. Anyone working at the Boyle must have achieved ‘the Boyle standard.’

What is the ‘Boyle Standard’?

Requirements and standards for instructing each of the activities are available on request in the Group Information Booklet.

Do you monitor compliance to standards?

Firstly, we insist that staff have done our in-house training.

Secondly, we keep a register of staff training and qualifications.

Thirdly, the Centre Manager reviews staff performance at least once a year and feedback from user groups is welcomed.

Do you have safety rules?

We most certainly do.  There are written minimum standards for all our activities.  They are in the form of either a Code of Practice (as for the Ropes Course), or a Safety Operations Plan (SOP) as in the case of Rafting, or a Risk Analysis and Management Matrix.

So who has the ultimate responsibility?

There are two parts in answer to this question.

(1) The Teacher-in-Charge or group leader attached to the user group.

(2) The Centre Manager.

The Centre Manager will give advice. What s/he says must be acted upon.  If you choose to ignore this advice/direction, the support the Boyle provides will be withheld. 

Who is responsible for identifying the risks?

All staff, including the ones accompanying groups to the Boyle.

Can I see your safety plans?

Most certainly. Please ask the Centre Manager.

What about incidents you have had over the years? What happens? What evidence is there for me to see?

Yes, we have had our share of incidents. Muscle strains and temporarily 'lost' while doing the compass bearing activity are amongst the most common.  No fatalities to date.

Wasp stings, rope and hot water burns, broken bones, tendon stretches

and illnesses do happen very occasionally.  In 24 years we have used a helicopter twice (injury on Mt Faust; illness at Magdellan Hut) and the ambulance twice.

We have an Accident/Incident reporting system which is available for you to study.

I heard you were once 'an emergency centre'

Independent of the Centre a bus rolled over on SH7 and our staff became the front-line providers of care for 22 people.  The facilities held up well including the radio communication system.

We often get involved in supporting people who have had an accident in the area.

We are also a Welfare Centre for Civil Defence in the event of an emergency.

What emergency procedures are in place?

We have procedures for:

Evacuating the building; extra overnights in the Lodge due to snow (food is available); administering first aid; searching for a lost person; rescuing someone from further harm; evacuation from an outdoor site; dealing with a fatality; dealing with the follow-up; and dealing with trauma. For the most part, the Ministry of Education Group SES trauma team would be called in to look after the school students and their staff. It is expected that this would occur back at school. Our trauma procedures have our staff as their main focus.

What if a staff member is hurt?

Boyle Staff:  If necessary and appropriate the Police and OSH will be informed immediately and before the person is removed from the situation (provided no risk of further harm). 

After treatment, the Centre Manager will inform the N.C.A.T media spokesperson who in turn will inform the N.C.A.T chairperson, who has the responsibility for matters relating to trauma.

User Group Staff: After treatment the employing authority is notified. 

They are responsible for reporting the incident to OSH if serious harm situation arises.  If necessary and appropriate the Police and OSH will be informed immediately and before the person is removed from the situation (provided no risk of further harm).

Can our students be assessed against unit standards?

Yes.  This is done through Kaiapoi High School’s accreditation. Details from the Centre Manager on request.