Item: The Norwegian Avalanche Observer Corps: Safety, Quality, Training, Procedures and Culture
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Title: The Norwegian Avalanche Observer Corps: Safety, Quality, Training, Procedures and Culture
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA
Authors:
- Markus Landrø [ Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Oslo, Norway ]
- Rune Engeset [ Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Oslo, Norway ]
- Andreas Haslestad [ Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Oslo, Norway ]
- Jostein Aasen [ Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Oslo, Norway ]
- Knut I. Orset [ Norwegian Public Road Administration, Trondheim, Norway ]
Date: 2016-10-02
Abstract: Field observers are crucial to secure a steady flow of high quality observations from the field, which is necessary to provide a reliable avalanche forecast. To provide these observations, the Norwegian Avalanche Warning Service (NAWS) has its own observer corps. All observers are subject to standardised training courses, operating procedures and follow-up system. About 80 observers spend approximately 5,500 hours on observational field trips during a season, much of this time in or near avalanche terrain. The NAWS personnel safety strategy is designed to prevent accidents. It is focused on developing a sound safety culture within the observer network, as well as providing high quality courses and a systematic and transparent monitoring programme. Ensuring safety starts already in the recruitment process, and retains major focus at all levels of the observer-training programme. All observers use predefined observation routes. Each predefined route ensures sufficient safety margins under different conditions, and its use will depend on the prevailing avalanche situation. Further, NAWS established an incident reporting system. Example cases are discussed at the annual observer meeting, and the operating procedures and training courses are continuously improved. All observers receive written feedback on their observations each season and a personal follow-up by the senior educational staff. This approach requires significant human resources, but the idea behind is that increased knowledge through high quality training also contributes to increased safety. This paper describes the recruitment, training courses, daily work and support of individual observers.
Object ID: ISSW16_P2.50.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Avalanche forecasting, Observer training, Safety
Page Number(s): 922-928
Subjects: avalanche education courses observation data avalanche forecasting
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