Challenge Course Safety: a Study of Manageable Factors Contributing to Incidents on High Elements

Abstract

The two purposes of this study were: 1) to discover the relationships between challenge course incidents and 2) to identify causal factors that contribute to or increase participant exposure to actual risk. Data were collected in the form of archived Close/Call Near Miss reports for the years, 1994 through 1997. The statistical treatment used to analyze the data was a Non-Parametric Chi-Square to test for significant differences in frequencies along the independent variables. Significant differences were found between variables, allowing confident rejection of five of six null hypotheses. The results provide a number of valuable insights that have practical applications in the following areas: challenge course design, facilitator training, program development, program delivery, and programmatic philosophy. The results from this study aid in the design of more effective challenge course structures; facilitate the development of proper training programs; and cement a foundation for an adventure education program philosophy.