An analysis of whitewater rafting safety data: risk management for programme organizers

Abstract

Many outdoor organizations integrate whitewater rafting into their programmes. Often this is accomplished by contracting with a whitewater outfitter. This paper analyses rafting accident data collected by the American Canoe Association in an effort to suggest ways in which programmes can better manage risk while contracting with outfitters for rafting services. The primary conclusion is that there are countless unknown, and even unknowable, hazards associated with the whitewater environment—rafts staying on line and rafters staying in the boat are both important in all whitewater environments. To facilitate this, programme managers are advised to: (1) carefully select a responsible safety-oriented rafting outfitter which is able to be responsive to the organizations programme and safety concerns; (2) have procedures in place whereby programme staff monitor on-river safety procedures; (3) manage risk partly by selecting the difficulty of the river; and (4) know the river level which corresponds to ‘high water’ and have a upper-water-limit policy. Factors which clearly inflate risk are: high-water raft runs, the use of self-guided rafts and inflatable kayaks, and very cold water (especially for rafters over 50 years old and those with asthma).