OEC Risk Assessment & Mitigation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a ski patrol risk assessment, which factor is MOST critical when evaluating avalanche danger on a specific slope?
- Slope angle between 30–45 degrees (Correct answer)
- Air temperature at summit
- Number of skiers on the run
- Time of day
Correct answer: Slope angle between 30–45 degrees
Slopes angled 30–45 degrees are the most avalanche-prone terrain, making slope angle the primary terrain factor in avalanche risk assessment.
Question 2: A group of hikers is caught in a lightning storm in an open meadow. Which mitigation action is MOST appropriate?
- Lie flat on the ground spread apart
- Seek shelter under the tallest tree
- Crouch low on the balls of your feet, feet together, in a lightning crouch (Correct answer)
- Run toward a nearby ridge to get cell signal
Correct answer: Crouch low on the balls of your feet, feet together, in a lightning crouch
The lightning crouch minimizes body contact with the ground and height, reducing risk of direct strike and ground current injuries.
Question 3: When assessing risk at a backcountry ski area, the 'human factor' primarily refers to:
- The number of patrollers on duty
- Cognitive biases and group dynamics that lead to poor decision-making (Correct answer)
- Physical fitness of participants
- Availability of rescue equipment
Correct answer: Cognitive biases and group dynamics that lead to poor decision-making
Human factors such as heuristic traps, summit fever, and social pressure are leading contributors to accidents in avalanche terrain.
Question 4: Which tool is used in structured avalanche decision-making to separate terrain, snowpack, and weather observations?
- SOAP note
- Avalanche Danger Scale
- DECIDE model
- Avalanche Triangle / 3x3 framework (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Avalanche Triangle / 3x3 framework
The Avalanche Triangle (also called the 3x3 framework) organizes risk factors across terrain, snowpack, and weather at three scales of observation.
Question 5: A ski patroller notices a guest is repeatedly ignoring closed boundary ropes. The BEST initial risk mitigation step is:
- Confiscate the guest's lift ticket immediately
- Verbally educate the guest about the hazard and consequences (Correct answer)
- Post additional signs and monitor remotely
- Ignore it unless the guest gets injured
Correct answer: Verbally educate the guest about the hazard and consequences
Direct verbal communication is the first and most immediate mitigation step, providing education and establishing documentation of the warning.
Question 6: What does the acronym 'STOP' stand for in outdoor emergency decision-making?
- Stabilize, Treat, Observe, Proceed
- Stop, Think, Observe, Plan (Correct answer)
- Survey, Triage, Organize, Package
- Signal, Triage, Operate, Prioritize
Correct answer: Stop, Think, Observe, Plan
STOP (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan) is a survival and decision-making framework that prevents panic-driven poor choices in emergencies.
Question 7: In OEC risk management, a 'near miss' report is valuable primarily because:
- It satisfies legal liability requirements
- It identifies hazards before they cause actual injury (Correct answer)
- It allows patrollers to discipline rule-breakers
- It documents weather patterns for future planning
Correct answer: It identifies hazards before they cause actual injury
Near miss reporting is a proactive safety tool that reveals systemic hazards and allows corrective action before a serious injury occurs.
OEC Risk Assessment & Mitigation 2
During a ski patrol risk assessment, which factor is MOST critical when evaluating avalanche danger on a specific slope?