OEC Risk Assessment & Mitigation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'residual risk' in outdoor recreation?
- Risk that has been completely eliminated through mitigation
- Risk that remains after all reasonable safety measures have been applied (Correct answer)
- Risk created by participant negligence
- The total risk present before any mitigation
Correct answer: Risk that remains after all reasonable safety measures have been applied
Residual risk is the level of hazard that persists even after mitigation efforts, and participants must be informed it exists.
Question 2: A patroller assessing a trauma scene identifies 'mechanism of injury.' This information is used to:
- Determine which hospital to transport to
- Predict likely injury patterns and guide the physical exam (Correct answer)
- Calculate the patient's pain level
- Estimate scene arrival time of EMS
Correct answer: Predict likely injury patterns and guide the physical exam
Mechanism of injury (MOI) helps the OEC provider anticipate specific injuries that may not yet be symptomatic, guiding a thorough assessment.
Question 3: When patrolling in cold weather, which environmental condition most rapidly increases the risk of hypothermia for an injured patient?
- Wind combined with wet clothing (Correct answer)
- Low humidity only
- Bright sunlight on snow
- High altitude without wind
Correct answer: Wind combined with wet clothing
Wind chill and wet clothing dramatically accelerate heat loss through convection and conduction, making the combination far more dangerous than cold alone.
Question 4: During scene size-up, an OEC provider determines the scene is unsafe due to ongoing avalanche activity. The correct action is:
- Enter quickly to rescue the victim before another slide
- Stabilize the patient from the edge of the debris field
- Do not enter; call for additional resources and wait for safe conditions (Correct answer)
- Send one patroller in while others spot from above
Correct answer: Do not enter; call for additional resources and wait for safe conditions
An unsafe scene must not be entered until hazards are controlled; protecting responders is the first priority in OEC scene management.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of an administrative control in ski area risk management?
- Installing safety netting at the base of a cliff
- Publishing a trail difficulty rating system (Correct answer)
- Requiring helmets on all terrain park users
- Placing foam padding on a lift tower
Correct answer: Publishing a trail difficulty rating system
Administrative controls include rules, signage, and information systems (like trail ratings) that manage risk through behavior and knowledge rather than physical barriers.
Question 6: A trail crew member reports that a rope tow has been making unusual grinding noises. Using a risk priority matrix, this hazard would most likely be rated:
- Low probability, low severity — acceptable risk
- High probability, high severity — highest priority for correction (Correct answer)
- Low probability, high severity — monitor only
- High probability, low severity — document and defer
Correct answer: High probability, high severity — highest priority for correction
Mechanical failure of a rope tow during operation is likely if grinding noises are ignored and could cause serious injury, making it highest priority.
Question 7: The primary purpose of a pre-season patrol readiness review is to:
- Evaluate patroller fitness levels
- Identify and mitigate hazards before the public arrives on the mountain (Correct answer)
- Satisfy insurance documentation requirements
- Train new patrollers on lift evacuation procedures
Correct answer: Identify and mitigate hazards before the public arrives on the mountain
Pre-season readiness reviews systematically identify terrain, equipment, and protocol hazards so they can be resolved before guests are exposed.
OEC Risk Assessment & Mitigation 3
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'residual risk' in outdoor recreation?