The EVC Magazine Spring 2025 - Flipbook - Page 23
Safety legislation
EDUCATIONAL
VISITS: A SAFETY
EVOLUTION
Take a look at the major milestones that have
influenced the safety of educational visits today
It’s more than 50 years since the introduction of the
world-leading Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974,
and 30 years since mandatory inspections for activity
centres became law. Since then, huge progress has been
made in improving safety standards on educational visits,
thanks to the continued efforts of schools, providers,
advisers and policymakers. Their work has meant that
staff and students can set out on their adventures with
confidence, knowing that safety is a top priority.
The professionalisation of outdoor learning began in
the early 1960s with the formation of the Association of
Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHOEC) and the
introduction of the Mountain Leadership Certificate in
1964. However, incidents such as the Cairngorm disaster
in 1971 and the Snowdon tragedy in 1972 highlighted the
need for clearer regulations and guidance.
LEGISLATING FOR SAFETY
A major shift came when the government passed
the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act in 1974, which
introduced vital safety regulations, including for
outdoor education. This remains the primary health
and safety legislation for employers (including schools)
today, underpinning the policies and guidance for your
educational visits.
Further legislation came in 1995, following a tragic
incident at Lyme Bay in 1993. This prompted the
Activity Centres (Young Persons’ Safety) Act 1995,
which introduced mandatory safety inspections for
activity centres. Over the years, official guidance has
helped to reinforce high safety standards, including
direct guidance from the Department for Education
(DfE). This began with its Safety in Outdoor Education
guidance in 1989; more followed over the years, and the
latest guidance, Health and Safety on Educational Visits,
was published in 2018.
timeline: steps to safer educational visits
l Health
and Safety
at Work etc.
Act 1974
l Guidelines
for Guidelines
(National
Association
for Outdoor
Education,
now IOL)
l British
Activity
Holiday
Association
inspections
(later BAPA)
l OEAP
Outdoor
Education
Safety and
Good Practice
guidance
l DfES Safety
in Outdoor
Education
guidance
l Activity Centres
(Young Persons’
Safety) Act 1995
l Mandatory AALA
inspections
1974 1980 1986 1988 1989 1995
Legislation
Guidance
Inspection
THE EVC MAGAZINE – SPRING 2025
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