Covid-19: Information for MTA members relating to hill walking, climbing and mountaineering
As the new year brings tighter coronavirus regulations both within and between nations, we are committed to keeping our members informed with relevant information. We hope this will enable you to make responsibly informed decisions regarding any work and volunteering you do with your Mountain Training qualification, or to support your preparation for training and assessment courses.
We strongly believe in the benefits of gaining Mountain Training’s qualifications and the work that you do with them, leading, instructing and coaching, therefore we are committed to supporting you in any way we can. We are grateful to our workshop providers, volunteers and members for putting in place mitigation measures in an ever evolving landscape.
Along with Mountain Training we are liaising with the mountaineering councils and government agencies in all nations and endeavour to update this information as quickly as possible following any new announcement, bearing in mind that it often takes several days to digest and interpret any new guidance/legislation and reach an agreed conclusion.
England guidance
Ireland guidance
Northern Ireland guidance
Scotland guidance
Wales guidance
If you are due to attend a course over the coming weeks please contact your course provider.
Created 22nd May 2020, last updated on 26th March 2021
The guidelines from the governments of the four nations of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) and the Republic of Ireland, along with those from other national bodies will continue to evolve and may vary, and more localised lockdowns and restrictions within nations will bring its own challenges too. It is important that you stay up to date with these guidelines and find the latest information available before taking part in any activities.
We have pulled together some practical advice, helping you as established or developing outdoor professionals to consider practising outdoor activities in a Covid-19 world. It should be used in conjunction with the latest guidelines from your home nation government, advice from the
BMC,
Mountaineering Ireland or
Mountaineering Scotland and our own
‘Mountain Training Framework for Decision Making’ and regularly updated
Mountain Training course provision updates.
General guidance
Joint Association Statement for local lockdowns - 9th October 2020
As the current Coronavirus pandemic evolves MTA has worked with the other associations to provide members with the below statement and guidance to support them with local lockdowns.
Joint Associations Local Lockdown Statement
General guidance for all members
Is what you might be planning safe, lawful, evidence-based, socially responsible, clear and realistic?
Understanding Covid-19
Any new hazard needs to be properly understood before it can be managed. Covid-19 is a hazard that we are all learning to manage and as we begin to make more independent decisions about our levels of activity, these three articles provide a good basis for understanding;
Covid-19: Expert answers to outdoor questions
Covid and the outdoors: Professor Ian Hall answers your questions
Will a Covid vaccine allow a return to normality?
Refamiliarization
Prior to operating in a leadership capacity we would encourage you, when it’s appropriate, to gain your own experience of the activity and approach with caution. Skill fade may have crept in and familiarity with safe practice may not have been part of your life for awhile.
- If you are an experienced practitioner, you will need to revert to being consciously competent and thinking about everything you do, rather than assuming you’ll do it right because you have years of experience. This will likely involve allowing more time for the activity and choosing your partners carefully.
- If you are developing your skills and experience in a particular activity, spend time getting to grips with the basics again and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you can’t remember something.
You are encouraged to carefully consider the level of challenge your activity presents in relation to your ability and competence.
In addition to this guidance we urge our members, as and when appropriate, to resume activity in a measured, sensitive and cautious manner. The reputation of the professional mountaineering community will be under unique scrutiny at this critical time.
Practical considerations
Travel
Is travel legal? Justifiable?
Is public transport necessary?
Is it possible to maintain social distancing whilst travelling?
Are there any restrictions affecting the place you’re planning to visit? For example, access restrictions due to nesting birds or closed premises? Check before you travel.
Overnight/longer term stays
Are these allowed?
Do the following encourage visits to specific areas or particular communities?
Health and hygiene
Have you thought about or written a risk assessment for managing PPE?
Avoid sharing anything that can be kept separate such as food and drinks, maps, compasses, sun cream etc.
Consider personal and shared use of activity-specific and disease control PPE e.g. ropes, harnesses, group shelter, face coverings, gloves etc.
Encourage everyone you’re with to bring and use their own hand sanitiser.
Social distancing and social contact limitations
What are the latest restrictions regarding social distancing and how many people from outside your household are you allowed to meet up with?
Is it possible to carry out the activity whilst observing social distancing?
Safe activity space
Risk assessments- If you are an employee or freelancer, your employer should provide you with new or updated risk assessments and procedures which include Covid-19. Make sure you understand them and ask questions if anything is unclear.
- If you work for yourself or are an employer, update your risk assessments and procedures to include Covid-19 and share them with your staff. Make sure they understand them and allow time for training and discussion.
- As well as a Covid-19 specific risk assessment, what impact will social distancing restrictions have on your existing risk assessments regarding things like spotting, teaching navigation and cleaning equipment?
The activity environment
Consider the nature of the activity within the physical space you’ll be in and be mindful of potential honeypot paths/sites, pinch points on narrow trails and parking – be creative and have several options in mind.
Working
Candidate health status
If you are working with clients, it’s reasonable to ask them to confirm, prior to attending a course, that they do not have Covid-19 symptoms and have not recently had symptoms (i.e. they are not currently isolating). This may form part of your risk assessment and be a requirement of the booking contract. Medical disclosure is more important than ever, and clients need to be encouraged to take ownership of any personal medical problems in order for you to plan and deliver a suitable experience.
Think about what information you might need to give or receive ahead of time.
Safety and Rescue
Mountain rescue teams are currently operating a very limited service, partly because of limits on the help they are able to safely offer while protecting their members on a call out. It is also clearly very difficult for a mountain rescue team to operate effectively while observing social distancing. So when walking, climbing or scrambling we should make sure we stay well within our capabilities, avoid taking any unnecessary risks, and work on the basis that mountain rescue help will be slower to respond with reduced capability if we get into any difficulties. Consider how you might respond to various safety and rescue scenarios.
Have you read the latest advice regarding first aid and CPR (links below)?
What changes will be required to your usual first aid protocols?
Are you aware of the current rescue provision status in the area you wish to work in?
How would you manage the situation if external help was compromised or not available?
Liability
Are you insured for the activities you’re undertaking?
If you’re working with others do you have appropriate insurance cover in place?
Have you spoken to your insurers about what’s covered?
If claims related to Covid-19 are not covered, have you made this clear to your staff and clients?
Consider adding a statement or acknowledgement of risk with regard to CV19 on your client’s booking forms.
Community Relations
Outdoor professionals need to communicate a strong sense of responsibility in helping keep everyone ‘Covid secure’ during any outdoor activity. Please also check other landowners for specific updates.
MTA members are role models and educators within the industry. We invite you all to continue to demonstrate best practice and set good examples for other hill/crag users (not just your clients) to follow and be inspired by.
We hope this helps in your planning and decision making as activities resume in the UK and Ireland. With thanks to Mark Charlton and Phil Baker for permission to base this article on original work by BMG and AMI. This information is based on a document produced by representatives from the British Mountain Guides (BMG) and the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI), and has been modified for Mountain Training Association members.
EnglandUpdated: 26/03/2021
The latest government guidance is available here. This guidance states; ‘Pupils and students in all schools and Further Education settings will be able to return to face-to-face education’ in England from the 8th March 2021.
As we consider the Mountain Training pathway and courses to fit within the definition of education, Mountain Training England feel course delivery is permissible in England from the 8th March subject to appropriate mitigation.
Please remain mindful infection rates are still extremely high. Mountain Training candidates should remain considerate to others and reduce risk to a minimum, for example, by staying local where possible. Please also bear in mind other legislative restrictions are likely to impact on course attendance (e.g. accommodation). If further guidance is required on instruction please refer to your association
If further guidance is required regarding wider participation in England, please refer to the BMC.
Useful links:
Sport England 'Return to Play' FAQ's
Grassroots sports guidance for the public and sport providers
Grassroots sports guidance for safe provision including team sport, contact combat sport and organised sport events
Countryside Code in England
WalesAdvice for members in Wales
Updated: 22/03/2021
The Coronavirus Control Plan published by Welsh Government sets out the steps that could be taken as we move from Alert Level 4 into Alert Level 3 as follows.
From Monday 22 March:
- First phased opening of non-essential retail – restrictions on the sale of items will be lifted for shops, which are currently open
- Garden centres re-open.
Ministers will confirm if the conditions allow for the following relaxations to come into force from Saturday 27 March::
- Stay local requirement lifted, moving Wales into alert level 3
- First phased opening of the tourism sector as self-contained accommodation opens
- Organised outdoor children’s activities resume
- Limited opening of outdoor areas of some historic places and gardens
- Libraries re-open.
From 12 April (if conditions allow):
- Full return to schools, colleges and other education
- All shops to open
- Close contact services to open.
The following areas will be considered as part of the 22 April review, if the public health situation continues to remain positive and vaccination rates continue to increase:
- Gyms, leisure and fitness facilities
- Outdoor attractions
- Outdoor hospitality
- Weddings
- Community centres
- Organised activities (30 outdoors, 15 indoors)
- Extended households.
Further ahead and of benefit to sport, there are also revisions to the number of people who can gather indoors and outdoors at Alert Level 2, moving from 30 people outdoors and 15 indoors to 50 people outdoors and 30 indoors.
What this means for course and workshop provision
Education Services
Throughout the pandemic, Mountain Training and MTA has been clear that the scheme pathway and any workshops directly linked to the qualification syllabi fits within the definition of education. Accessing and receiving educational services continues to be listed as a reasonable excuse in the new legislation allowing individuals to ‘leave their local area’, and ‘participate in a gathering in a public area’. Travel for educational purposes also applies to travel from England, Scotland or Northern Ireland to Wales and vice versa. In addition, face to face teaching for students has continued within Further and Higher Educational organisations for students who have ‘no reasonably practicable alternative’.
Work based training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
The Mountain Training Association is clear that our members participate in MTA workshops for work purposes and continuation of their professional development. For members to whom this may apply, the following guidance is important to consider:
- It is the providers responsibility to ensure that workshop attendees, who are participating in workshops for work reasons, can provide information supporting this, if required.
- Should the participant be stopped by Police they may be required to provide additional supporting information, confirming their reasons for travel and participation on a workshop.
- Should the Police, or an Inspector from the Local Authority’s Environmental Health Department choose to contact the workshop provider before, during or after the workshop, they may be required to provide additional supporting information providing justification for participant travel and attendance.
- MTA workshops are one-day events so the need for accommodation is unlikely. If a participant requires accommodation in the area, supporting evidence may be requested by the accommodation provider, prior to booking, to confirm the participant’s work.
Accommodation
Welsh Government guidance states that at Alert Level 4, ‘All accommodation businesses must currently remain closed, except for the purposes of providing accommodation to anyone living there as a main residence or to accommodate individuals at the request of local authorities or Welsh Ministers’. In addition, the First Minister has stated that businesses taking bookings from people living in England risk a significant delay in the easing of restrictions planned for Wales over the coming weeks. Whilst this relates specifically to tourism it reinforces their broader messaging.
In some Welsh Local Authorities, accommodation providers are not permitted to open for workers unless the owner requests approval from their Authority, for example, Pembrokeshire and Anglesey. Other Council’s may or may not have similar procedures in place. Finally, it is important to be aware that ‘accessing and receiving education services’ has not been mentioned as an exception for which accommodation can remain open. A full list of all current business closures and exceptions, including accommodation businesses, can be found here.
In summary, and in light of the information currently available from the Welsh Government, the Mountain Training Association considers that Mountain Training courses and workshop delivery in Wales is now permissible, subject to appropriate mitigation.
Please be aware that relaxations announced by the UK Government do not apply in Wales.
Useful links:
Welsh Government coronavirus homepage
Welsh Government Alert level 4 frequently asked questions
Wales lockdown part 3 - BMC Article
Countryside Code in WalesScotlandUpdated: 17/03/2021
Scotland Level 4 ‘Stay at Home’ guidance for organised mountain-related activity remains in place, with limited easing of related restrictions
On the 16/3/2021 the First Minister following on from her update on COVID-19 and changes to the current Level 4 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions and associated guidance on the 9/3/2021, set out a timetable for the re-opening of parts of society over the next two months.
https://www.gov.scot/news/timetable-for-further-lockdown-easing/
The key points and context for the easings in current Level 4 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions are:
- ScotGov priorities for the next few weeks are focussed on children’s education – so scope to make further changes will be limited while they are still rolling out the vaccine.
Level 4 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions are still in force until 2nd April 2021 and we are being asked to please stay as close to home as possible.
The key changes relevant to organised outdoor mountain-related activity, including Mountain Training courses run by leaders, instructors, coaches and guides (hereafter referred to as ‘leader/s’) sector are:
Travel guidance for mountain-related activity providers and staff; participants
- Essential travel for work within the context of this guidance covers those staff (instructor, leader, coach or guide) travelling to deliver qualification (including Mountain Training qualifications), personal skills training, or CPD type events within Level 0-4 areas.
- Providers/staff may also travel into or out of all areas, including Level 3 and 4 areas, to deliver qualifications and formally organised mountain-related activity.
- Adults living in a Level 3 or Level 4 area should only travel locally (within their own local authority area) to take part in organised outdoor mountain-related activity.
- MTS Temporary Mountain Training Scheme adaptations are still in effect.
Please be aware that in the unlikely event of being stopped by or contacted by Police Scotland you may be asked to produce evidence as to why you deem your journey essential.
Travel into and out of Scotland
Currently non-essential travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK and the wider Common Travel Area (CTA) (i.e. the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) is prohibited as a measure to reduce the risk of importation of the virus.
Ratios and ‘sporting bubbles’
- Providers/Leaders can run organised outdoor non-contact mountain-related activity in protection Level 4 for a maximum of 15 people aged 12 years or over (including the leader/s).
- Physical distancing should always be maintained. Note: this means no ‘field of play’/close contact.
- An outdoor sporting ‘field of play bubble’ for young people and adults at Level 4 can consist of up to 15 people, including leaders, at any one time. Physical distancing should always be maintained.
- No overnights, including camping, snowholing etc.
The updated MTS CV 19 Guidance document (see below) has the full detail regarding CV19 Guidance for those involved in providing/running organised outdoor mountain-related activity in Scotland.
Scottish Government Indicative dates/timeline and impact on organised mountain-related activity
The updated Scottish Government Strategic Framework has been published and can be found at this link: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-timetable-for-easing-restrictions/
The key relevant indicative dates, timeline and associated implications for the organised mountain-related activity sector are as follows:
2 April: Protection level 4
- Stay at home measures become stay local - travel within local authority for a non-essential purpose. NOTE: this does not change the travel restrictions inherent within level 4 i.e. staying within your local authority level except for essential purposes.
5 April
Outdoor contact sports for 12-17 year olds resume. Note: This means that ‘field of play’/close contact guidance will apply for organised outdoor mountain-related activity for 12-17 year olds only.
26 April: Return to Strategic (levels) Framework: Indicative move from Protection level 4 to level 3
- Travel within mainland Scotland allowed.
- Tourist accommodation can open with restrictions in place. Note: if not before this may allow camping overnights to be undertaken, albeit with appropriate covid safety measures in place e.g. single person occupancy.
17 May: What next?
- Outdoor adult contact sport. Note: this will allow ‘field of play’/close contact guidance to come into effect; group activity in climbing walls may be possible subject to restrictions.
Indicative dates are conditional on supportive data – the key data being infection rates.
Organised and formal led mountain-related activity
The key changes noted above still restrict travel to locally within a local authority area, and no overnight stays.
The combination of travel restrictions and no overnight stays mean very limited scope for Mountain Training qualification courses (including Winter ML and Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor) training or assessment to be delivered in Scotland. Any such viable activity would depend on ALL course participants residing locally to the course venue(s).
1:1 Re-assessments can still be undertaken provided candidates reside in the same local authority area as the assessor undertaking the re-assessment.
We as individuals and organisations, have all been asked to act in ways, since 17 March 2020, that will aid the safety of ourselves and others, by suppressing the spread of the epidemic as much as possible.
We acknowledge that the disruption and cancellation of Mountain Training qualification courses – especially Winter Mountain Leader courses – and the impact on the provision of organised mountain-related activity by activity providers continue to have a huge impact on participants and providers alike. We fully understand and appreciate the financial, social and community impact these ongoing restrictions are having.
We will keep you updated with more information and will be doing everything within our power to support the professional mountaineering community.
Accommodation
All mountain-related activity providers, staff, and participants (including Mountain Training Scotland Providers, staff, and candidates) should be aware that under Level 4 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions overnight stays are restricted in Scotland and all holiday accommodation is closed to tourism.
Accommodation providers have been advised that when providing accommodation to workers, this should only be open for essential workers who require accommodation as part of their role.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-workers-accomodation/
MTS General advice to providers, staff and participants in mountain-related activity
Whilst we are at the beginning of a slow transition out of lockdown this is still a very uncertain and evolving situation.
Enforcing the guidelines and rules, especially on 'essential travel' is not the responsibility of Mountain Training Scotland.
All those seeking to be involved in undertaking organised mountain-related activity – please check the Scottish Government website for updates before making plans.
https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/
For mountain-related personal activity advice please see the Mountaineering Scotland guidance.
Following the above MTS guidance, and what you choose to do within it, involves making judgements and decisions that only you, as an outdoor professional can make. These will involve many factors including your own sense of social, personal, and professional responsibility. There are other factors that may impact on your decision making, which include but are not limited to access and car parking may be busy, mindful of the sentiments of rural and remote communities and those living and working in the countryside.
When planning your activity stay well within your limits and minimise the risks to yourselves and others. For Scottish Mountain Rescue teams COVID-19 has an impact on their ability to respond to an incident quickly and efficiently. With regards casualty management r, COVID is not a risk they can effectively manage on winter rescues due to limitations with the PPE currently used.
https://www.scottishmountainrescue.org/covid-19-information/
Finally, if making such decisions seems complicated and leads only to uncertainty and doubt in your mind, then Mountain Training Scotland advice is to please stay at home and make best use of whatever options for organised mountain-related activity are within your local area.
Our hope and expectations are that this transition out of lockdown, with our support will enable a return to being able to deliver and participate in organised mountain-related activity by the spring.
#ThinkWINTER
Guidance for formal led activity:
MTS CV19 Guidance_5 Jan_FINAL
Useful links:
Mountaineering Scotland article - Guidance for hill walkers and climbers in Scotland
Scottish Government: What you can and can't do
Scottish Outdoor Access Code
IrelandAdvice for members in Ireland
Updated: 24/02/2021
The Republic of Ireland is currently at Level 5 and will remain there until at least 5th April. Level 5 restrictions include the following:
- people must stay at home and work from home unless providing essential services (as defined by the Government)
- people are permitted to exercise within 5km of their home, with a penalty for movement outside 5km of home
- it is possible to meet with one other household in an outdoor setting which is not a home or garden, such as a park, for exercise
- there should be no organised indoor or outdoor events
These restrictions make Mountain Training course delivery unworkable while Ireland is at Level 5, except where providers operating within an education service as defined by the Irish Government.
Useful links:
Mountaineering Ireland latest
Irish Government - A guide to Level 5
Mountaineering Ireland Good Practice GuideNorthern IrelandAdvice for members in Northern Ireland
Updated: 24/02/2021
Following an increase in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, additional restrictions were introduced for people in Northern Ireland on 26 December 2020. The regulations will remain in place until 1st April with a review scheduled for 18th March.
- Work associated with education can happen.
- Avoid all unnecessary travel, walls/gyms closed.
- Only individual or household outdoor exercise is permitted.
- Physical activity such as walking, running, cycling, horse riding, or just walking the dog, bring many health benefits.
- You cannot participate in personal one-to-one training sessions or group activities such as running or cycling.
- Physical education delivered by or for schools, pre-schools and other education providers is permitted to continue.
All previous protocols relating to social distancing, hand sanitizing and wearing masks in enclosed spaces remain in place.
Useful links:
Mountaineering Ireland latest
Northern Ireland Executive - regulations and what they mean for you
Countryside Code in Northern Ireland