. KNOWLEDGE
BASE ARTICLE. KNOWLEDGE
BASE ARTICLE
Safety deep underground
in caves & mines....
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Local caves and old mine workings can be potentially dangerous places - especially if you don't know what you're doing - or if you don't have all the right safety equipment with you. To explore safely deep underground you need ultra reliable lights and other equipment and you must be aware of what you can and cannot do safely. We would therefore urge every novice not to try out caving or potholing ( caving with steep drops ) or mines exploration by yourselves unless you're longing for eternity ! You can learn all the skills of caving by joining a local potholing or mines exploration club or by going out with qualified instructors from an accredited and recognised centre. Instructors will choose trips that are within your capabilities and routes which are free of excessive risks from dangers such as flooding or loose rock. Centres such as our base at Rock Lea will provide excellent insurance cover and are very safety conscious. Always check the insurance cover you are using covers mines and or potholes...some policies specifically will exclude roped climbing and potholing etc. If in doubt ask to see the schedule of the insurance policy and check. Peak Activities Ltd staff are long standing members of the Derbyshire Caving Association and have been running caving events very safely in this area for over 25 years without any incidents - and we hold an AALA Licence which allows us to take youngsters from 9 to 18 yrs underground safely too. Our staff team includes a former HM MInes Inspector and former HSE Inspector ( Steve Pope ), several CIC's and numerous instructors holding the DCA Level 1 and Level 2 Caving and Potholing Instructors qualifications. All our staff are qualified first aiders and several are members or former members of cave rescue teams. All our tutors have current H&S at work first aid qualifications and specialist training in rescue and casualty care underground.Peak Activities staff & associates are often used as safety management consultants and underground safety experts by discerning organisations such as the BBC & NBC for filming projects underground. Click for details. Peak Activities Ltd's beginners caving courses are a great safe way for individuals and couples to get to grips for the first time with caving and potholing and basic cave safety deep below the Derbyshire Dales and need no special fitness and no special equipment is needed....we provide everything you will need... from hard hats and lights to safety harnesses and waterproof caving suits and wellingtons. Click formore notes on Caving & Potholing with Peak Activities. We also offer advanced courses. Anybody seeking more advanced training and/or assessment for the NCA's Cave or Mine Leader Assessment scheme should contact our close associate David Baines via our office. Call 01433-650345. The NCA is the National Caving Association - the governing body for the sport in England. The DCA is the Derbyshire Caving Association which looks after the interests of caves & cavers in Derbyshire. Dave Baines holds a CIC ( Caving Instructor's Certificate ) and together with other CIC's working at this centre, Dave specialises in running bespoke courses for training & assessing groups leaders such as Scout Leaders, outdoor centres' staff, teachers, and so on. Independent verification/assessments can be arranged through other members of the NCA governing body awards scheme.
Dave has held Cave Instructor Certificate since 1986 and is a member of the NCA Local Cave & Mine Leader Coordinating Committee and serves as Technical Advisor for a number of centres and outdoor providers under the Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations 1996. Dave is a former Chair of the Derbyshire Association of Residential Education (DARE) with a wealth of experience to share with aspirant caving tutors. He is also a MIA qualified mountaineering instructor. Details of more of our team of NGB qualified tutors.
Dave's Cave Leadership & safety courses are held in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, North Wales (Mines) and in the Forest of Dean ( mines). Within Derbyshire, Peak Activities Ltd runs regular open events for complete novices wanting to try caving and tailored exclusive group caving experiences for private parties wanting caving or potholing. Underground trips can be as easy as you want - or quite tough ! Talk to us to discuss the age and fitness of your proposed participants...or if you fancy booking an event as an individual. Caving & mine-based underground problem solving tasks are popular on our team building events for corporate clients. Easy and extreme caving with Rock Lea has been featured on NBC, on BBC and ITV television, on Radio 4, Radio 5 Live and highly acclaimed in many national media such as the Sunday Times. A recent half page feature in the Sunday Times Travel Section in Feb 2003. The travel writer Steve Bleach was very complimentary about our beginners' caving weekends.Tony Kendall - our caving director, who holds the Chief Scout's Medal of Merit and the prestigious Silver Acorn Award for over 25 years of service as a Scouts Caving & Safety Advisor at regional and national level. Tony is one of our executive company directors who has worked with us for over 25 years. Tony is a very popular caving leader with visiting stag groups, hen groups, team building and training groups, and parties of all types. Tony is involved with our 1:1 and Guiding services.
* CLICK FOR TAILORED CAVING COURSES FOR GROUPS...
* INFORMATION ON TOUGHER POTHOLING TRIPS FOR GROUPS...
* OTHER SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR GROUPS OFFERED BY PEAK ACTIVITIES LTD.
* Our base in Hathersage is really easy to get to...
* Insurance. offered by Peak Activities Ltyd for our clients...
Tel. 01433-650345 Fax. 01433-650342 Rock Lea Activity Centre Station Road, Hathersage, The Peak District National Park, Hope Valley, S32 1DD, The United Kingdom.
