The term ‘risk’ can mean a range of things in different circumstances. The different types of risk can be categorised into the following ways.
Absolute risk– This is the ‘worst case scenario’ in any circumstance. It is an important starting point for the planning of any activity as steps can be put in place to reduce the likelihood of these things occurring. For example, the absolute risk of being on a cliff edge is that someone could fall off and cause serious harm or death to themselves.
Real risk– The real risk of something happening is the difference between no controls at all (the absolute risk) and the result of steps being put in place to reduce the chance of something occurring. In the case of the cliff edge, this may be installing safety barriers or ensuring that participants in an activity like abseiling have appropriate safety equipment on (eg- harnesses, helmets etc)
Perceived risk– This is much harder to define as it is the feelings that individuals have towards an activity and their perception of how dangerous it is. In an abseiling program, one individual may have a higher perceived risk of the danger, imagining the worst case scenario. This can have the effect of limiting their involvement due to fear or not following the instructions they were given leading to injury.
Conversely, someone who has a low level of perceived risk can also have an increased chance of something going wrong as they can be too ‘casual’, not following the guidelines or instructions and causing themselves to be placed in a dangerous situation.
Positive risk– This type of risk allows for an individual to get out of their comfort zone and achieve something they previously did not think they could do. This can lead to personal growth, resilience and an increased sense of self efficacy. An example of this is undertaking a multi- day bushwalk, where although participants will be tired and sore will have a sense of accomplishment.
Negative risk– A risk taken that can cause physical or emotional harm. The distinction between the two types of risk is often difficult as different people within the same group can achieve different outcomes. For example, someone on the same bushwalk may not have the base level of fitness required, becomes injured and/ or has such a negative experience that they do not engage in the activity again.
Balancing the different types of risk is an important skill for any outdoor activity leader. Managing the different personalities and attitudes of different individuals to ensure everyone is safe and also experiences a positive outcome is very difficult.