Derbyshire Caving Association

Recent developments in Outdoor Adventure activity licensing have brought about closer attention to legislative requirements by those involved in instructed caving. In addition to leadership qualifications two particular areas are of prominent concern for leaders, instructors, and Centres using Derbyshire caves and mines: -

Radon and the Ionising Radiation Regulations
Formal H&SE requirement to have mines being used for educational purposes checked by a Mines Inspector.

Individual actions with regard to Radon or Mines Inspections could lead to duplication of effort and expense. Leaders, instructors and Centres using caves and mines in the area will of course also be keenly aware of the vulnerability of many venues to access problems and to potential environmental damage from excessive use.

In response to this situation and in anticipation of ever increasing pressure on scarce and fragile underground resources, the Derbyshire Local Cave and Mine Leader Assessment Panel have been liaising with other users and the Conservation and Access Group of the Derbyshire Caving Association. A coordinated approach is clearly a high priority to enable educational / instructed caving to meet new legislative requirements whilst having the best possible care of our underground heritage. The establishment of the Peak Instructed Caving Affiliation (PICA) is proposed to deal realistically with these issues.

THE PEAK INSTRUCTED CAVING AFFILIATION AIMS

To establish high standards of sensitivity to access and conservation issues in the selection and use of caves and mines for instructed caving. To provide coordinated advice and information on radon levels in caves and mines used by novice parties and instructed groups.

To provide advice on Health & Safety issues related to Radon exposure for teachers, leaders and instructors taking groups underground.

To provide advice on Health & Safety issues related to Radon exposure for novices and members of instructed parties visiting caves and mines.

To provide advice on access to disused mines for educational / instructed visits with regard to H&SE requirements for formal inspections by Mine Inspectors. To carry out restoration and conservation work on sites which are heavily used by novice groups.

To liaise with the DCA bolting programme in identifying locations where suitable pitches can be rigged for vertical caving with instructed groups to avoid congestion with recreational cavers.

REMIT

To offer a comprehensive package of guidance to enable Centres, Schools, Instructors and leaders in both the Voluntary and Professional sectors to meet H & SE requirements with regard to Radon legislation.

To extend the limited data currently available concerning Radon levels in caves and mines by setting up a programme of monitoring in different venues.
To establish and coordinate a programme of formal mines inspections of carefully selected mine sites approved for group use.

To ensure that the costs of the service are fully met by client groups and organisations. If possible by obtaining grant aid from national and other bodies.

To assess and review annual affiliation costs in the light of the ongoing costs of Radon and Mine Inspection programmes.

To make available, to bona fide cavers & mine exploration groups data on Radon levels which individual cavers may wish to consider for their own recreational caving practices.

To make available to bona fide scientific research data on Radon levels in the Derbyshire area.

To promote the responsible and sensitive use of cave and mine sites to maintain Derbyshire's heritage for future generations.

CONSTITUTION

PICA is an organisation affiliated to DCA (Derbyshire Caving Association)
PICA shares and supports the aims of DCA.
PICA must report to the DCA AGM.
Members of PICA are accepted as associate (non-voting) members of DCA
Meetings must be held a minimum of one occasion each year but may be held as frequently as deemed necessary.
To function efficiently the following posts must be held:

Chairperson (non-voting unless a casting vote is required)
Administrator (Secretarial and financial role) non-voting.
Three representatives of PICA (selected as far as possible to ensure a spread of representation from licensed, voluntary and educational organisations)
Two representatives from DCA
One representative of the Derbyshire Panel of the Local Cave and Mine Leader Award

For meetings to be quorate in addition to a Chairperson the following persons should attend : One representative from DCA. Three representatives of PICA. One representative of the DLCMLA. The Administrator would normally attend meetings or report indirectly to the meeting.

PICA members and invited observers may also attend meetings.

Page Last Updated 20th May 2008