Your Story Could Save a Life: The Power of Incident Reporting
By the ACC Safety Committee
Incidents in the mountains are inevitable. Whether it’s a slip on a wet approach, an unexpected turn in the weather, rockfall from above, or a group dynamic that made decision-making harder than it should have been, things happen. That’s the nature of the mountains and the outdoors.
What isn’t inevitable is repeating the same incidents over and over again.
Last year, the ACC Safety Committee received reports of climbers becoming benighted on a multipitch route and of skiers triggering avalanches. In each case, there were factors at play like mismatched abilities, poor communication, and inadequate planning that other members could learn from. Those reports mattered. They shaped the guidance we share with you through bulletins like this one.
But we only know what gets reported, and that’s where we need your help.
What counts as an incident?
More than you might think.
An incident is any situation where an injury, illness, behavioural issue, or environmental event caused a disruption to an ACC trip. That includes:
- Injuries, whether minor or serious
- Avalanches or rockfall
- Weather events that forced a turnaround
- Group conflict or concerns related to the ACC Code of Conduct
- Near-misses: the moments where things almost went sideways
That last category is especially important. If you found yourself thinking “that could have been a lot worse”, write it down. Near-misses carry just as much learning value as full incidents, and they’re often the clearest window into what needs to change. A Serious Incident is one resulting in a fatality, disabling injury, or likely to result in media coverage or legal action and must be reported immediately and directly to the ACC Executive Director at [email protected], in addition to submitting the standard incident reporting form.
Why reporting matters
Risk in the mountains can never be fully eliminated. But it can be understood, managed, and reduced. Data is the catalyst for change, and is the reason that reporting matters so much.
Without incident reports, the ACC Safety Committee cannot identify trends, make meaningful recommendations, or produce the safety guidance that helps keep our members safer on every outing. Every report, regardless of severity, adds to a collective body of knowledge that benefits the entire club.
This is not about blame. It is not about pointing fingers or creating consequences for the person involved. An incident report is a tool. It turns a difficult experience into something useful for every member who comes after you.
The question to ask isn’t who caused this? It’s what can we do to keep it from happening again?
Who should report, and when?
Trip Coordinators and any willing participants should submit a report as soon as practicable after any incident occurs. The sooner the better. Details are clearest when they’re fresh, and timely data is more useful data.
It’s worth noting that multiple perspectives on the same event are genuinely valuable. A participant and a coordinator may notice completely different contributing factors. If you were there and something happened, your account matters.
How to submit
Head to alpineclubofcanada.ca/mountain-safety to find the Incident Report form. Most reports take 15 minutes or less. Include as much relevant detail as you can: the sequence of events, conditions on the day, decisions that were made, and any factors you think contributed to the outcome.
If you need assistance, call the ACC National Office at (587) 329-7242. We’re here to help you through it.
A culture we build together
Everyone who heads out on an ACC trip from participants and leaders alike, shares responsibility for the safety of the group. That responsibility doesn’t end at the trailhead. Reporting what happened, even when it’s uncomfortable, is one of the most meaningful contributions you can make to the club’s safety culture.
Your experience is someone else’s preparation. Don’t keep it to yourself.
Submit an incident report at alpineclubofcanada.ca/mountain-safety Questions? Contact the Safety Committee: [email protected] | (587) 329-7242
