Operation Reviews
Looking to get your operation accredited by ACCT? Contact us today to start the conversation with our approved operation reviewer!
About
The Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), offers Accreditation to Operations that undergo a rigorous verification process. The program is offered to all manner of challenge courses, and is one of the best ways in the industry to demonstrate a high commitment to safety and best practices. More information can be found on the ACCT website.
It is worth noting that the current edition of the ANSI/ACCT standards require all programs to undergo a review no less than once every five years. We can say from experience that doing so provides an invaluable opportunity to learn from a reputable, outside perspective. If you wish to use that review to seek accreditation, we have good news – we have an approved Operations Reviewer on staff!
Ops Review Process
Perhaps the most involved aspect of seeking Operational Accreditation is to contract an approved Reviewer to complete an Operations Review. Below is a quick overview of the basic steps, followed by some more detailed information. We’re eager to answer any questions you might have about this process – we know it can be intimidating, we’ve done it, ourselves!
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The process will start with a quick meeting to go over the process and ask some preliminary questions.
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We’ll dive into your documentation right away, so we can be as familiar with your operation as possible.
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Next up is conducting a site visit, secret shop, and staff interviews.
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We will deliver a report to you within 60 days of the site visit.
The Review
During this process, your reviewer will use three primary methods to verify your compliance with Chapter 2 of the ANSI/ACCT standards. First, we will review your operational documentation including, but not limited to, Operations Manuals, Inspection documents, Training manuals and materials, and maintenance and equipment logs. Second, we will spend time on site, observing and “secret shopping” your operation. Third, we will spend some time interviewing your staff, including all levels – managers, supervisors, and ground crew.
Post-Review
At the conclusion of your review, you will receive 2 items. The first will be a report filled out by your reviewer that goes over the areas of strength, as well as opportunities for growth observed by the reviewer.
The second item will be your official Operation Reviewer Report. This document is the one you will submit to the ACCT as part of your Accreditation Application.
FAQ
No, you are not required to undergo a formal Operations Review. However, the current edition of the ACCT Standards does require each operation to have a Program Review once every five years. There are many ways to satisfy this requirement, one of which is to have a formal Operations Review.
This will depend greatly on a number of factors. The size, type(s), and complexity of your operation. It also depends on the current state of your documentation. The faster we receive your materials, the more quickly we can complete that portion of the review. A good rule of thumb is to assume at least 1 month for document review, and at least 1 or 2 days for each site that will require a site visit. Larger operations will require more time for both.
We would be happy to schedule a brief consultation to provide you with a more accurate estimate.
As with the above question, this is dependent on a number of factors. The size, type(s), and complexity of your organization, as well as the cost of travel and lodging for your reviewer. The cost of an Operations Review can sometimes be similar to the cost of an Annual Third-party Inspection.
We would be happy to schedule a brief consultation to provide you with a more accurate estimate.
We would be delighted to review the following type of operations: self-guided static traversing (Adventure Park style), Vertical Challenge, guided or self-guided Zip Tour and Canopy Tour, and guided Free Fall devices. Any other type of operation, as well as any other activities (such as water-based activities, etc) falls outside the scope of our review process.
At the conclusion of your review, you will receive an official report from your reviewer. There is the possibility that this report can include items that have been marked as non-compliant, or as critical failures. However, this is only one component of your Accreditation Application. A failure on your report does not automatically mean a failure of Accreditation. Nor does a passing report guarantee Accreditation. For questions on the Accreditation process, please contact the ACCT.
Yes, and no. During the official review, we are unable to provide direct consultation. We will be more than happy to answer any questions that arise related to your review at any time. Once the official review has been completed, if we have identified opportunities for growth, we would be delighted to work with you to enact those improvements.
Yes, each type of operation, and each physical location requires a separate review, even if those sites share documentation and staff. However, if there are shared components, such as operation manuals or training materials, each subsequent review will be much quicker to conduct.
Absolutely not! In fact, it’s quite the opposite; we are eager to observe, verify, and document the unique ways in which you satisfy the various ANSI/ACCT standards. The Operations Review does not include required or recommended changes to any part of your operation. If, however, you are interested in working together on such changes, we have consulting services available as a post-review addition.
Contact Us
Get information on pricing, ask us your questions, figure out timelines, and more!
Please fill out this form and tell us a little bit about your operation – company name, location, and activities offered is a great place to start. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
