Safety at Franz Josef Glacier Guides
We pride ourselves on our commitment to safety.
In fact, it's the number one focus of our team everyday to ensure to the best of our ability the safety of our guests.
Franz Josef Glacier and the surrounding Waiho Valley are absolutely stunning places, yet these can be inherently dangerous places as well. For this reason, safety on all our tours is paramount. We are very proud of our Safety Management Systems that we employ and continue to improve upon.
To get a good idea of the Health and Safety breifings you can expect on the day, you can check out our Health and Safety video below
Our Safety Management Systems are externally and internally audited onsite several times a year, and we choose to use industry leaders to conduct these such as:
Qualmark
Qualmark is New Zealand tourism's official quality control agency. It licenses professional and trustworthy New Zealand tourism businesses to use 'the Qualmark' - tourism's official 'quality mark', only when the highest standards of operational excellence are met.
AdventureMark
AdventureMark™ is a JAS-ANZ accredited and WorkSafe NZ approved Certification Body for its Blue AdventureMark™ Certification under the New Zealand Adventure Activities Certification Scheme. AdventureMark New Zealand has certified Franz Josef Glacier Guides to the following standards:
The Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016. This is a regulation administered by the government that all New Zealand adventure activities operators must hold.
We conduct ongoing self-assessments of our systems and our guiding team to ensure not just a safe experience, but a quality one.
If you require copies of our Health and Safety certifications these can be found here:
Getting to the Glacier - Helicopter Safety
All of our glacier experiences begin and end with a helicopter flight onto the ice - and for many guests, this is a highlight in itself. Helicopter transport is provided by our aviation partner, INFLITE Franz and Fox Helicopters, a CAA-licensed operator with extensive experience flying in the West Coast's alpine environment. They hold their own independent safety certifications and take those responsibilities every bit as seriously as we take ours on the glacier.
Before every flight, our experienced ground crew and guides will walk you through a full pre-flight safety briefing covering how to board and exit safely, what to expect during the flight, and how to move once you land. If you have any questions about the helicopter side of your experience, our team is happy to talk you through it before you book.
Staff Training
A great safety culture is one of the most important aspects of Franz Glacier Guides staff and training.
New employees go through a rigorous set of training and assessments. This takes several weeks before they start a guiding apprenticeship under our senior staff.
Training, reviews and assessments are on-going for all staff no matter how long they have been in the business. Our guides are all fully trained in First Aid and carry a First Aid kit with them on every tour.
Our guides either hold the Hard Ice Guide (HIG) certification or are working towards it. This certification is conducted through the internationally recognised New Zealand Mountain Guides Association (NZMGA).
Our business along with other New Zealand glacier guiding companies, were key drivers in developing the glacier guiding qualifications pathway, in collaboration with the NZMGA
What is the Risk?
Franz Josef Glacier is an unstable geological feature with inherent hazards including avalanche, rock fall, ice fall, heavy rainfall, cold exposure, height, flooding, uneven terrain, slips, trips, falls and sun exposure. All glacier experiences also involve helicopter transport, which carries its own inherent risks. As with all adventure activities, participation carries risks that cannot be fully eliminated, including the possibility of serious injury or death and agreeing to participate is your personal decision.
Franz Josef Glacier Guides has been assessed to meet or exceed the Health and Safety at Work (Adventure Activities) Regulations 2016, and we work hard to manage risk on the glacier to the highest standard. However, we cannot guarantee your safety.
Certain factors including heart conditions, abnormal blood pressure, joint conditions and general physical fitness can affect your ability to safely participate and may increase the risk of injury. For the safety of all guests, our experiences also have minimum and maximum weight and height requirements, and some experiences are unable to accommodate guests who are pregnant. If any medical conditions apply to you, please note them on the medical disclosure provided prior to departure, and don't hesitate to talk to us if you have any concerns about whether an experience is right for you.
We encourage you to explore our website fully, read our Risk Disclosure Agreement and get in touch with our team before you book - we are always happy to help you find the best experience for you.