ANNUAL PARK RANGER SAFETY SURVEY

Transcription

1 ANNUAL PARK RANGER SAFETY SURVEY NRM Workshop - Norman, OK Prepared by Dayne Magneson, Scott Tichy and Michelle Frobose April 2017 The views, opinions and findings contained in this report are those of the authors(s) and should not be construed as an official Department of the Army position, policy or decision, unless so designated by other official documentation.

2 OBJECTIVES 2 Understand the history of park ranger surveys Understand 2016 survey results Understand actions the Advisory Board is currently working on to improve ranger safety Understand the importance of future surveys

3 3 THE 2016 PARK RANGER SAFETY SURVEY History

4 HISTORY OF THE SURVEY 4 Historically the Park Ranger CoP Advisory Board has utilized surveys to gain feedback from the Park Rangers in the field to collect quantitative statistics, experiences and opinions regarding: o the visitor assistance program o equipment o training o patrol o other issues National surveys were conducted in 1995, 2010 and 2016

5 HISTORY OF THE SURVEY In 1994, HQUSACE initiated a comprehensive review of the Visitor Assistance Program with a specific emphasis on visitor and ranger safety 5 HQ Plan of Action from this review established the first Park Ranger and Visitor Safety Survey The goal of the survey was to quantify the extent of safety concerns of NRM personnel In 1995, the survey was implemented with a response of 1,267 completed surveys In 1996, a Task Force Report was produced to summarize the results and identify recommendations from the survey

6 ACTIONS TAKEN FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 1995 SURVEY Verbal Judo Training was incorporated into PROSPECT VA Training 2003 PROSPECT VA Training course added personal protection training 2004 PROSPECT VA Training incorporated pepper spray training 1999 Guidance was updated on vehicle equipment/markings and training requirements 2000 Safe Self Exportable Training becomes available 2002 Pepper Spray Program is authorized to be implemented nationwide 2001 Pepper Spray Pilot Program is expanded to SWD 2006 PROSPECT VA Training incorporated HQ security concerns at the projects & the polo shirt was introduced in Class C/D 2009 Agreement was developed to certify NRM personnel to be OC- Pepper Spray Instructors

7 HISTORY OF THE SURVEY In 2010, the Park Ranger CoP Advisory Board sponsored another survey to review of the Visitor Assistance Program HQ Chief of Operations authorized the survey to be independently conducted through Michigan State University The goal of the survey was to gather opinions from NRM personnel regarding the VA Program and the effectiveness of the actions taken after the 1995 survey In 2010, the survey was implemented with a response of 1,388 completed surveys In 2011, the Park Ranger CoP Advisory Board assembled an Ad Hoc Team to review the report from the survey and respond to recommendations

8 ACTIONS TAKEN FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 2010 SURVEY Communication equipment update to increase use of cellular or satellite phones and programmable radios 2012 Policy and procedures for night surveillance by park rangers was prohibited between midnight 6 am 2013 Expanded the PROSPECT VA Training to a full 40 hours to cover personal protection training 2016 New Verbal Defense and Influence Training 2016 New self defense instructional training video development

9 HISTORY OF THE SURVEY In 2014, the Park Ranger CoP Advisory Board identified the importance of conducting an annual national survey to gain more realtime feedback to assess ranger safety issues An annual survey was developed to match the 2010 survey and Rock Island s survey o The Rock Island District has been conducing an annual survey since 1997 In 2015, a Beta Test was conducted in Rock Island and Sacramento Districts The 2016 national survey was open 01 December 2016 through 12 January 2017

10 10 THE 2016 PARK RANGER SAFETY SURVEY Summary

11 THE 2016 SURVEY SUMMARY 11 All responses were voluntary and were anonymous The survey resulted in 731 responses Due to the time year the survey was open, fewer responses were received when compared to previous surveys (1995, 2010)

12 2016 SURVEY - DEMOGRAPHICS 12 What is your position? 5% 1% Permanent Non-Permanent Did not respond 94% Average time of service: 13 years

13 2016 SURVEY - DEMOGRAPHICS 13 Do you have citation authority? Yes No Did not respond 6%1% Do you carry Pepper Spray? Yes No Did not respond 0% 25% 93% 75%

14 2016 SURVEY - DEMOGRAPHICS 14 What % of your time during the summer season is spent performing visitor contact duties? Did not respond 1% Spends % 35% Spends less than 20% 22% Spends 25-50% 16% Spends 50-75% 26%

15 2016 SURVEY - DEMOGRAPHICS 250 Participation by Division POD SPD NAD SAD LRD SWD NWD MVD

16 2016 SURVEY - DEMOGRAPHICS Participation by District

17 VISITOR SAFETY 17 level of VISITOR safety trend in level of VISITOR safety % 22% 4% % 57% 16% % 19% 4% % 46% 12% % 22% 8% % 38% 40% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Good Ok Poor 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Improving Staying the Same Declining

18 RANGER SAFETY 18 level of RANGER safety trend in level of RANGER safety % 32% 16% % 52% 28% % 27% 13% % 52% 16% % 28% 21% % 38% 50% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Good Ok Poor 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Improving Staying the Same Declining

19 RANGER PERSONAL SAFETY # of Rangers that reported at least one incident Verbal Abuse Verbal Threat Physical Intimidation Threat with a Visible Weapon Physical Contact Bodily Injury

20 RANGER SAFETY 20 Which one of the following factors will most enhance park ranger safety at your project? Park Ranger Training: 1 (22.3%) 1 (17.3%) 2. Level of authority for park rangers: 2 (21.5%) 3 (14.8%) 3. Communication Equipment: 3 (14.9%) 5 (8.6%) 4. Personal Safety Equipment: 4 (11%) 4 (9.6%) 5. Back up/support from 5 (8.8%) 2 (15.4%) contracted law enforcement agencies:

21 TRAINING 21 Do you believe you have received the proper training to safely perform your visitor assistance duties? % 23% 61% Yes No Uncertain

22 TRAINING Please check if you have received the following training: 22 Total Respondents First Aid/CPR (every 2 years) Oleoresin Capsicum (Pepper Spray) Initial Certification Blood Borne Pathogens (annually) PROSPECT Visitor Assistance NRM Course #147 Visitor Assistance Refresher (including hands on self defense) Oleoresin Capsicum (Pepper Spray) Refresher (every 2 years) Division/District Visitor Assistance Course Gangs/Cult/Drug Awareness training provided locally PROSPECT Visitor Assistance NRM & Policy Course # Completed Not Completed

23 RANGER SAFETY 23 Are there any topics you need further training on to safety perform your visitor assistance duties? % 37% 1. Self Defense Training 2. Verbal Communication 3. Gangs/Cults/Drugs/Terrorist 36% Yes No Uncertain

24 CORPS PARK RANGER UNIFORM 24 Do you believe wearing the Corps park ranger uniform, compared to the way other Corps employees dress, makes you: % 13% 21% 24% 37% 23% More safe Less safe 29% 43% Neither more or less safe Uncertain

25 SUPPORT 25 Major Subordinate Command / COE HQ 43% 57% Positive Negative District 33% 67% Project Management Staff 23% 77% SUPPORT Co-workers 18% 82% Feelings of support on addressing safety issues tends to decrease as climb the leadership chain

26 2016 SURVEY 26 Park Ranger CoP Advisory Board assessed results to identify issues and recommendations for improvements Results will be posted on the Gateway for rangers to review The Park Ranger CoP Advisory Board is either directly taking action or collaborating with other working groups/smes. o example: Regularly inviting representatives from the VA Cadre and other working groups to CoP meetings o example: sharing results to the uniform committee

27 27 THE 2016 PARK RANGER SAFETY SURVEY Path Forward

28 ACTIONS FOR 2017 AS A RESULT OF PREVIOUS SURVEYS More trainers for Verbal Defense and Influence Training 2. The launch of the new self defense instructional videos on the Gateway 3. Uniform Committee is looking into uniform safety concerns 4. Ranger CoP is working with VA Cadre to develop a VA self assessment tool to be used at the district/project level 5. Ranger CoP is consolidating Title 36 comments from survey to use in a future update of Title Continue to promote Corps Watch Program (relaunched in 2016)

29 PATH FORWARD FROM 2016 SURVEY 29 Survey will be conducted on an annual basis to identify the evolution/trends and potential issues within the VA Program o Establish a survey period for FY 17 to be 01 August - 15 September 20.0 Rock Island District Historic Trend Q20 Q21 Q22 Verbal Threat Phys. Threat Phys. Contact Information will be valuable in making future recommendations and decisions to improve the VA Program and ranger safety

30 2017 SURVEY 30 Spread the word about the 2017 survey at your projects/districts/division! The more input, the better the output. Important to maintain the survey over time, gain results nation-wide, and be willing to take action on feedback. If we meet these goals we can enhance ranger and visitor safety and establish buy-in from all levels.

31 31 Dayne Magneson ext: 6511 Michelle Frobose Scott Tichy