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Title / Contribute to the avalanche stability assessment for a snow safety programme
Level / 3 / Credits / 5
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to contribute to the avalanche stability assessment for a snow safety programme.
Classification / Snowsport > Avalanche
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 18127, Record and communicate avalanche and weather observations; and Unit 18129, Demonstrate knowledge of snow formation, snowpack structure, and snow metamorphism; or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1People undertaking assessment against this unit standard should be working under direct supervision, and are contributing to an overall stability assessment. Full responsibility for the final stability assessment lies with the snow safety officer or supervisor.
2It is recommended that people undertaking this unit standard have already attained or are working towards Unit 20161, Analyse weather information and predict weather conditions for the outdoors.
3People undertaking assessment against this unit standard must be able to move around a mountain environment, meet the clothing and equipment requirements for the mountains, and have a basic knowledge of snow formation, snow mechanics, snow metamorphism, snow stability assessment, and hazard evaluation.
4Industry guidelines for recording snow and weather information are contained in the New Zealand Guidelines and Recording Standards for Weather, Snowpack and Avalanche Observations, (Wellington: New Zealand Mountain Safety Council, 2003).
5There are minimum assessor requirements for assessment against this unit standard. The details of these requirements are available on the Skills Active website
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Contribute to the avalanche stability assessment for a snow safety programme.
Evidence requirements
1.1The process of making avalanche stability assessments is described.
1.2Test snow profiles, full snow profiles, and snow tests, are completed consistently and accurately using techniques documented in the industry guidelines.
Rangesite selection, probing, air temperature, surface temperature, snow temperatures, layer boundaries, resistances of layers, grain form and size, moisture content, density of snow, appropriate type and number of strength and sheer tests, stability tests.
1.3The snow profile and test information is recorded and correlated to the study plot(s), field observations, and/or weather station(s).
1.4Rounds, facets and wet grains are identified in the field.
1.5The effect of weather on the snowpack is monitored in terms of snow stability, information recorded, and communicated to supervisor, instructor, and/or snow safety officer.
Rangemonitored by using study plot(s) and/or weather station(s), test and full profiles, field observation.
1.6Weather and snowpack data and avalanche occurrence information is recorded, analysed, and communicated to supervisor, instructor, and/or snow safety officer.
1.7A personal assessment of snow stability is made, documented, justified, and assessment communicated to supervisor or snow safety officer.
Rangeevidence of a minimum of two assessments is required.
Replacement information / This unit standard and unit standard 18127 replaced unit standard 4560.This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 28 March 2001 / 31 December 2020
Review / 2 / 29 June 2005 / 31 December 2020
Review / 3 / 17 August 2017 / 31 December 2020
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0099
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Skills Active Aotearoa LimitedSSB Code 101576 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut