Back in the days of the Model-T, Henry Ford offered a track kit accessory for the rear wheels of his vehicles. From this unassuming start, snowmobiles were born and eventually became sleek, fast, relatively comfortable and dangerous, as well as vital tools in the operation of ski areas. Today many snowmobiles cost more than Cadillacs did in 1960.
It’s not the out-of-pocket cost, however, that is the critical expense for ski area operators, but rather the Workers’ Compensation expenses and the costs associated with liability exposures that mount up.
It is sad, but true, that snowmobiling at a ski area can be hazardous to both employees and guests. Snowmobiles have rolled down mountains, into trees, off cliffs, dropped off of trucks, been backed over by snowcats, stolen by guests and employees, buried in snowdrifts, stuck in mud, been left running unattended to make a riderless run and crash into an unsuspecting guest, as well as used as a couch for romantic interludes on the mountain.
One theory of loss prevention states that accidents are caused by unsafe acts, unsafe conditions or a combination of the two. Present day ski area snowmobile use often fits that description. The worst scenario is the snowmobile operated by a rookie employee on steep terrain, in the dark and without adequate maintenance of the vehicles. A new snowmaker may be asked to drive an old doo with a poorly adjusted brake lever, inoperative tail light, cracked windshield, no warning flag, no ice cleats, at midnight, on a steep “blue” run, covered with machine-made snow and carrying a load of snowmaking hose. This might be the epitome of unsafe acts and unsafe conditions.
It is not surprising that snowmobile incidents and accidents continue to increase in frequency and cost. But it need not be that way. Snowmobile use at ski areas can be just as risk- and loss-free as using any other labor-saving device, but it takes effort.
At every ski area where snowmobiles are used — even if only one is used — should have a snowmobile operations policy that is written down and enforced. The policy need not be so detailed that it becomes a “plaintiff’s check-off list,” but it should set down the requirements for operating a snowmobile.
Here are some items to include in a snowmobile operating policy:
Licensing — Every snowmobile driver should have a license, which may be issued by the ski area operator, the city or county, the state or any other entity designated by appropriate authority to oversee the safe operation of snowmobiles at specific sites. This license should be evidence of a certain level of competence in snowmobile operation, knowledge of laws applicable to snowmobiling, company policies concerning driving a snowmobile at the specific ski area and a grasp of the safety rules and procedures that must be complied with while operating a snowmobile.
In some states, regulatory agencies have provisions for issuing snowmobile driver’s licenses and may even require a snowmobile license. In Colorado, for example, the state department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation issues snowmobile operators’ safety certificates and provides study guides, tests and a cloth patch signifying completion of a safety course. The course includes classroom lectures, an on-the-snow competence examination and a written exam covering the mechanical, environmental, safety and legal aspects of snowmobiling.
Whether or not a state issues such a license, ski areas can conduct training sessions with similar results. Who issues the license and conducts the training is not nearly as important as what is required to get the license and the quality of the training received prior to being permitted to drive a snowmobile.
The actual issuance of a license is important because it serves as a permit to operate a snowmobile, it documents that a certain level of training has been received, it attests that at least a rudimentary skill of operation has been attained and it provides management with evidence of who is exposing the company to risk/loss via the snowmobile. It is also useful as a means of enforcing company policy. By rescinding or temporarily revoking the license for policy violations, compliance can be enhanced.
Training — Regardless of who issues the operator’s permit, the training necessary to get the permit or license is the same and consists of individual study, classroom training, on-snow driving and formalized testing.
Individual study prior to class sessions saves time and money and indicates a prospective driver’s willingness to study the manufacturer’s handbook and various other printed materials. Some states have booklets for snowmobiles similar to booklets provided for automobile driver’s license applicants. This individual study makes the classroom study more efficient and significantly more productive since the instructor can build on a base of knowledge already attained.
Classroom study provides an opportunity for a person-to-person exchange of knowledge. Complicated laws can be simplified, the rationale for procedures and policies can be explained and audio/visual aids used to a maximum advantage. The retelling of real life experiences can be an effective teaching tool, particularly when the applicants have little or no on-snow experience.
On-snow training should be required of every applicant, regardless of stated snowmobile driving experience, to demonstrate his or her skill on an appropriate course. The test course must be carefully laid out so that an indication of ability can be obtained. The first-time driver can probably safely negotiate a course laid out on the flat, but may get into trouble going across the hill, pulling hose or may have a “runaway” while trying to come down a slick, steep trail. An on-snow demonstration of how to get a snowmobile unstuck from deep snow can save a novice driver hours of trial and error.
The on-snow training course is the place where the experienced drivers can show off their skills to the rookies so they can learn by doing. Teaching things such as proper body lean, intermittent braking, snowmobile safety inspection and many other hands-on techniques is most effectively taught on the snow.
Formalized testing is the means to “inspect what you expect.” To adequately ascertain the knowledge and ability of an applicant for a snowmobile license or permit, the person must be tested realistically. This testing should be written, oral and “hands on.”
Upon completion of such tests, management will have an indication of the ability of employees to safely and effectively operate snowmobiles under realistic conditions. Testing will also point up individuals who need more experience before being turned loose on the mountain with an expensive machine. It is a definite asset to be able to show to a jury proof that the driver being sued, along with the ski area, had been through a formal training program, was tested and passed a proficiency examination and was issued a license by the cognizant authority. The cry of the risk manager to “document, document” can be met by formalized testing.
To the ski area, snowmobiles are both a blessing and a torment. They perform tasks that no other vehicle can do as well, but they also expose employees and ski areas to considerable risk and account for thousands of dollars of loss. Training, standardization, testing and enforcement can make a difference in reducing such risk. The rule should be firm at every ski area: no person operates a snowmobile without a license … not even the boss.
