WorkSafeBC warns workers of avalanche dangers

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — In the aftermath of the deadly avalanche in east central B.C. last week, WorkSafe BC has issued a safety bulletin for companies and their workers whose jobs take them into the Rocky Mountain back country.

Like the five snowmobilers killed near McBride, WorkSafe says there are potentially deadly risks for these workers in avalanche hazard zones and they need to understand how they can be identified and mitigated.

Carole Savage, a WorkSafe forest industry specialist, is also an active member of the Canadian Avalanche Association.

Under the Workers Compensation Act, employers are held accountable for assessing avalanche risk, and that means having on-site somebody with the knowledge and/or expertise to do an assessment.

In addition, if it is determined there is a slide risk, then it’s the employers’ responsibility to take steps to provide worker protection and safety — which can include avoiding high risk areas entirely.

Meantime, WorkSafe is also charged with enforcing the regulations and that includes accident investigations or work site inspections which can result in fines being levied, or citations and/or stop-work-orders being issued, at sites where companies have failed to comply with Occupational Health and Safety Act regulations.

Coroners Service statistics show from Jan. 1, 1996 to Mar. 17, 2014, there were 192 avalanche-related deaths in BC and the victim’s average age was 35.9 years old.

Three-quarters of them were people engaged in snowmobiling or skiing activities, while only 2.1 per cent were involved in occupational activities.