BENEFITS
Workers in certain industries, such as forestry and oil and gas, who work in remote backwoods areas can be exposed to the risk of avalanches. For example, in 1910, 62 train men and labourers died 2 km west of Rogers Pass, BC, when their engine was hit by an avalanche and hurtled 500 metres into Bear Creek. In fact, there’s an average of 11 avalanche fatalities in Canada every year. Employers in such industries should conduct an assessment of the risk of an avalanche occurring. If such a risk exists, the employer should then develop and implement an avalanche safety plan.
HOW TO USE THE TOOL
An avalanche safety plan should be developed by a qualified person. That individual can use this checklist to ensure that the plan covers all of the key areas. Once the plan has been developed, all workers exposed to the risk of an avalanche should be trained on it.