SafeWork NSW inspects alpine area to guarantee safety at snow resorts

SafeWork NSW inspectors visited alpine resorts across the state this week, running proactive checks so that workers and the million visitors arriving each season stay protected. Verification covered plant, terrain hazards and documented evidence of compliance with legislated safety duties.

What SafeWork NSW checked at the state's snow resorts

• Return visits to findings from an earlier assessment at all four alpine resorts
• Snow and weather conditions, plus how shifting terrain risk reshapes daily tasks
• Training, induction and supervision records held for new starters
• Plant and machinery upkeep, including grooming vehicles and mountain transport
• Emergency response readiness, spanning rescue drills and first aid provisions

Why NSW alpine ski area safety draws regulator attention

SafeWork said its inspectors walked ski slopes this week to verify that agreed standards still hold, and to gauge how heavy snowfall shapes risk as the season unfolds. Visitor numbers peak through the busiest weeks of the ski season, placing sustained pressure on rescue crews, groomers and hospitality teams.

Commissioner Janet Schorer noted that mountain resorts in NSW present a distinctive, dynamic and frequently hazardous environment, drawing more than a million visitors annually.

“Those heading to Perisher, Thredbo, Selwyn or Charlotte Pass resorts can rest assured that SafeWork NSW continues to monitor and interact with all ski resort operators to ensure workers are properly trained and that safety standards are being met,” she said.

“Improving work health and safety compliance is a SafeWork NSW priority, with collaboration between the government, operators, their workers and the public key to realising this goal.”

How resort employers can demonstrate compliance

Resort employers facing a return visit should keep documentation current, accessible and easy to audit. Practical steps include:

• Store registers, permits and inspection sheets inside digital safety software to shorten retrieval during unannounced visits.
• Review switchboards and portable equipment controls; the regulator's electrical safety blitz showed how quickly gaps surface, so keep a current Electrical Safety Policy on file. Cross-Tasman sites can pair that document with an electrical inspection checklist.
• Manage vegetation and grounds duties using proven controls — findings from the tree work safety inspection campaign apply directly to mountain terrain.
• Brief crews before lodge builds or upgrades begin, because a recent construction safety blitz shows exactly where scrutiny lands.
• Reinforce expectations with plain-language workplace safety rules and short refresher toolbox talks.

Questions about documentation packs? Our SafetyDocs support team can match templates to your operation. Please read further here.