Thursday 27th May 2021

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SafeWork NSW Targets Snowfield Safety Ahead of Ski Season — News for Thursday 27th May 2021

SafeWork focuses on snowfield workplaces as the ski season approaches. Snowfield operators and SafeWork inspectors have met at an industry roundtable to begin this year's NSW Alpine Ski Area safety compliance program. Topics of discussion covered operation of passenger ropeways, including chairlifts, surface ropeways and gondolas.

Chairlift Obligations and Incident History

At the start of May, the roundtable highlighted to NSW Alpine Ski Area operators what their obligations are concerning chairlifts, plus reported on incidents in the industry and their causes over recent years. On this 27th day of reporting, SafeWork confirmed it has responded to 21 dangerous incidents, including eight serious injuries to passengers and visitors, and three serious injuries to operators over the past seven years.

• 21 dangerous incidents recorded industry-wide
• Eight serious injuries affecting passengers and visitors
• Three serious injuries affecting operators
• Data spans a seven-year monitoring period

SafeWork Executive Director's Statement

SafeWork Executive Director Tony Williams said, "The approach to season is the busiest part of year for many operators as they undertake construction, upgrades, repairs and maintenance across their operations."

"And while our focus will remain on safe operation, inspection and maintenance of chairlifts and surface ropeways, we will also be ensuring compliance measures to minimise risks associated with COVID-19 and social distancing requirements," Mr Williams said.

Compliance Visits Across NSW Snowfields

SafeWork's construction team, along with WHS and engineering inspectors, will be present across NSW Snowfields and will periodically visit Perisher, Thredbo, and Charlotte Pass throughout winter. This 27th-season compliance push reflects a broader commitment to worker and visitor protection ahead of peak alpine trading months.

View the original article on the SafeWork NSW website.

Related Workplace Safety News

For further updates from SafeWork NSW and other regulators, review our coverage from Thursday 20th May 2021, Thursday 13th May 2021, and Thursday 6th May 2021 for additional workplace health and safety news relevant to construction, manufacturing, and alpine industry operators.

Safety professionals seeking to stay current on regulatory news dated 27th May and beyond should monitor SafeWork NSW announcements closely, particularly as operational demands increase heading into winter.

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