The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in 1998, 1.7 million injuries and illnesses resulted in lost work time for businesses. Wrist and knee injuries accounted for the longest absences from work with a median of 10 to 11 days. Almost all of these accidents were preventable.
With an aim to preventing such injuries, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) created a Heads Up safety initiative last year and Booth Creek (corporate owners of Northstar-at-Tahoe, Big Bear Mountain and Sierra-at-Tahoe in California, The Summit at Snoqualmie in Washington and Cranmore Mountain, Loon Mountain and Waterville Valley in New Hampshire) jumped at the chance to participate. What started out as a basic attempt to reinforce the Your Responsibility Code quickly grew into a competition among Booth Creek’s resorts and, internally, among departments within each resort. From senior managers to front-line employees, Heads Up was fully embraced.
As a result, three of the company’s resorts, Northstar-at-Tahoe and Big Bear Mountain Resort in California and Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, received awards at the NSAA 2000 national conference for their dedication to safety.
Simplicity was the key in forming most of the safety-awareness programs. Rather than start from ground zero, the resorts enhanced safety programs that were already in place. For example, Loon Mountain’s Serious Fun Committee was established in 1996 to make presentations at ski club meetings, trade shows and schools. These workshops include explanations of the Your Responsibility Code, helmet use, knee-friendly techniques and videos such as “1989.”
Throughout the season, ski patrol ambassadors monitor high-traffic areas on the mountain and provide safety tips to guests. Those who violate the Responsibility Code are not permitted back on the mountain until they’ve attended Loon’s Snow Safety Course, which includes a video presentation and a friendly lecture followed by a quiz.
All Loon employees, new and returning, are required to attend an employee orientation at the beginning of the season. Games such as Safety Jeopardy are used to familiarize employees with the Your Responsibility Code and prizes are given for correct answers. Throughout the season, Loon’s employee newsletter, “Loon Tribune,” carries reminders of safety topics and offers tips and suggestions for educating guests on safety issues.
Loon also developed a helmet-safety program with Boeri and local businesses as partners. This tactic served many purposes: It supported the Heads Up campaign, it introduced Loon to local school children and it involved the resort in a community crusade to protect children. At the conclusion of school presentations, students were measured for helmets to be provided a discount and made available through community funding.
At Northstar, a number of incentive programs were implemented to educate staff such as Scratchers, a scratch-and-win card issued to front-line employees by managers to provide immediate recognition and foster positive behavior. This inexpensive tool rewarded employees for correctly identifying the Responsibility Code (often in an oral pop-quiz format at safety meetings or while working), understanding workplace safety procedures such as maintaining MSDS books (Material Safety Data Sheets) and providing a safe environment for themselves, their co-workers and guests. Those who received Scratchers won prizes and were eligible to participate in the Big Spin at employee parties. Big Spin prizes included everything from lift tickets to neighboring resorts to round-trip airline tickets. Guidelines for a safe work environment are posted in employee break rooms, maintenance shops and offices (OSHA has a variety of workplace safety guidelines. For information, visit
their web site at www.osha.gov.)
In addition, an interdepartmental contest to see what department at Northstar could best illustrate workplace safety and the Heads Up campaign fostered friendly competition among employees and served as a learning tool. Weekly safety meetings were also required of departments.
An example of the success of this competition is demonstrated by Northstar’s parking department that had twice the number of days between incidents during the 1999-2000 season compared to the previous year. Because this department is traditionally made up of young people, Parking Manager Adam Basden recognized that he needed to approach safety issues with a style that was fun and “cool.” Each week, Basden led his staff in an interactive safety meeting that included customer survey scores, number of injury-free days, safety topics pertaining to the job (icy parking lots, cold temperatures, etc.) and exercises such as stretching. Reviewing customer survey scores was important because it encouraged the group to maintain momentum. Not only were resort survey scores discussed in department staff meetings, they were shared with managers of other departments. Basden’s meetings concluded with a group huddle and a commitment to having fun. At the end of the season, the parking department won the resort-wide safety contest for its production of a Your Responsibility Code “Dos and Don’ts” video.
Equally important as employee safety is the safety of customers. Big Bear Mountain Resort recognized safety awareness potential with a captive audience—day groups. Upon arrival, groups were introduced to the Responsibility Code and conditions of the day. Ski patrollers led the presentation, which lent credibility to the importance of mountain safety. On the mountain, “Be Responsible” and “Know Your Limits” slogans were placed in high-traffic areas such as terrain parks and food and beverage outlets.
Whether targeting the guest or the employee, the Booth Creek resorts learned that people are listening when it comes to their safety and they are ready to be proactive.
