Quebec Ski Areas Follow Up On Mont-Saint-Anne Lift Accident
Following the Mont-Saint-Anne incident and at the dawn of the new ski season, the Quebec Ski Areas Association (ASSQ) wishes to reaffirm that the ski lifts in operation at Quebec ski areas and sliding hills are the safest in the world and maintains that the operators of these areas are making every effort to ensure the safety of skiers and snowboarders.
"The images of the gondola on the ground last Saturday may cause concern among ski and snowboard enthusiasts," acknowledges Yves Juneau, President and CEO of the Association. However, he points out that over the past five years, ski resorts have welcomed an average of 6,150,000 visitors per year on Quebec's snowy slopes and that incidents are exceptional. Based on this data, the ASSQ estimates that 50 million lifts were made by skiers last winter.
The Association remains one of the most proactive groups in North America by working in concert with lift manufacturers, ski area owners, government authorities and rescue organizations. "In addition to being supported by safety advisors, our association offers several training sessions to ski areas to develop best business practices, such as training to ensure that lift engineers meet the latest requirements of the Canadian Z-98 standard," says Juneau
Safety is the number one priority for resorts
Data compiled by the ASSQ indicates that Quebec currently has 320 ski lifts in operation at the 74 ski resorts in Quebec, of which 158 are identified as aerial lifts and 162 are land-based (crossbow and conveyor).
"When you consider the number of lifts in operation across Canada and the relatively small number of mechanical breakdowns, this type of equipment remains very safe. In addition, cases of personal injury related to the use of lifts remain marginal," says the ASSQ executive.
The ski industry is subject to strict regulations, as are elevators and amusement park rides. In addition, the Association reminds us that the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec accompanies Quebec ski resorts and conducts field audits to ensure that ski lifts operate safely and in compliance with applicable laws, including the CSA Z-98 standard. The audit procedures include the validation of maintenance records, which must be accurate and up-to-date.
"Ski area operators, i.e., owners and personnel in charge of operations, maintenance and management, must comply with the regulations and national codes adopted by the Quebec government," insists Yves Juneau.
