Item: Fatal Occupational Injuries of Avalanche Workers in North America
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Title: Fatal Occupational Injuries of Avalanche Workers in North America
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2014 Proceedings, Banff, Canada
Authors:
- Ethan M. Greene [ Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Boulder, CO, USA ]
- Bruce Jamieson [ Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada ]
- Spencer Logan [ Colorado Avalanche Information Center, Boulder, CO, USA ]
Date: 2014-09-29
Abstract: In the United States, since the 1950s the annual number of avalanche workers killed by avalanches has averaged 0.6. The ten-year averages over this period have been as low as 0.2 and peaked at 1.4 in the last decade. In the last 5 years, 12 avalanche workers have been killed by avalanches while at work. In Canada from 1982 to 2002, the number of avalanche workers killed by avalanches averaged about 0.6 per year, but there has been only one death since 2003. To promote discussion of avalanche industry controls on worker risk, we compare the rate of fatal avalanche injuries of avalanche workers in North America with other occupational categories tracked by federal government groups. Our estimates would place avalanche work among the occupations with high fatality rates. We hope this will promote discussion of the relative and acceptable risk to avalanche workers.
Object ID: ISSW14_paper_O12.03.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: worker safety, risk management, fatal occupational injuries, avalanche accidents
Page Number(s): 328-334
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