Contact:
Kayte Fisher (916) 319-2009
6/1/2010
Assembly Approves Ski Resort Safety Bill
AB 1652 takes a comprehensive approach to promote increased safety for skiers and snowboarders
Sacramento, CA — Today the State Assembly approved a bill to improve safety at ski resorts by a vote of 44 to 30. Assembly Bill 1652, authored by Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), takes a comprehensive approach to promote increased safety for skiers and snowboarders by requiring better signage, accident and injury reporting, and helmet use for kids and resort employees.
California has 32 largely unregulated ski resorts. There are no requirements concerning posting of signs related to ski slope conditions, boundary warnings, or known hazards. Data regarding injuries or fatalities occurring at ski resorts is only aggregated nationally by the ski industry associations; therefore, consumers are unable to get information about the overall death and injury statistics or the relative safety performance of individual ski resorts.
Numerous recent studies have found that traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among skiers and snowboarders, and children in particular are at higher risk. A 2008 study conducted by University of Washington professor Peter Cummings concluded that the use of helmets could reduce the risk of serious injury in up to 60 percent of all accidents. Additionally, skiers and snowboarders who crashed or fell had a 15 percent reduction in the risk of any head injury if they were wearing a helmet.
“While tragic accidents at California’s ski resorts are, fortunately, not common, we know we can do more to protect the safety of ski resort enthusiasts and workers,” said Jones. “Requiring helmet use for workers and kids, having a clear safety plan, posting adequate signs warning of possible dangers and changing conditions are the tools we need to put in place to ensure the safety of those enjoying California’s mountains.”
AB 1652 is sponsored by the California Ski and Snowboard Safety Organization, founded by Dr. Dan Gregorie. “AB 1652 provides the public with much needed access to resort specific safety information,” said Dr. Gregorie. “By obtaining this data, individuals and families can make informed decisions relative to their own snow sport experiences.”
This bill now moves to the State Senate, where it will be considered in committee in June.
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The California Ski and Snowboard Safety Organization (CSSSO) is a non-profit California corporation based in San Francisco. CSSSO promotes and supports safety improvements in California skiing, snowboarding and recreational snow sports and serves as an independent, factual public resource regarding the safety of California ski resorts.