Why CSSSO Was Formed
California’s mountains host an extensive recreational skiing and snowboarding industry. Approximately 30 resorts draw skiers and snowboarders from all over the world. Recently publicized deaths and injuries of resort guests and personnel have drawn public attention to the industry’s safety policies and practices. The vast majority of the public is poorly informed about serious risks facing the customers as well as employees at California resorts. The ski industry has no uniform safety policies, procedures, or signage, and those safety practices that are in place vary from location to location. Increased snowboarding presents unique safety issues and the need for specific new precautionary measures.
Unlike most states with major ski resorts, California has no ski safety statute, no proactive oversight and no established ski and snowboard safety standards. Although the U.S. Forest Service has contractual authority to enforce safety improvements on land leased to ski resorts, with no established national safety standards, the Forest Service takes a “hands-off’ position on safety regulation.
The California ski industry enjoys unusually strong legal liability protections through a common law doctrine of “assumed risk” as well as contractual negligence waivers included on ski pass purchase agreements. As a result of these protections, ski resorts have limited exposure to legal liability. In addition, there is no publicly accessible, statewide repository of information on ski resort-related deaths and injuries.
There is a clear and pressing need for a non-governmental public service organization to: (1) monitor and inform the public regarding safety issues related to skiing and snowboarding at California resorts; (2) serve as an educational resource to the public and the industry on best safety practices; (3) inform and educate legislators regarding best-practice legislation and regulation in other states; (4) advocate for the passage of best-practice skiing and snowboarding safety legislation in California and (5) partner with health and safety organizations working to ensure the safest possible recreational and work environments for the public and mountain operations’ personnel.
California’s mountains host an extensive recreational skiing and snowboarding industry. Approximately 30 resorts draw skiers and snowboarders from all over the world. Recently publicized deaths and injuries of resort guests and personnel have drawn public attention to the industry’s safety policies and practices. The vast majority of the public is poorly informed about serious risks facing the customers as well as employees at California resorts. The ski industry has no uniform safety policies, procedures, or signage, and those safety practices that are in place vary from location to location. Increased snowboarding presents unique safety issues and the need for specific new precautionary measures.
Unlike most states with major ski resorts, California has no ski safety statute, no proactive oversight and no established ski and snowboard safety standards. Although the U.S. Forest Service has contractual authority to enforce safety improvements on land leased to ski resorts, with no established national safety standards, the Forest Service takes a “hands-off’ position on safety regulation.
The California ski industry enjoys unusually strong legal liability protections through a common law doctrine of “assumed risk” as well as contractual negligence waivers included on ski pass purchase agreements. As a result of these protections, ski resorts have limited exposure to legal liability. In addition, there is no publicly accessible, statewide repository of information on ski resort-related deaths and injuries.
There is a clear and pressing need for a non-governmental public service organization to: (1) monitor and inform the public regarding safety issues related to skiing and snowboarding at California resorts; (2) serve as an educational resource to the public and the industry on best safety practices; (3) inform and educate legislators regarding best-practice legislation and regulation in other states; (4) advocate for the passage of best-practice skiing and snowboarding safety legislation in California and (5) partner with health and safety organizations working to ensure the safest possible recreational and work environments for the public and mountain operations’ personnel.