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You’ll never guess how many people don’t use the safety bar on a chair lift

Recent survey highlights the need for everyone to go back-to-basics

  • Many B.C. skiers are new to the sport
  • Most chair list accidents are due to human error
  • A high number of pros don’t use safety bar at all

Skiers and snowboarders know that going downhill has its risks. But a new survey found going up the mountain may need more attention.

Technical Safety BC discovered a lot of riders don’t feel confident they know how to properly use a chair lift and many riders are willfully putting themselves at risk.

“What we were finding was that more than 70 per cent of British Columbians surveyed themselves as beginners,” Product and Market Leadership Director Janice Lee, told Kelowna10.

“What we also found, which is quite interesting, is three quarters of those people were also not very confident if they knew how to ride a chairlift safely.”

Ahead of the Family Day long weekend, the provincial safety and regulatory organization wants to remind hill-goers to get back to basics. This goes both for beginners and more experienced riders.

While the survey didn’t address why there are so many new participants to boarding, Lee herself is a skier and highlighted how the sport is a good way to spend time with family and get valuable time outdoors.

Others have speculated the pandemic encouraged more to take up outdoor activities like downhill winter sports.

Lee explained chair lifts themselves, when used properly, are very safe and have many safety functions. Injuries don’t typically happen because of the device, but rather human error.

Data shows that about 60 per cent of chair lift related accidents occur because passengers aren’t following the rules.

“This is where it’s so important when people are loading on the chair lifts, they’re securing loose items, they’re following directions from the operators, and very importantly, they lower their safety bar.”

The research also found up to 70 per cent of people who consider themselves experienced or pro don’t bother putting the safety bar down at all.

This increases the risk of people falling and injuring themselves and others, she said.

One risky scenario Lee detailed was if someone wanted to take a photo, then dropped their device, they may instinctively try to catch it. Without the drop bar, this can prove very dangerous.

Another tip she offered was to not raise the bar too soon. Ski resorts usually have signs instructing riders when it is safe to do so.

People are encouraged to review the full list of safety tips to properly use a chair lift online.

Published 2022-02-18 by David Hanson

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