Preventing Fatal Injuries to Tree Workers in New York State

NY FACE

NYS Tree Work Fatalities 2002: 12 2003: 9 2004: 5 2005: 8 2006: 8 2007: 10 2008: 17

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

What caused the spike? Energy crisis NYDEC fire wood regulation to

protect forests against non-native insects Prohibit imports Restrict intra-state transportation Use local source (50 miles)

Weather

NY FACE Previous Efforts in Prevention of Logging Injuries

Two FACE reports One FACE fact sheet Dissemination of Logging Field

Guide (WV FACE) through New York Logging Training

NY FACE Efforts Developed Logging Safety-A Field

Guide Partnered with New York State Office

of Parks Recreation and Historical Preservation (NY Parks) Pilot tested the Field Guide Evaluate the effectiveness/usefulness of

the Guide

• Game of LoggingDeveloped in the 1960’s by Soren Eriksson, a Swedish logger turned training instructor Teaches safety, productivity, conservation and cutting techniquesInstructor: Bill LindloffTrain approximately 800 people annually

Employees and employersProperty/land ownersLoggers, landscapers, and forest workers (public)

Pilot-testing the Field Guide through NYS Parks

NY Parks provided its field employees with GOL I and II

GOL instructor used the Field Guide as classroom training material

NY FACE developed survey questionnaires to assess the usefulness/effectiveness of the Field Guide

NY Parks Evaluation Pre: n=61 and Post n= 73 39% reported being involved in a “near

miss” and 24% had tree work related injuries

Trainees gained critical injury prevention knowledge through the training

The Field Guide helped the trainees understand the subject matter: 62% Strongly Agree 37% Agree

Partner with GOL 800 trainees a year Disseminate the Field Guide to the

trainees Use the Field Guide as classroom

teaching material Assist in evaluation

To Evaluate or Not to Evaluate? Goals

Reduced fatalities Reduced injuries Behavioral changes * Knowledge changes * Field Guide being widely used *

Prevent Death and Injuries to Workers of Ski Facilities in

New York

Industry Characteristics

New York has the largest number of ski centers (49) in the US

Seasonal employment of 16,500 (86% of the payroll in the winter season) in New York

Work Force Characteristics Younger Seasonal Part-time Majority non-skiers or non-boarders Both management and workers assume/

accept risk/ injury as part of the job Suspicious about government regulations

Typical Operations in a Ski Resort/Area

Ski school Ski patrol Lift operation Lift maintenance Snow making Snow grooming Cafeteria Guest service

Occupational Hazards Slips and falls on icy

surface Frost bite/hypothermia Logging hazards Muscle strains and sprains Mobile vehicles Trenching

Chemical exposures to snowmaking additives

Compressed air Pressurized water Electrical Confined space Overhead hazards

Fatal Cases in Ski Resorts/Areas

Two employees fell into a 20 foot cavity over a volcanic fumarole that was covered by snow and a third employee attempting to rescue them died from lack of oxygen (CA)

A worker was engulfed by water in a snow making pit (CO)

A worker died after being severely injured while working on a chair lift (Alberta, Canada)

Fatal Cases in New York

In 2007, a 63 year-old employee at a ski resort was killed after his clothing was caught by a snowblower and pulled into the machine.

In 2008, a 44-year-old electrician accidentally touched a high-voltage transformer and was electrocuted at a ski area.

Safety Regulations for Ski Facilities

Chapter 296-59 WAC “Ski Area Facilities and Operations” by Washington State Department of Labor and Industries : Ski lift facilities and structures Ski lift operations Ski lift aerial work platforms Ski lift machinery guarding

NY FACE Partner: Ski Areas of New York (SANY)

Represents 41 (86%) ski facilities in New York Three are state facilities

Provides workers’ compensation program for some of (approx. 80%) the SANY members

1,600 ft. vertical dropPeak employment 2,000

Snowmaking Department Snowmaking:

1,000 guns 200-300 guns on a run (every 10 ft.) Two workers take care of a run

Compressor (nine 1930 models) maintenance

Trail maintenance (tree work) Building new trails/runs (excavating

and trenching hazards)

Snowmaking Department Injury Data (1998-2009)

Injuries by age groups: < 30: 44% 30-39: 22% 40-49: 24% 50-59: 5% > 60: 2 %

Snowmaking Department Injury Data (1998-2009)

Injuries by Causes Slip and fall: 38% Lift/push/pull: 18% Hit by: 15% Motor vehicle: 11%

Injuries by Objects Snowmaking equipment: 22% Icy/snowy surface: 12% Snowmobile: 10%

NY FACE-SANY Project Conduct site visits Review and analyze SANY injury data Target specific operations/departments Survey department managers Develop operation specific safety recommendations, and

hazard alert Develop comprehensive employee training manuals Develop comprehensive safety programs for high risk

departments Evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention