Cypress Mountain Snow School Risk Management and Safety Protocols 2011/12

Below is a list of safety protocols all Cypress Mountain Snow School Instructors must follow to minimize risk to our students. These safety protocols are a starting point and are to be used in conjunction with sound judgment to maximize or enhance the students learning experience in a safe learning environment. These safety protocols are intended as a guideline. Safe operating practices/protocols are identified as Keys to the safety of our guests. These Keys are considered to be a minimum requirement of every instructor to ensure the safety of our guests/students.

I have read and agree to abide by the aforementioned safety protocols regarding Duty of Care, Class Management Practices, Accident Procedures, Incident Report Form Procedures, Safe Chairlift Loading practices, Mis-loaded Student Procedures, Lost Child Procedures, and the Alpine Responsibility Code. I have reviewed these practices with my supervisor and agree I am to adhere to these safety protocols.
Name:_________________________________________Date:_______________________________________________ Signature:____________________________________________

Duty of Care
As an instructor undertaking the instruction of a person, whether adult or child, you enter into a special relationship with that individual, out of which, the court will impose upon you a duty of care for the safety of that student. This duty of care commences when you first meet your student and does not end until the lesson is completed. Thus, in the eyes of the law your role as an instructor is not simply to educate your student, but also act as a knowledgeable, responsible and vigilant guide to the student while on the mountain. You must teach in strict accordance with the Alpine Responsibility Code, ensure the students under your care are in compliance with that code, and understand the reasons for doing so. You must exercise sound judgment in selecting the terrain, ensuring it is commensurate with the students ability and minimizes the risks arising from any (natural or otherwise) hazards. When dealing with children, the courts expect a greater duty of care. The Law states that the standard of Duty of Care regarding children must be that of a careful or prudent parent. We are in loco parentis, or acting as a parent. I concur:_______________________ (initials)

1|Page

Alpine Responsibility Code

This code must be followed by all instructors whether or not they are on duty:

Always stay in control. You must be able to stop or avoid other people or objects People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them Do not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above Before starting downhill or merging onto a trail, look uphill and yield to others If you are involved in or witness a collision or accident, you must remain at the scene and identify yourself to the Ski Patrol Always use proper devices to help prevent runaway equipment Observe and obey all posted signs and warnings Keep off closed trails and closed areas You must not use lifts or terrain if your ability is impaired through use of alcohol or drugs You must have sufficient physical dexterity, ability and knowledge to safely load, ride and unload lifts. If in doubt, ask the lift attendant. I concur:___________________(initial)

Class Management
Good class management is critical to safety of your students. It is the key to preventing accidents, minimizing risk to yourself and your students and optimizing your students learning experience.

Learn students names prior to leaving Meeting Area Establish pre arranged meeting areas Give precise instructions regarding meeting areas when starting and stopping your class (meet at the bottom of Eagle Chair) Instruct students to stop below you on trail Keep students in an orderly fashion from the beginning of the class all the way through to the end Choose appropriate terrain-exercise good judgment think safety first Conduct frequent student head counts throughout the lesson Maintain visual contact with every member of the group Stop the class in a safe area: minimal traffic, unobstructed view, not under a lift Always remain with the class Always return with your class to the Meeting Area at the end of the lesson Make sure you are aware of dismissal practices for young children (school groups, sign-outs RRYC, KC) I concur:___________________(initials)

Chairlift loading and un-loading procedures

It is the responsibility of the Instructor to ensure all students understand proper chairlift loading procedures prior to loading a lift. Instructors shall engage the lift operator verbally on every load situation. This is to ensure that communication has been established, whether it is a request to slow the lift or someone needs assistance. If the instructor requires assistance, this shall be communicated prior to entering the load area.

Provide thorough instruction regarding loading and unloading to all new students prior to loading Inform students to wait at a designated location at the top of the lift Request assistance from chairlift operators when loading inexperienced students, and small children Load small children (under the height of 1.2m) at all times with an adult Ensure all students are in proper seating order prior to approaching the chair Students needing extra assistance from the lift operator shall be loaded on the lift operator side Instructors shall request special assistance from chairlift operators before boarding inexperienced students and small children. If a child is skiing with a guardian and the guardian requests that the lift be slowed or stopped to load the child, the lift operator shall make every attempt to comply with that request Leave the Control Gate only when all students are prepared to load (skiers remove pole straps)

2|Page

Instruct students to lower the restraining bar To avoid students pre-maturely exiting the chair before the unload ramp, Instruct students to keep restraining bar lowered until you are at the raise restraining device sign. o Easy Rider raise restraining bar at sign (located on a post appx 9 ft from lift hut) o Lions and Eagle Open restraining bar at start of station (sign is located on the lift station) o Midway open restraining bar 3m prior to sign (located on lift hut) o Sky open restraining bar 3m prior to sign (located on lift hut) o Raven open restraining bar at tower #15 (appx 13m from lift hut) Instructors shall board with the last of your students or after all students have loaded. I concur:____________________(signature)

Magic Carpet (lift) loading and un-loading procedures

It is the responsibility of the instructor to ensure all students understand proper magic carpet loading and unloading prior to loading the carpet.

The magic carpet can take one student spaced 7ft apart to ensure students have adequate unloading time and space. Inform students to wait at the top of the lift after unloading. Ensure all lose items are secured. Students should proceed onto the carpet only when they are prepared to load (skies should remove pole straps; snowboarders should remove back foot from bindings). Skis and snowboards should be pointed up the carpet and be placed in the centre of the carpet. Instruct students to remain standing on the carpet at all times looking forward and not to walk up the carpet. Students are to remain in place until they have reached the top of the carpet. Instructors can help students on to the carpet by holding the hand of smaller students and having them take small steps on to the carpet. Instruct students to take small steps onto the non slip mat and move from the unloading area so as not to obstruct other unloading students.
I concur:____________________(signature)

Mis-loaded Student
In the event that a student is mis-loaded, the lift attendant is responsible for initiating the following procedures:

When a student is mis-loaded, the lift attendant shall stop the lift immediately. If it is not possible to reunite the student with his or her party the student will be loaded on the next available chair If the student is a child, the student shall be loaded with another adult on the next available chair.

In the event that a student is mis-loaded, the instructor is responsible for initiating the following procedures:

The Instructor shall shout STOP The Instructor shall observe and take mental note for later documentation of the incident The Instructor shall re-unite with the mis-loaded student at the top of the lift and debrief the student if appropriate. The Instructor shall report all mis-loaded student incidents to their supervisor ASAP and fill out an incident report form by the end of the business day. I concur:___________________(initials)

Incident Report Form

Accident/Incident Report Forms should be filled out for accidents, mis-loaded chairs, lost students, guest conflict, as well as a variety of other topics. If you are not sure whether an incident requires a form, talk to your supervisor. An incident form can always be obtained from a supervisor, and should be filled out as soon as possible. The report must be in by the end of the business day and signed off by your supervisor in your presence this allows for clarification while information is still fresh. I concur:___________________(initial)

3|Page

Accident Procedures
What to do if someone in your class has an accident:

Ensure the injured person is safe from further injury. Place crossed skis upslope from the person or, if the snow is too hard, have another student or two stand up-slope to deflect traffic. If you are with a group, make sure the entire group is safe (visible from above, out of traffic, etc.) Make sure that the injured person is as comfortable as possible, though, depending on the nature of the injury, you may not want to move them too much. Wrap a jacket around them to keep warm if it is appropriate Next you need to notify patrol. You may either call into Guest Relations (604-926-5612) and be transferred to dispatch OR Flag down an adult and ask them to go to the nearest chairlift station to call ski patrol. The Bystander will need the following information: Adult/teen/child Skier/snowboarder Location of accident Location of injury** Color of clothing Be sure the by-stander comes back to you so you know patrol has been notified Keep talking to the injured student while you wait for patrol Notify your supervisor immediately if any student has to go to patrol (minor or major) Fill out an Accident Report Form by the end of the day, obtain from your Supv

**It is important to give a location of injury and avoid commenting on the nature or gravity of the injury (ie: head injury, injured leg, arm, neck etc.) vs (compound fracture of the lower leg) I concur:___________________(initial)

Lost Student Procedures

It is crucial that you follow good class management and have pre-arranged meeting areas before starting any class so that a separated student knows what they should do if they get separated from their group. In the event that a student is missing a search must be made immediately. You need to think smart and act quick.

Bring remaining students in your class to the base area. Check your pre-arranged meeting area and the bottom of the lift you were just using If the lost student is not there notify ANY Snow School Supervisor or Manager immediately. (There is always one supervisor in the base area as well as managers). You may need to leave them with another adult member of staff in order to find your supervisor Some methods of contacting a supervisor or manager are: Contact your supervisor via their cell phone # Base Area (Lesson meeting areas, magic carpet, Pro hut, Lesson Desk) If you cannot find a snow school supervisor or manager, notify Dispatch immediately A search will be put into action. Your supervisor will decide the course of action in initiating the search. Your supervisor will require the following information: Description (Name/age/gender/ski or sb/color of clothing) Where student was last seen Time student was last seen The Instructor shall follow all directions from your supervisor The Instructor may be asked to help with the search once their students are safe with another member of staff in the base area Never announce the lost child or lost student over the radio I concur:___________________(initial)

4|Page