• Avalanche risk assessment
• Avalanche safety plan
• Active avalanche safety program
• Involvement of professionals
• Training of workers

Avalanche risk assessment
Section 4.1.1 applies where there is or may be a risk from a snow avalanche. A description of the steps to assist in determining if an employer’s workers face an avalanche hazard can be found at http://www.avalanche.ca/caa/members/qualified-avalanche-planners or in CAA’s Land Managers Guide to Snow Avalanche Hazards in Canada.

Once the employer’s initial evaluation determines that there is or may be a risk from a snow avalanche, a risk assessment must be conducted in accordance with CAA’s Land Managers Guide to Snow Avalanche Hazards in Canada and Guidelines for Snow Avalanche Risk Determination and Mapping in Canada.

Avalanche safety plan and active avalanche program
If the risk assessment identifies an avalanche risk zone, an avalanche safety plan must be developed and implemented before work is conducted in that zone when snow conditions have the potential to create an avalanche. The avalanche safety plan must follow CAA’s Land Managers Guide to Snow Avalanche Hazards in Canada and Guidelines for Snow Avalanche Risk Determination and Mapping in Canada. It must also specify:

• Passive measures to mitigate or reduce the avalanche risk (e.g., supporting structures, snow sheds, snow collector fences)
• An active avalanche safety program (e.g., temporary or permanent closure, use of explosives) if it is necessary to monitor and manage any avalanche risk that has not been mitigated through use of passive measures

A recommended generic table of contents for avalanche safety plans can be found on the CAA’s website at http://www.avalanche.ca/caa/members/qualified-avalanche-planners.

Involvement of professionals
Section 4.1.1 specifies when an avalanche risk assessment and an avalanche safety plan must be prepared by a qualified registered professional ("QRP") or by a qualified avalanche planner ("QAP").

A QRP can be a professional engineer or geoscientist or, in the case of forestry operations, a professional forester.
A QAP must have training and experience in the development and implementation of active avalanche safety programs and be one of the following:

1. A professional member of CAA
2. A certified ski or mountain guide and member of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides
3. A certified ski or mountain guide and member of the Canadian Ski Guide Association
4. A QRP

In addition to these requirements, starting September 1, 2011 a QAP must meet CAA’s Recommended Minimum Training and Experience for Qualified Avalanche Planners posted at http://www.avalanche.ca/caa/members/qualified-avalanche-planners.

Training
The new regulation requires each person working in the risk zone to be trained in, and comply with, any applicable procedures. The avalanche safety plan will set out the level of training required for the persons that will be working in the avalanche risk zone (for example, Avalanche Skills Training Levels 1 and 2, Resource & Transportation Industry Avalanche Management or a custom course). It will also specify the qualifications for the workers who will implement the active avalanche safety program. Typically, CAA-qualified avalanche workers (with a L2 or L3 certificate) will oversee and implement the program. The members of the avalanche team tasked with carrying out the measures specified in the program will normally have completed, at a minimum, a L1 CAA course.

Compliance with the new regulation
During the spring and summer of 2010, WorkSafeBC prevention officers will be working with employers to ensure they have the information they need to come into compliance with the new requirements by the fall 2010/winter 2011. At that time, WorkSafeBC’s focus will turn to ensuring that the industries most affected by the risk of avalanches (such as ski, heli-ski, ecotourism and snowmobile operations) comply with section 4.1.1.

Resources
For further information, please contact Shawn Mitton, Regional Prevention Manager, WorkSafeBC at (250) 717-4302 or D.Mitton@worksafebc.com

To view section 4.1.1 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation,and OHS Guideline G4.1.1, please visit http://www.worksafebc.com (click on “OHS Regulation” under “Quick Links”).