Second call for ski-field safety law

Press, 5 July 1983, Page 22

Second call for ski-field safety law

The Consumers’ Institute has repeated its call for legislation to ensure the safety of skiers using tows at New Zealand ski-fields. Concern was first expressed after three skiers were injured in an accident at Porter Heights in 1980. The Labour Department has control over machinery in respect of the safety of the operator, and the Ministry of Transport has jurisdiction over , chair-lifts. However, the institute’s inquiries revealed a lack of legislation ensuring independent checks on surface ski-lifts and tows. After extensive correspondence between the institute and Government de-

partments, the Minister of Labour, Mr Bolger, agreed last year that some form of code of practice, covering all aspects of ski-field safety, was needed. Such a code has yet to eventuate. The institute’s Christchurch district officer. Mr J. S. Ainsworth, said that even a code of practice, which he described as a non-compul-sory gentlemen’s agreement, was inadequate. He believed that ski-fields should be required to produce an independent engineer’s report on the condition of ski tows before each season began. The reports should be given to the Labour Department, which could then issue a certifi-

cate as a form of “warrant of fitness.” If an accident occurred during the season, another independent check should be made to ensure that the machinery was properly repaired. Mr Ainsworth said that it was now more than two years since the matter was first raised, and no legislation had been put in place to give skiers the equivalent protection they would have if they were riding on a merry-go-round. He said that the remoteness of ski-fields from hospitals was all the more reason why regulations were needed to cover machinery safety.