SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1996
STP37911S

Ski Injuries Among Ski Area Employees

Source

This study was undertaken to compare injuries sustained by recreational skiers with those of a group of ski patrollers and ski instructors. The study includes 3825 injuries occurring at a medium-size ski area in northern New England from 1986–87 to 1990–91 (five seasons). A total of 124 injuries were sustained by expert employee skiers. In comparison with recreational expert skiers, employees were more likely to sustain minor knee sprains and less likely to sustain serious knee sprains or fractures. There was no significant difference in lower leg (potentially equipment related) injuries. Analysis of activity at the time of injury showed that patrollers running sleds and instructors skiing on a racecourse were the riskiest activities for employee skiers. The study provides guidelines and a simple methodology for evaluating injury data among employees at ski areas of all sizes. These guidelines can be used even when injury data on the general population are limited.

Author Information

Belanger, M
Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI
Ettlinger, CF
Vermont Ski Safety Equipment Corp., Underhill, VT
Shealy, JE
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Johnson, RJ
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
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Details
Developed by Committee: F27
Pages: 25–35
DOI: 10.1520/STP37911S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5560-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0429-7