OSHA Officially recommending helmets for ski area employees

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has posted a recommendation on its website for employees of ski areas to wear helmets. The post is:

'QuickTips' for ski resort workers to stay safe on the job

In March, a ski patroller died after a fall while on duty in the backcountry of a mountain resort. She was not wearing a helmet. Ski season is here, so OSHA is encouraging ski resort employers and workers, especially ski patrollers, to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from severe injury while on the job. Personal protective equipment is one of the first lines of defense against injury. OSHA's Personal Protective Equipment Safety and Health Topics Web page offers information about what standards apply to PPE, what PPE is appropriate for workplace hazards, and ways PPE can be evaluated and improved.

The OSHA post can be found at OSHA Quick Takes for December 1, 2009, Volume 8, Issue 22.