Industry News
Are you one of those people who ride the lift up the mountain with the restraint bar up or down? Some people will put the bar down every time they ride the lift, while others choose to leave it up. Most of us have heard Ski Patrol and lift attendants tell people who do not put the bar down to do so if they see that they are not doing it once they get on the lift. An Austrian study has found that while safety bars can only prevent about 10% of chairlift accidents, these are typically accidents that cause serious bodily harm to passengers.
If you are skiing or riding in Vermont, people do not have the option of leaving the bar up. It is the law in the state of Vermont. The state’s Department of Labor adopted the Passenger Tramway Safety Rules on March 6, 2024, which states that “each chair shall be equipped with a restraint bar, which shall not yield to forward pressure applied by the passenger(s) and the passenger(s) must have the restraint bar fully closed except when they are embarking or disembarking the lift.” The Tramway Board sets the safety standards, consisting of two ski areas, two public representatives, and the Commissioner of Labor. Since its inception, ski area fees have funded the inspection program based on the lineal footage of ski lifts at each area (31 V.S.A. §§ 701-712).
Procedures for operating and maintenance functions require precautionary measures to ensure the safety of the personnel involved and conform to applicable Vermont Occupational Safety and Health standards and codes. According to the Vermont Passenger Tramway Safety Rules and Addendum to ANSI B77.1-2022 regarding Personnel and Safety, the owner/authorized operator is responsible for implementing the procedures intended for the protection of the public and operating and maintenance personnel.
This law, which requires passengers on a lift to put the restraining bar down, raises the question of why Vermont passed such legislation. The simplest answer is the overall safety of the guests and employees at the resorts. Skier participation numbers have been surging, and Vermont has also seen an increase in population since the pandemic. This means more people on the mountain, which equates to the likelihood of more injuries to skiers and riders. One example of this is the number of search and rescue incidents in Vermont rose 41% from 100 incidents in 2015 to 141 incidents in 2023, according to the Public Safety Department. The data was obtained by Community News Service, a program where University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.
There have not been many publicized cases of fines in Vermont for individuals failing to lower the restraint bars on chairlifts. Enforcement actions and fines for safety violations in ski lifts and tramways generally depend on inspections and non-compliance reports. This is a case where the state would rather focus on the resort and ownership than the individual. Ski resorts and lift operators are subject to regulations enforced by state agencies such as the Vermont Department of Labor. The resorts and employees can face fines or other penalties if found to violate safety standards. These enforcement actions are typically aimed at ensuring compliance and preventing accidents.
The number of fatalities involving chairlifts is rare, there were two fatalities in the U.S. resulting from falls from a lift during the 2022-23 season according to the National Ski Areas Association. One of those incidents involved a guest who was attempting to brush snow from his chair, and the other one was an employee who fell from a lift into unconsolidated snow. To some, putting down the restraint bar may seem unnecessary, just like some drivers feel like putting on their seatbelt isn’t necessary. However, putting on your seatbelt while driving is the law in 49 states in the U.S., and putting down the restraint bar while riding in a chairlift is the law in one state in the U.S., Vermont.
