Deadly accident at Jiminy Peak highlights dangers of snowmaking
HANCOCK — Fatal accidents among professional snowmakers like the one that claimed the life of a woman at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort earlier this week are rare, but industry experts say the job comes with a lot of risks.
Kimber Francoeur, 30, died Tuesday when the snowmobile she was operating collided with a snow groomer. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the crash.
“We are aware of what happened and a complaint officer is assigned to look into it,” said Mary Hoye, area director of the Springfield office of OSHA.
Workplace fatality accidents related to moving vehicles are "not an unusual hazard,” Hoye added. “Backing accidents in general occur too many times at construction sites, warehouses and other sites.”
She said dump trucks and forklifts are often involved in such incidents. Hoye noted that a fatality involving a snowmaker has happened at least one other time in New England that she is aware of.[Two workers adjust snow gun (copy)]Snowmakers Kimber Francoeur, left, and Amee McLaughlin adjust a snow gun at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in 2019. Francoeur was killed Tuesday in an accident on the slopes. EAGLE FILE PHOTOA snowmaker's mission is to keep the snow guns functioning and to move and groom the manmade snow to cover the slopes for a skier-friendly experience. A majority of their work is done at night, especially in the early ski season. Hostile weather, such as high winds, icy footing and deep cold, are not uncommon, although at a certain point they are called back to the lodge for shelter.
Snowmakers are charged with making sure the high pressure air and water hoses are attached to the guns properly and functioning correctly all the way up and down the mountain, on every ski slope. It involves using snowmobiles and big snow groomers that level and smooth out the snow base.
Jiminy Peak employs about 18 snowmakers. Hoye said Tuesday's accident will be “fully investigated," and the process will involve witness interviews and reviews of incident reports and other paperwork at the resort.
The probe will determine if any safety standards apply to this incident, and if so, whether there were any violations of those standards. If violations are found, efforts will be made to alter procedures and workplace practices to prevent a similar occurrence and would typically involve a fine.
“But if OSHA finds there is a hazard, but no standards were violated, it would issue a Hazard Alert Letter,” Hoye said, and work with the employer to minimize or eliminate any future hazard.[Francoeur with dogs on hike (copy)]A lover of the outdoors, Kimber Francoeur is seen on a hike in the mountains with her dogs, Aspen and Oakley.PHOTO PROVIDED BY EMILY TARJICKThe Berkshire District Attorney’s Office ruled Francoeur's death an accident. Francoeur, a lifelong Berkshires resident who most recently lived in Adams, had worked at Jiminy Peak as a snowmaker for around 10 years.
'Preventable death'
Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (MassCOSH), an independent nonprofit, cautioned other employers to keep employees informed and fully trained when working around moving vehicles.
“Although tragic events like this are most likely to occur at construction sites and loading docks, workers working around mobile equipment in any setting are at risk,” the agency noted. ”It is extremely important that employers train their employees to be aware of the paths of moving vehicles, backing vehicles, and blind spots, and implement safe equipment operation practices.”
Jiminy Peak accident victim died doing what she loved: Making snow and being outdoors
The agency also points out that the state of New York classifies ski area employees as having high injury rates and that the snowmaking profession is an especially high-risk occupation.
Snowmaker safety risks
Snowmakers can be struck by:
Snowmaking equipment
Hand tools
High pressure water and air
Snowmobiles or other vehicles
Broken tree branches
Ice falling from snowguns and towers
Propane nozzles
Coworkers, skiers and boarders
Snowmakers can be exposed to hazards when:
Attaching and removing hoses from snowmaking equipment and above-ground hydrants.
Using wrenches and hand tools.
Turning valves to adjust air and water mixtures.
Loosening pressurized water, compressed air hoses and nozzles causing "hose whipping."
Traveling around the mountain.
To prevent injuries snowmakers can:
Check pressure regulators to reduce and maintain operating pressures.
Ensure that water and air hoses are securely connected before turning on valves.
Replace worn or damaged hoses.
Keep hoses free of sharp bends and kinks.
Open and close hydrants and valves SLOWLY.
Don't straddle or stand in front of hydrants or snowmaking equipment while opening valves.
Don't stand in front of snowguns or move a snowgun while it's operating.
Don't yank a hose that is caught on an object. Free the obstruction first to prevent the hose from rupturing.
Stay clear of the area if a hose is whipping. Shut off the flow at the source, if possible.
Be aware of your environment to avoid collisions with falling ice, branches, coworkers, skiers and boarders.
Source: New York State Department of Health
“It is heartbreaking to start off the new year with a preventable worker death,” said MassCOSH executive director Jodi Sugerman-Brozan. “Working around large, mobile machines is very dangerous and occupational fatality data backs that up. Employers should regularly train their employees on work zone safety and how to stay safe around machines that can so easily take a life.”
“For ski area operators and our industry, the safety of our employees and guests is not only a priority — it’s a core value — and it is top of mind every day in our operation,” noted Adrienne Saia Isaac, director of marketing and communications for the National Ski Areas