Safety management at a ski resort: Securing safety of beginners in the event of course closure

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25350720
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Developmental mechanisms and the body works
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: Mizusawa Toshihide 福井大学, 学術研究院教育・人文社会系部門(教員養成), 教授 (70174274)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: スキー場 / 雪崩事故 / スキー / 初級者 / 初心者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study reviewed the case of an avalanche that occurred during a skiing lesson for university students at a ski resort in Nagano Prefecture in February 2008 in order to reveal why a lecturer took students onto a less-managed course when an avalanche risk was present and why the manager of the resort allowed the group of beginners to enter the course. Both criminal and civil courts concluded that the lecturer was most responsible, since he guided students to the area despite the foreseeable risk of avalanche. However, the procedures for securing the safety of beginners differ from those for intermediate and experienced skiers. The measures taken by the ski resort manager, who failed to prohibit beginners from moving into the at-risk area, were unsatisfactory, which may have played a role in the accident.

Free Research Field

体育学