Ausblick Ski Area

Chairlift Evacuation Refresher

Chairlift Evacuation GuidelinesA chairlift evacuation is NOT a National Ski Patrol

function; rather it is completely under the control and discretion of Ausblick, Inc. and their hill manager or supervisors.

Patrollers will participate to the extent of their training and do so as a volunteer service to the hill. Patrollers electing to participate are covered under Ausblick’s insurance policy based on the “Medical Personnel Coverage” endorsement and are considered “volunteer workers”.

The Hill management will direct and control all aspects of the evacuation process.

Who Makes the Decision?

Only the Hill manager or supervisor in charge may make the decision to request a chairlift evacuation.

Hill management or supervisor in charge shall notify the Patrollers on duty that the chairlift is malfunctioning and an evacuation is requested. Patrollers become “volunteer workers” of the Hill and thus under the sole control of the Hill management.

Lift Evacuation Supervisor CHAIRLIFT EVACUATION MANUAL

Patrollers on duty will decide which patroller is in charge and that patroller shall become the Lift Evacuation Supervisor (LES).

This person should notify Hill management and all contact should be through the LES, especially those needing to be done by patrollers. The LES will take charge of the evacuation process.

The LES shall hold and maintain control of the “AUSBLICK CHAIRLIFT EVACUATION GUIDELINE MANUAL” (binder) found with the evacuation equipment. This binder holds the forms and guidelines needed to be completed before, during and after the evacuation.

Also with the binder are the “iron maiden” lockout device with a padlock and key and the key to the auxiliary engine.

Radio Communication

• Radios shall be used to maintain communication between Hill management, the LES and teams on the hill.

• All radio communications shall be on the Hill operations channel (NOT the Ski Patrol channel).

• Each evacuation team should have at least one radio controlled by the team leader.

Is More Help Needed?

• The LES will decide if more patrollers should be called in and assigns the desk personnel to make the phone calls using the most current Evacuation Phone List found in front of the binder.

All Patrollers should meet in the Patrol Room, using all competent patrollers available at the hill. The LES has discretion to use non-patrollers on non-hill personnel to assist in the evacuation. The LES shall establish teams and team leaders who shall obtain the evacuation bag and launcher case.

Chairlift Lockout• Hill manager or supervisor is to turn OFF the

electrical switch that controls the chairlift in the back/top section of the bottom lift house.

• The LES will lock the lever in the off position with the “iron maiden” and padlock with the lock provided. The LES should hold the only key to this lock and only unlock it only when the evacuation is completed.

• The LES should also use the key provided to turn off the ignition to the auxiliary diesel engine. The LES should be certain to turn the ignition switch to the OFF or LOCK position and maintain control of the key until the evacuation is complete.

The LES should insure that hill management understands the lift must remain disabled until

the LES authorizes the

“ALL CLEAR”and the chair can be restarted.

Chairlift Main Electrical Switch The switch is located in the lower lift utility room and is labeled as “CHAIR

LIFT CONTROL”.The switch is secured in the “OFF”

position and is secured with the “Iron Maiden” and padlock. These are

found in the binder and installed by the Lift Evacuation Supervisor.

Auxiliary Engine LockoutThe auxiliary engine is

located inside the lower bull wheel. The engine

normally has no key and is always in the on position.

The LES will use the key supplied in the binder to

lock out the engine.

NOTIFY ALL PASSENGERS THAT AN EVACUATION IS IN PROGRESS

– Top of hill operator has laminated script to read to each passenger or have a patroller do this or use the PA system if operational.

– Advise passengers that an evacuation is underway and help will be coming soon. Tell them to stay in place, with the safety bar down and do not try to jump from the chairs. They should sit close together and do not remove skis, boards or poles.

– Explain that the evacuation will start from the top of the hill and work down.

– Identify passengers in need of emergency care, young children or personnel (such as other Patrollers) that could help with the evacuation. Note the chair number and notify the LES by radio. The LES should note these special cases on the form in the binder.

– The LES may specify that these special cases be evacuated from the lift immediately and dispatch the teams appropriately.

– If the LES needs additional personnel he may request assistance of individuals on the hill.

Evacuation Equipment Bag

Three (3) complete bags with identical equipment are stored in Ski Patrol room

EQUIPMENT IN EACH EVACUATION BAG

Two – 6’ nylon web straps

BagEvacuation rope

6 volt flashlight

Guide line

Utility harnessGRIGRI

Evacuation Device

Head lamp

Throwline w/ weight & bag

RopeSaver

Locking carabineer

Rope chest harness

Metal cinch

Steel o-ring w/ clip

DESIGNATE EVACUATION TEAMS

• Three person teams minimum should be organized with a belayer, anchor & talker, if manpower is available. The LES has the discretion to have teams with fewer members with the minimum being one belayer and one anchor.

– A Patroller should be designated to throw lines over the lift cable using the weighted bag and attached line. Line should be tossed up between the cables so that it will go over the cable the chairs hang on from the inside to the outside.

– Throw line will be clipped to evacuation rope with attached carabiner and used to pull rope with rope saver over cable.

– First line will be up the hill from the highest chair closest to the highest uphill towers. LES may use their discretion to alter the order of chair evacuation.

– Evacuation rope shall be flipped over successive downhill chairs.– The metal rope savers are to be used in ALL training and ALL actual

evacuations.

TEAMS BEGIN EVACUATION• No team may begin launching lines until the LES confirms that the chair is

locked out and the evacuation may begin.– Talker follows the talker checklist (see TALKER CHECKLIST)– Launch lines are thrown over cables– During evacuation belayer will use GRIGRI and harness– Position of belayer and anchor.

• Belayer – position is perpendicular to cable and chair and slightly uphill• Anchor – Positioned directly behind belayer in line with rope, facing chair. The six foot loop

of nylon webbing is looped around the back of the harness that the belayer wears. The webbing is then passed around the back of the anchor for extra security if the belayer were to slip.

• A bystander can be used as the anchor if properly instructed.• Second web loop may be used for additional anchoring to people, skis or available

equipment.– When passengers are lowered and off of the evacuation device they are informed

that they are to proceed to a point designated by hill management as the CHECK IN area. Management will record their name and phone number and they will be checked by a patroller for any injuries and released.

Evacuation seat with a trace-back figure eight knot and safety overhand knot.

Throw Bag

The throw bag replaces the launcher used previously. The weight is thrown over the chairlift cable. The end is clipped to the steel o-ring on

the evacuation line and used to pull it over the cable.

Rope Saver

The rope saver is always used for training and actual evacuations.(This is new for 2008)

The rope saver is permanently threaded on evacuation rope and should not be removed

Rope Saver on Cable

Rope saver must be lowered to ground before attempting to “flip” rope over chair

Utility Harness

New for 2008

Universal size – used by belayer only

Fitting New Harness on Belayer

New GRIGRI Belay Device

GRIGRI

Notice engraving on GRIGRI shows direction rope should be oriented

Proper Hand Position

Belayer and Anchor

ANCHOR

Nylon web strap

BELAYER

Proper Anchor PositionThe anchor webbing is

cinched to the back of the utility harness the belayer

is wearing

Anchor secures webbing around back. Second web strap is for multiple anchor points such as

more people or equipment.

Correct Hand & Body Position

Notice correct positioning of hands

Left hand on GRIGRI release lever to control

descent

Right hand guides rope

Talker

Talker Checklist & Script• Talker should stand back and uphill of the passengers so they can see talker in front of them, not below and out of the way of anything

dropped from the chair. If it is dark a flashlight should be shown on the talker to illuminate them as they explain guideline• “My name is _______________ and I am a member of the Ausblick Ski Area.” (not the Ski Patrol or National Ski Patrol).• “Do you want to be evacuated?”• “Do not do anything unless you are instructed to and please respond that you understand by saying ‘I understand’”.• “Carefully drop your poles to the side, but keep your skis and boards on”.• Talker will demonstrate how to put the evacuation device on.• Place device between legs and put safety harness around chest.• Pull metal collar toward you to tighten securely.• “What will be the order we evacuate you from the chair?”• Talker will unwind guide line attached to evacuation device.• “Primary Ready”! TALK LOUDLY and be certain of the response before starting.• “Anchor Ready”! TALK LOUDLY and be certain of the response before starting.• “Primary raises the chair in position”.• “Guide the rope and to raise the safety bar as the device nears the chair.”• “The seat part of the evacuation device must be placed underneath the chair and between their legs”.• “Put the safety harness over your head and shoulders and around your chest and cinch it tight with the metal collar, pulling towards

you”.• “Primary Ready”! TALK LOUDLY and be certain of the response before starting.• “Anchor Ready”! TALK LOUDLY and be certain of the response before starting.• “Slide off the chair and onto the evacuation device, keep one hand on the chair and one hand on the device as we lower you down”.• Talker guides descent with the guide rope to stop any spinning and keep passenger away from the chair. As the passenger descends

talker should walk towards landing spot, keeping tension on the guide line. Talker should be at the landing spot when passenger lands. Passenger should land with their skis or board across the fall line.

• Talker should pull down on the rope and assist with the removal of the evacuation device.• Retrieve the passenger’s poles and direct them to report to the CHECK IN area at the bottom of the hill. • NON-COOPERATIVE PASSENGER• Attempt to reassure passenger that the evacuation is safe and required.• Explain that there is no other safe alternative to chair evacuation.• Explain that the Ski Area trains all personnel every year on the guideline.• Explain that they will be left until everyone else has been evacuated and that we will return at that time to evacuate them, but it may

take as long as an hour.• If unsuccessful notify the hill management.

Evacuation Device

Correct positioning of evacuation device is underneath seat and between legs

Positioning Chest Strap

Rope harness is put around chest and cinched tight with

metal clasp

Metal clasp

Lowering Evacuee

EVACUATION COMPLETED

– All teams return to bottom of lift with equipment.– LES will account for all personnel and equipment.– Sweep hill to ensure no one is left on the hill or chairs.– LES issues an “ALL CLEAR” and notifies hill manager or supervisor in

charge that evacuation is complete and the hill has been swept. LES turns auxiliary engine to the on (unlocked) key position and removes the iron maiden lock from the chair switch.

– Note time completed.– Return to Patrol Room and debrief all teams and make notes as to

what worked well and any problems encountered.– LES will complete evacuation report with hill manager or supervisor.– Inspect and restore equipment contacting Chairlift IOR or Patrol

Equipment Manager as to disposition and repacking of equipment.

End of “Monkey Chain” RopeThis chain knot is used for storage of the main lowering line (black) and the guide line (purple). Note how the end of the rope is secured, make sure to pull the end out of the last loop and then pull to release the rest of the loops. Do NOT pull the end through the rest of the loops or it will not pull apart correctly. Study the picture to understand how the knot works.

Click here to see how the Monkey Chain is made.