Scene Safety and the Human Factor

The 2009/10 avalanche season in the intermountain region has been particularly active.  As reported on http://utahavalanchecenter.org/advisory/slc there have been 261 unintentional, human triggered avalanches in the backcountry, 59 caught, 23 partial burials, 5 total burials, 11 injured, and individuals 3 killed to date in Utah.  Pair these statistics with the several professional rescuer fatalities in Europe and the United States this year and one needs to take a step back and ask "What can I do to minimize my exposure as a avalanche safety professional or back country enthusiast?"

In numerous after action reports as examined by avalanche researchers the "human factor" reveals itself as an important variable in the attitude and decision making process of back country/snow safety.  Hazardous attitudes are defined on five axis:

1.  Resignation - We blame it on fate that if something bad happens to us, we have little or no control over it.  “If it’s going to happen, I can’t do anything to change it.”

2.  Anti-Authority - We feel that the rules don't apply to us.  These could be avalanche procedure or safe travel guidelines.

3.  Impulsivity - We need to do this quickly, thus throwing caution to the wind.

4.  Invulnerability - We feel that nothing can hurt us, blinding us to potential threats.  Saying to ourselves “It couldn’t happen to me.”

5.  Macho Attitude – “I can do this no matter what.”

 The FIRST step in eliminating the hazardous attitude, thus keeping our scene safe, is to identify the hazardous attitude.  Only then can we have a true perception of the dangers that will affect our decisions and potentially our lives.

Ski, Ride, and Work Safe...SSP