Case Studies
Snowmobile Safety
Snowmobile Safety
PPM Energy often locates its wind farms in remote areas with extreme weather - which in the winter means SNOW. And in these parts when there’s snow, often there are snowmobiles —sort of motorcycles on skis if you haven’t seen them. With approximately 1.6 million registered snowmobiles in the US today, this 51-year-old sport is growing with 80,000 new vehicles sold so far in 20071.
Recent economic impact studies in the US have identified snowmobiling as a major job generator and an important part of the economic engine of rural America. It is estimated that over $21 billion worth of economic activity occurs because of snowmobiling, with the majority of the money generated by tourism related activities1.
At the sport requires ample winter snows, and thus is a popular pastime at two of the company’s facilities, the Trimont Area Windfarm in Minnesota and the Maple Ridge Windfarm in New York state. More than 250 miles of snowmobile trails fall within the Maple Ridge Windfarm site, which is on land leased from farmers. During the season, the New York windfarm can have over 10,000 snowmobiles on the trails every weekend. On peak weekends (lots of snow, favourable weather) the local riding clubs estimate that numbers can go as high as 20,000. The actual number of weekends in the season varies from year to year based on snowfall.
Although studies show that most accidents in the sport are attributed to speeding and other unsafe operations, PPM health, safety and communications teams have made publicising safe riding practices around windfarms a priority. PPM and its partners first ensured that the risk assessment identified potential snowmobiling hazards from plant equipment, trail location, or unsafe operations. They then developed the resulting safety controls on the ground, including signage and communications in a manner snowmobilers were used to receiving. Gary LeMoine, PPM environment, health and safety director said, “For maximum effectiveness, the safety campaign needed to be in snowmobiling language. If we had used types of warning signs a speeding snowmobiler wasn’t used to, we run the risk they would be ignored or confused. In this case, PPM coupled its safety and communications expertise with Horizon’s snowmobiling expertise to create a campaign that was well received, and we hope into the future will be extremely effective at preventing accidents.”
Outreach efforts include running radio and magazine advertising -- working with the International Snowmobile Manufactures Association (ISMA) to produce safety materials. Representatives speak at local snowmobiling clubs, with public agencies, host site tours and conduct safety briefings to alert riders to potential hazards around the windfarms and beyond. Gary LeMoine, PPM environment, health and safety director said, “Through these combined efforts, we are raising awareness to help keep everybody safe.”
In fact the snowmobile safety plan recently produced for Maple Ridge by the company has been officially adopted by the New York State Snowmobile Association as the statewide standard.
The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association was so impressed with the company’s campaign they have agreed to allow the use of their "Safe Rider" logo on safety posters and advertising.
1With recent studies performed by Iowa State University, Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, and the University of Minnesota all showing a dramatic increase in snowmobile activity, PPM will most likely keep talking to with snowmobile enthusiasts wherever they are to help keep the trails safe.
1International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association website www.snowmobile.org
