Research Project Summary

Year Funded: 2010 Budget: 100,463 Funding Agency: WorkSafeBC
Title: An Investigation into the Etiology of Injuries in Ski-area Employees: Do Proprioceptive Deficits of the Spine and Peripheral Joints or Poor Blood Glucose Management affect Musculoskeletal and Fall and Struck-by/against Injuries?
Category: Intervention Research
Subcategory: Intervention Research
Keywords: Injury prevention, proprioception, hypoglycemia, cognition
Link to research website:

Issue:

Ski area employees are subject to high workloads and rigorous environmental conditions. On-snow workers experience frequent injuries of the type that have been identified as high risk, and many are young workers, placing them at even higher risk. The research will focus on using validated methods developed by sports science to objectively identify specific factors that contribute to injuries among ski area employees, including poor control of joint stability and the loss of concentration or attention, and a slowing of reflex action. Proposed solutions will be tested by implementing an injury prevention program based on the first year findings, and comparing injuries to those seen in the previous five years.

Objectives:

This research aims to provide information that can be used to prevent injuries in the ski industry and beyond, which require manual labour under rigorous conditions. Due to the large number of young workers in this industry, the study objective also includes efforts to increase an understanding of how to prevent injuries in this high risk group.

Anticipated Results:

It is anticipated that this study will impact prevention of, or decrease in, the high rate of injuries among these workers.

Investigators:

Delia Roberts (Selkirk College)