The KCA issued a Consumer Safety Watch with ski season just around the corner - Safety accidents involving skiing and snowboarding for 2011-2012 season grew by 74.7% y-y

In line with increasing population enjoying skiing and snowboarding, number of safety accidents at the ski resort is on a rapid growth. Skiers and snowboarders should be more careful with their leisure activities with ski season just starting to set in.

The Korea Consumer Agency (President: Dae-pyo Jung, www.kca.go.kr) recently conducted an analysis on 1,058 safety accidents taking place at ski resorts, which were reported to the Consumer Injury Surveillance System for the last three years. According to the findings, the no. of cases reported during 2011-2012 stood at 491 cases, +74.7% y-y.

※ No. of cases reported to the CISS with regard to ski resorts stood at 286 cases, 281, and 491 for the season of 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012, respectively.

The most common ski accident is slipping and falling on a slope (78.6%, 831 cases), followed by the collision of a skier or snowboarder with another skier or objects such as safety fence (15.4%, 163 cases). And, the most common ski accident injury was ‘fracture’ (39.9%, 422 cases).

Based on the findings, the Agency issued a consumer safety watch and called on skiers and snowboarders to be more cautious with their leisure activities and abiding by safety rules at a ski resort including a warm-up exercise, wearing protective gears such as helmets, and choosing a slope based on their skill level and abilities.