Why are ASTM and ANSI Standards Foundational to Forensic Analysis and Litigation?

What are the foundational standards for ski area operations? This article explains how two national standards establish the baseline for unbiased expert reports and testimony.

Standards Organizations

The two main standards organizations for snowsports are ASTM International and ANSI. ASTM International was formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, and ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute. Both organizations play a major role in giving ski areas in the United States the information and guidance to provide a safe environment for their patrons.  

ASTM International was founded in 1898 to address railroad steel and its specifications. ASTM has expanded its focus to develop and publish voluntary consensus standards for a wide range of industries including snowsports. The organization is now recognized globally, with volunteer members from various sectors contributing to the standard development process. Committee F27 for Snow and Water Sports is currently in charge of 22 adopted standards, 18 of which apply to snowsports.

ANSI was founded in 1918 to oversee the development of voluntary consensus standards for products, services, processes, and systems in the United States. ANSI’s charter emphasizes the importance of standardization as a means to enhance quality, safety, and efficiency in various industries. ANSI has a network of industry specific Accredited Standards Developers (ASD) to originate and maintain standards. The ASD for ski lifts is the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), and the standard is B77.1 American National Standard for Passenger Ropeways – Aerial Tramways, Aerial Lifts, Surface Lifts, Tows and Conveyors – Safety Requirements.

For the most part, the ASTM and ANSI standards address the equipment that is used by snowsports enthusiasts to help keep them safe while they are participating in a sometimes dangerous, and nearly always fun and exhilarating sport. This equipment includes, but is not limited to skis and snowboards, rental equipment, terrain park features, surface lifts, chairlifts, aerial tramways, and signage.

Standards for personal responsibility and safety while skiing, including ski lessons, race training, and races, are set forth by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA), the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI), and the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA). These standards will be discussed in a subsequent article.       

Standards Compliance and Forensic Analysis

In the realm of snowsports forensic analysis, ASTM F27 and ANSI B77.1 Standards provide essential guidelines and criteria for evaluating equipment, rental operations, dedicated terrain parks, and lift systems. Knowing and understanding these standards is essential for expert witnesses who are tasked with a forensic investigation to determine whether a product or practice met the established safety benchmarks. A highly effective forensic assessment conducted by an expert witness includes evaluation of a ski area’s systems and processes that were in place at the time of an incident, and how the systems and processes complied with the guidelines set forth in the ASTM and ANSI standards.

Comprehensive Safety Standards in Snowsports

Adopted ASTM Standards Administered by the F27 Committee

The following is a list of the currently adopted standards that apply to snowsports under the direction of the F27 Committee.

The overarching purpose of the ASTM standards above is to increase the safety and improve the skiing and snowboarding experience at ski areas. For an expert witness, knowing each area of a ski area’s operations that fall under the standards above is foundational to determining facts, making observations, reaching conclusions, and drawing an unbiased expert opinion regarding a ski or snowboarding accident.

ANSI B77.1 – American National Standard for Passenger Ropeways – Aerial Tramways, Aerial Lifts, Surface Lifts, Tows and Conveyors – Safety Requirements

General Requirements for Lift Systems and Operational Standards

ANSI B77.1 establishes a standard for the design, manufacture, construction, operation, and maintenance of passenger ropeways, including aerial tramways, chair lifts, surface lifts, and conveyors. According to B77.1, the purpose of the standard is to develop  a system of principles, specifications, and performance criteria that meet the following objectives.

• Reflect the current state-of-the art in passenger ropeway design, operation, and maintenance.
• Be acceptable for adoption by government agencies and others.

Forensic Analysis Cases Associated with Lift Operations

In incidents involving malfunctions, ANSI B77.1 provides an expert witness with specific criteria to assess compliance with standards for the design, manufacture, construction, and operation and maintenance for the following lift types.

• Aerial Tramways
• Fixed Grip Aerial Lifts
• Surface Lifts
• Tows
• Conveyors

Furthermore, Annexes A through J provide essential information to an expert witness regarding lift operations and potential hazards associated with wire rope testing and maintenance requirements, loading conveyors, signage to warn and inform passengers of the hazards of using the lift, lift controls, and other lift materials.

ANSI B77.1 Foundations in Litigation Support

Expert Analysis of Skiing and Snowboarding Accidents

The ASTM and B77.1 standards outlined above are foundational in forensic analysis, expert reports, and expert witness testimony in litigation. By establishing objective benchmarks for equipment performance, terrain feature geometry, and lift operations, these standards provide a framework for assessing the standard of care of each of the parties, breach of that standard, cause of the accident, the harm to the parties, and who is responsible for such harm. 

Expert witnesses leverage these standards to assess complicated issues associated with the safety standards associated with ski equipment, ski area operations, ski lift design operation and maintenance, and signage. Most importantly, the ASTM and B77.1 standards, along with guidelines from other ski industry organizations, provide the basis for an expert witness to reach unbiased fact-based opinions regarding the behaviors of reasonably prudent persons operating or patronizing ski areas.