Avalanches - a particular danger at the workplace
The armasuisse Science and Technology (S+T) employees carry out shooting and explosion testing throughout the year. Even in the depths of winter on remote shooting ranges in the mountains. The possibility of an avalanche being triggered can never be ruled out. To optimally prepare the employees for an emergency, internal trainings on avalanche victim search are carried out regularly.
Lucas Ballerstedt, Staff, competence sector Science and Technology
The Hinterrhein shooting range is also actively used in the winter. Snow depths of one metre in the valley and even greater snowfalls in the mountains are not uncommon. To optimally prepare the armasuisse employees for the alpine dangers, they are trained on a regular basis. This contributes to the safety of all those involved in shooting and explosion testing.
In the winter of 2023/2024, the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF registered 234 avalanches with injury to persons and damage to property. This is a substantial number, projected over the winter season. On the Hinterrhein shooting range, there is an increased avalanche risk in the winter depending on the weather conditions. The employees of armasuisse S+T have the necessary training to be able to safely access the shooting ranges, even in the event of increased danger of an avalanche. Thus shooting and explosion testing is also carried out regularly even in the winter. These usually take several weeks. The snowfall and the weather conditions can vary heavily, which has a direct impact on the danger of an avalanche. It is therefore no surprise that the detonation wave in shooting can trigger an avalanche. The employees of armasuisse S+T have already experienced avalanches on shooting ranges. Thanks to the safety precautions, there were no injuries to persons. Nevertheless, should this occur, prompt action and solid preparation are required.
The Avalanche Bulletin from the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF informs the public about the snow and avalanche situation in the Swiss Alps and in the Jura Mountains. The Bulletin classifies the danger from Level 1 (low) to Level 5 (very high).
Safety always comes first
Before the shooting tests in the winter, Christian Michel, project engineer in mobility testing in the Weapon Test Center, holds internal courses on avalanche victim search. Christian is at home in the mountains and has a wealth of alpine experience. The aim of the course is to optimally prepare the employees for an avalanche accident on the shooting ranges. Employees from RUAG and SBDS who are active in the support of shooting and explosion testing also take part in the training. Here, theory and practice are combined – from victim search, shovelling strategies, technical knowledge of detection devices to practical exercises in the terrain. The participants are equipped with an avalanche victim detector (AVD). This is part of the personal safety equipment that the employees always carry with them during shooting and explosion testing in the winter. The devices are both transmitters and receivers. The same device is thus used for transmission and for search. When switched on, it transmits a localisation signal. As a receiver, it is possible to locate a buried person with a switched on AVD device in order to rescue them without any delay if possible. Because even after 15 minutes, the chances of survival of a buried person are only around 50%. The rapid localisation and rescue of a buried person are therefore of crucial importance. The most important principle, however, is always: never put yourself in danger! The search device includes an avalanche shovel and an avalanche probe to complete the minimum set of equipment. With shooting and explosion testing, this equipment is always close at hand. Using the probe, a buried person is searched for in a grid pattern at a distance of approximately 25 cm after pinpoint location. If someone is found, the most strenuous and time-consuming part of the rescue starts – shovelling. When shovelling, it is important not to shovel directly over the buried person but horizontally downwards. This helps to secure any existing air cavities and the possibility of the buried person being able to breathe freely. If a person is located one meter under the snow, around 600 kilogrammes of snow need to be shovelled away. Depending on the physical condition and number of rescuers, this can take up to 10 minutes or longer.
Trust is good, checking is better
Every day before the employees go into the field or after breaks, a group check is carried out. The devices are checked for proper functioning. If an emergency occurs with an avalanche, all devices need to work with each other in order to find the buried person as quickly as possible, because in these cases it is a race against time. In the event of an avalanche accident, a clear allocation of roles is required and one person who coordinates the search and rescue. The shooting manager or a defined person usually takes on this role.
Thanks to safety precautions, clear procedures and good preparation, the employees of armasuisse S+T are best prepared for potential winter operations. However, regular practice when dealing with the avalanche safety equipment and trust amongst each other are crucial. Comprehensive risk analyses in cooperation with the local shooting range manager has prevented an avalanche burial of armasuisse employees to date. However, the employees are well prepared for an emergency with armasuisse’s internal safety precautions.
