Mountain Creek wins Intrawest corporate risk management awar

Vernon-During the annual Intrawest Risk Management Conference, held July 7 at Mont Tremblant, Canada, Mountain Creek resort was named the recipient of the Risk Management Achievement Award for the 2003-2004 season. The award recognized Mountain Creek's efforts to promote safety and improved working conditions. The resort lowered the frequency and average cost of lost-time worker's compensation injuries. Mountain Creek officials said that they instituted a very aggressive policy regarding a safe workplace and tied overall resort performance directly to safety. The issue remained a senior level priority throughout the year, results were tracked, and employees held accountable. Numerous programs were put into place in order to improve safety at the resort, officials said, including a mandate that every employee have the right to stop any job, machine or work if it is deemed unsafe. Additionally, the first hour of orientation training for 1,100 employees last season was dedicated to safety. Mountain Creek's Snow Sports School brought in physical therapists to train instructors on proper warm-up techniques, resulting in significantly lower injuries. Michael Renfrew, Mountain Creek's Risk and Human Resources Manager was named Risk Manager of the Year by Intrawest, the resort's parent company. Renfrew, a Vernon resident, is also a member of the Vernon Volunteer Fire Department, and a volunteer for Ski Patrol, Special Olympics and the American Rescue Dog Association. On accepting both awards on behalf of Mountain Creek, Renfrew said, "In an organization the size of Intrawest, it is an honor and a privilege to receive this type of recognition."