Case Study: Fernie Snowmobile Association protects lone volunteers in the backcountry with Blackline Safety

Fernie Snowmobile Association protects volunteers 25km from help with Blackline Safety

The Fernie Snowmobile Association (FSA) faced a critical safety challenge protecting its volunteers, who worked alone as snowcat operators in remote backcountry areas far beyond cell service. These lone workers were vulnerable, with no way to call for help in an emergency, such as a vehicle breakdown in freezing conditions. To address this, the FSA partnered with vendor Blackline Safety and implemented their G7x Lone Worker Monitor devices.

The solution from Blackline Safety utilized satellite connectivity via a portable G7 Bridge to keep volunteers linked to their in-house Safety Operations Center (SOC). This proved vital when an operator broke down and used his G7x device to send an SOS. The Blackline Safety SOC agent immediately contacted the FSA's emergency team, provided the operator's precise GPS location, and relayed messages throughout the rescue. This enabled a mechanic to be dispatched directly to the scene via snowmobile, resulting in a rapid repair and the safe return of the operator, demonstrating the measurable impact of reliable emergency communication.

Fernie Snowmobile Association