A health and safety report has revealed a series of concerns at the Craigavon Golf and Ski Centre. One of the most serious revelations of the dossier was the use of tape to repair a frayed cable on a ski lift. The report on the council-run facility also found fire exits had been obstructed, items of electrical equipment not safely tested, flammable materials not stored properly and a golf centre tractor missing its wing mirrors.
The internal report was carried out following a visit from the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSE NI), which raised several issues.
The Golf and Ski Centre opened at Craigavon over 20 years ago and while it is the only remaining artificial ski slope in Northern Ireland, it is starting to show its age. In response to the report, a spokeswoman for Craigavon Borough Council commented, "Health and safety is a top priority for us and we take all of these responsibilities very seriously. This includes regular monitoring of all health and safety issues, fire precautions and the storage of flammable liquids and chemicals."
She added, "When management became aware through a regular routine inspection that there was a minor defect in the ski lift cable, advice was sought from our health and safety advisor and the lift was immediately removed from service until such time that it could be examined by a qualified engineer. The Centre remained operational and the ski slope was never closed at any time. We stress that at no time were members of the public or staff put at any risk."
