Section 6000.290  Ski Lifts, Aerial Tramways, and Rope Tows

            a)         New Construction and Alteration

1)         All new construction must be registered with the Department before installation is commenced.  This registration shall provide the name and mailing address of the owner or agent, the location of the installation, the design and location information cited in the section of the ANSI B77.1 that is applicable to the type of installation being registered.

2)         The movement of an existing installation to a new location shall be considered new construction.

3)         A newly constructed aerial tramway shall be subjected to an acceptance test and inspection as defined in the ANSI B77.1 for the installation being inspected before the installation is used by the public.  These tests shall be witnessed by the Department.

4)         Engineering and architectural work shall be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed professional engineer.

b)         Inspection, Operation, Maintenance and Repair

1)         After accidental activation of a safety stop or gate, the attendant shall make an inspection to determine the cause.  No safety stop or gate may be installed which will allow automatic restart.  The attendant shall physically restart the tramway.

2)         Debris and foreign material shall not be allowed on, in, under, or around a passenger tramway.  Spillage or leakage of grease, gasoline, oil, or other petroleum products shall be immediately cleaned up and, if due to mechanical fault, the fault shall be corrected.

3)         Each snow-grooming and other authorized vehicles, except a snowmobile, shall conspicuously display a flashing or rotating yellow light when the vehicle is on, or in the vicinity of, a passenger tramway or tow.  A snowmobile shall be permitted in the vicinity of a passenger tramway or tow only in emergency situations and must have a least one operating white light or flashing beacon on the front of the snowmobile.

4)         No attendant or assistant may act as ticket seller or receive money while the aerial tramway is in operation.

c)         Any aerial tramway malfunction that results in evacuation of passengers shall be considered a major breakdown.  The Department shall be notified within 24 hours after the occurrence by telephone or other means of immediate communication.  The owner or manager shall confirm in writing to the Director all such incidents within 48 hours after the occurrence of the incident.

d)         Any serious injury or fatality resulting from the operation of an aerial tramway or tow shall be handled as required by Section 6000.160.

(Source:  Amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 763, effective December 29, 2009)