On January 3, 2023, UOSH Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO), Laurie O’Connor, was assigned to investigate a chairlift accident that took the life of Park City Mountain ski patroller Christian Helger. The investigation, now released, has found that serious safety violations led to the untimely death of a dedicated ski patroller.
In the tragic incident, an employee, Helger, was thrown from a ski lift when it de-roped. Despite efforts to rescue him, Helger tragically passed away due to asphyxiation after falling approximately 50 feet and landing head-first in deep snow. Other riders were evacuated, and it remains uncertain whether Helger had followed the required lap bar policy.
“Based on documents and photos received from all sources, the heavy snow received on January 1, and overnight into January 2, and the fact that two trees had to be removed from the Shortcut Lift line on January 1, 2023, VR-CPC Holdings (Vail Park City Resort management) should have been aware of the hazard of possible falling trees around the Shortcut Lift,” wrote the state.
According to the findings by the state, Park City and Vail Resorts should have been aware of the potential risks associated with falling trees. A day prior to the accident, two trees had already been removed from the same lift line due to their hazardous condition. This prior removal should have served as a warning sign, urging the resort to take further precautions and evaluate the safety of the surrounding trees.
Additionally, the state investigation discovered that lift operators lacked sufficient training and knowledge to assess trees for potential hazards along lift lines during morning line rides. This critical oversight meant that the resort was ill-equipped to identify and address the risks posed by trees that could potentially endanger employees and guests.
Park City Mountain and Vail Resorts have not yet responded publicly to the UOSH violation. However, it is expected that they will take these findings seriously and address the shortcomings in their safety protocols. Enhancing training programs for lift operators and establishing effective procedures to identify and address tree hazards will be crucial steps towards preventing similar incidents in the future.
