DENVER—Federal officials have proposed $17,000 in fines for the Wolf Creek Ski Area following an investigation into the death of the resort’s ski patrol director.
Scott Kay died in an avalanche while doing avalanche mitigation work Nov. 22.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration claims Wolf Creek didn’t have specific training or protocols for avalanche control. It also says state law required Kay to work with another employee when using explosives to mitigate avalanches.
OSHA says Kay was alone and not wearing a helmet when he set off an explosive, then skied across the face of the slope instead of across the top of it.
The Denver Post reports OSHA also proposed a fine because metal stairways in the ski area’s summit house didn’t have handrails. Ski area owners didn’t return a call after business hours Thursday.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
