Worker Dies After Maintenance Basket Falls From Chairlift at Mt. Hood Skibowl
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Fatal Accident During Maintenance Operations at Oregon Ski Area
A worker died and another was seriously injured on 30 April when a maintenance basket fell from a chairlift at Mt. Hood Skibowl East in Oregon. The incident occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. during what appears to have been routine maintenance work on the upper bowl chairlift.
The Incident
Two employees were working in a maintenance basket attached to the chairlift when it fell into steep terrain below. Emergency services received reports that one worker was unconscious at the scene, with a third person - presumably another resort employee - beginning CPR before medics arrived.
Multiple agencies responded, including Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Hoodland Fire, Clackamas Fire, American Medical Response, search and rescue volunteers, and U.S. Forest Service law enforcement. A command post was established at the base area.
Medics reached the workers shortly after 10:00 a.m. One was conscious and breathing; the other had no pulse. Despite resuscitation efforts, one worker was pronounced dead at the scene. The injured worker was transported by helicopter to hospital for treatment.
Investigation Underway
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been notified and is investigating the incident as a workplace death. The Clackamas County Medical Examiner's Office also responded to the scene.
No details have been released about what caused the maintenance basket to fall from the chairlift, nor has the resort issued any statement about the incident. The identity of the deceased worker has not been made public pending family notification.
Maintenance Work Carries Inherent Risk
Chairlift maintenance is essential work that happens year-round at ski areas, often involving workers being suspended at height in baskets or on platforms to access components. This incident is a reminder that what happens behind the scenes at ski resorts can be genuinely dangerous work.
The investigation will likely focus on what caused the basket to detach or fall - whether it was equipment failure, procedural issues, or other factors. OSHA workplace death investigations typically take months to complete, and findings may eventually lead to citations if safety violations are identified.
Mt. Hood Skibowl operates two separate base areas - East and West - on the south side of Mt. Hood. The upper bowl chairlift where this incident occurred serves advanced terrain at the East area. The resort had presumably closed for the season when this happened, which is typical timing for maintenance work on lift infrastructure.