Ski lifts accidents
Monday December 28, 2009 - Email this article to a friend

On December 17^th a braking system failed on a lift at the Devil's head resort in Wisconsin and it suddenly started running backwards.

Dozens of people simply jumped from the lift to stop hitting a wall.  Some had to leap 7m to the ground.

It took 2 hours to get everyone off the lift.  One person had a broken ankle and 7 people were taken to hospital. The others were treated at the scene.

An initial investigation has been carried out and found that the gearbox failed and 2 subsequent safety systems that were supposed to ensure such things didn't happen.

Other lifts at Devils Head were checkedThe gearbox acts as the main brake, but even if this fails other systems should have stopped the lift.

Meanwhile, a 4-year old girl was taken to hospital in Utah after falling from a lift in Alta. She fell 10m but fortunately into soft snow as opposed to the piste or rocks.

The ski patrol had to give her first aid at the scene including CPR after she reportedly stopped breathing.

She has now recovered and has since been released from hospital.

In France some resorts in The Trois Vallees ski area have introduced special magnets on the back of seats on ski lifts to ensure the safety of children.  See this PlanetSKI story on them.

The system is being expanded this season to other lifts in the area.

Mechanical failure in ski lifts is though very rare and there are strict health and safety rules across ski resorts world wide to ensure their safety.

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