Lift Accident Devils Head, WI

[Glenn]

Glenn, she's got em. She's skinny to begin with, and she has super narrow feet, so they get cold despite the heater sometimes, esp. towards the end of the day when the charge starts to weaken. Also, I think she was mumbling something about not having them fully charged, which doesn't help. That part is up to her. You can only lead a horse to water...

Given the situation, I decided to keep my thoughts (and the contents of this thread) to myself

Sounds like she's built like my wife. Don't forget those hand warmers too. I buy those in bulk at Wal-Mart. I took charge (ha! Get it? Sorry...) of the batteries on her boots. She leaves them on(after skiing) to make sure there discharged...I charge em' up before we head out the next time. I make sure they get the full 6 hours. It's a bit easier now that I have a set for myself.

 

[bvibert]

From what I've read it sounds like the gear box failed, rendering the service brake useless. Apparently the drop dog was rusted and/or not installed properly. The was no mechanism to activate the emergency brake automatically, I guess the operator operated it too late.

I found this video:

 

[wa-loaf]

Damn didn't know it was at night. That makes it scarier somehow.

 

[bvibert]

Damn didn't know it was at night. That makes it scarier somehow.

I think it would be easier for me to jump off at night...

 

[bvibert]

Found this on TGR, which is apparently from the Wisconsin Dept of Commerce

Here is the full report from the Commerce Dept.:

Regarding the incident at Devil's Head Ski Resort on 12/17/09:

On, 12/18/09, I responded to Devil's Head Ski Resort to investigate an incident that occurred the evening of 12/17/09, which involved Chair Lift #3. I was advised that the lift had rolled backwards and had injured approximately 14 people. Upon my arrival I met with Joe Vittengl, General Manager. I asked Vittengl to gather all of the information he had about the lift, such as maintenance records, test records, names of people involved, including the operator and witnesses, the manual for the lift, and copies of prior inspection reports. I then proceeded to examine the area where the lift was located with Leroy Blacklock who is the Mountain Manager and Mark Konkel who is the Lead Mechanic. I observed three chairs had come off of the wire rope and debris was scattered around the loading area. I also observed one chair that had come off the rope near the first tower. I asked Blacklock and Konkel what had happened. They advised that they were unsure as they were not on site at the time of the incident. Blacklock provided me a ride to the top of the hill where I was able to observe the top wheel. I observed that it had anti-rollback devices on top of the wheel which appeared to be rusted. I asked Blacklock and Konkel if they believe these devices were placed properly and if they engaged at the time of the incident, and they advised that they were unsure.

After reviewing the area and the lift, I made contact with Vittengl again. At this time, I met up with Sauk Country Sheriff's Detective, Scott Dadam. Dadam proceeded to accompany me throughout the remainder of the investigation. Dadam and I reviewed the maintenance records and lift log for Lift #3. We observed that the lift log was filled out on a daily basis. On the day of the incident, we noted that the initial operator, who checked the lift off and tested the safety brakes on the lift, had not done a safety check or stop at the beginning of the shift. We also observed that on this particular day, the individual who checked off this log had failed to properly fill it out. There are 23 boxes to check off; we counted a total of 17 check marks. We observed similar mistakes with the lift log sheets on a couple previous days, but on all previous days, all operators had performed an initial safety check. On the lift log check off sheet, we observed an area that states, "E-Brake (tested by lift mechanic prior.)" I asked Konkel, the lead mechanic how often the Emergency Brakes are tested and he stated he usually checks them weekly. I asked Konkel where he documents his E-Brake tests, and he advised that he writes the information down in the Lift Maintenance Log. In examining the Lift Maintenance Log, I observed that on Dec. 9, 2009, Bill B., performed a brake test on Lift #3. I observed that prior to this; the last brake test documented was on Mar. 10, 2009.

After reviewing Devil's Head's maintenance records, lift log records, and test records, I addressed my concern with Vittengl about the way Devil's Head was maintaining their documentation. I requested from Vittengl copies of training records for employees, including operators. Vittengl was unable to provide documentation that employees had been properly trained on maintaining and operating the ski lifts. Vittengl did advise me that the operator, George Rettamel, who was running the lift at the time of the incident, was working with them for his second season. He stated that Rettamel was an experienced operator, and had gone through an initial training when he was hired during his first season. Vittengl provided me with a copy of a video that they require all operators to watch prior to operating a lift. Vittengl advised that he was sure that Rettamel had watched the video when he was hired, but was unable to provide any further documentation on training records.

Page 2

Dadam and I then reviewed copies of an inspection report that had been completed by Sam Geise, Geise Engineering, Inc., third party inspector, in November, 2009. We observed in his report for Wells Fargo Insurance that he had recommended Devil's Head install a device that would automatically active the E-Brake in the event of a "rollback." Dadam and I then met with Geise who explained to us, that he had recommended this as an extra precaution that the insurance company would be requiring them to install. Geise advised that he did not believe it was a requirement by code to have this particular device installed. Geise stated that his initial observation of the site, led him to believe that the three braking systems, the service brake, the anti-rollback devices, and the E-brake, on the lift had failed. He advised he would be doing a thorough inspection of the lift to determine what happened, and why the braking systems failed.

On 12/20/09, I received an email from Geise who was performing the investigation as to what malfunctioned with Lift #3. Geise states, "Yesterday we discovered the gear box had failed on lift 3 at Devils Head causing the roll back. The failure of the gear box removed the service brake from the system (one of two working brakes). Because the emergency brake can now not be tested we don't know its condition. You can see the service brake drum on the gear box of the lift that was removed today. I have completed reinspection of all the lifts and I look forward to meeting with you Monday." Geise attached pictures of the gear box.

On 12/21/09, I made follow-up contact with Sam Geise. I was accompanied by Dadam. Geise advised that he had finished his inspection Lift #3 to determine what the cause of the incident was on 12/17/09. Geise advised that he discovered that the gear had broken in three spots. Geise stated that once this gear broke, the service brake would no longer be effective. Geise stated that he inspected the anti-rollback devices, and found them to be rusted and corroded. Geise advised that the anti-rollback devices never engaged when the lift started to roll back. Geise also advised that the operator had pushed the E-Brake button, but had been slightly delayed as he had first attempted to use the service brake and was unsure if the operator at top had pushed the button. Geise stated that the Insurance Company Risk Manager took an official statement from the operator. Geise stated that he had re-inspected the other lifts while he was on site, and found that three additional lifts needed to replace anti-rollback devices. Geise also advised he was addressing the concern with documentation and maintenance records with Devil's Head Management. Geise also informed me that the maintenance staff will be looking at the gear boxes on the other lifts to determine if they have similar concerns.

On 12/21/09, I received the following email from Geise. Geise indicates him his email that the lifts that will need to have anti-rollback devices replaced are #00, #1, and #3. Geise also states in this email that he discovered that the anti-rollback devices were not properly installed. Geise advises that this was the cause of the anti-rollback device failure.

At this time, Devil's Head Resort's Lift #3 has been red tagged. This lift can not be used until it is re-inspected by a State Inspector. Devil's Head is currently working on repairing the lift and the damaged parts. Devil's Head has ordered new anti-rollback devices for the lifts that Geise identified as needing to be replaced. A full re-inspection and load test will be performed on Lift #3 prior to re-opening to the public.

April Hammond

Occupational Safety Inspector

Wisconsin Department of Commerce