OSHA Inspection: CLEAR CREEK SKIING CORPORATION

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,823 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(ii): The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy, including, but not limited to items of this section:   a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure energy control procedures for the Magic Carpet surface lifts in The Valley clearly and specifically outlined the scope, purpose, authorization, rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy.  Employees were required to perform daily, weekly, and as-needed maintenance activities on the Mini Magic Carpet surface lift, the Rainbow Carpet surface lift, and the Ski School Carpet surface lift when the lifts were in an energized state.  The employer's energy control procedures for surface lifts did not include a scope, the purpose, authorization information, procedural rules, and techniques to be utilized for the control of hazardous energy.  In addition to those deficiencies,  the procedural steps for energy control did not function to render the lifts inoperative by isolating them from the energy source, and did not include steps to test and verify the effectiveness of the energy control measures.   This condition exposed employees to an unexpected release of hazardous energy that could result in severe injury or death.   Abatement Note: The procedures shall include but are not limited to the following items: 1.  A specific statement of the intended use of the procedure: 2.  Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy;  3. Specific procedural steps for the placement, removal and transfer of lockout devices or tagout devices and the responsibility for them; and 4. Specific requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,823 · Current $10,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(6)(i)(A): The periodic inspection of the energy control procedure was not performed by an authorized employee other than the one utilizing the energy control procedure being inspected:   a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure periodic inspections of the energy control procedures pertaining to the Mini Magic Carpet surface lift, the Rainbow Carpet surface lift, and the Ski School Carpet surface lift were performed by an authorized employee other than the ones utilizing the energy control procedure being inspected.  Employees were required to perform daily, weekly, and as-needed maintenance activities on these surface lifts when the lifts were in an energized state.  Procedures utilized to control hazardous energy during maintenance activities on these surface lifts did not render the lifts inoperable, which deviated from written policies in the employer's Hazardous Energy Control Program.  These inadequacies were not identified nor corrected.  This condition exposed employees to an unexpected release of hazardous energy that could result in death from caught-in injuries.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $16,550 · Current $14,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.244(a)(2)(iii): Loads were not cribbed, blocked or otherwise secured immediately after being raised with a hydraulic piston jack:  a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure section(s) of the portable, Mini Magic Carpet surface lift were immediately secured after being lifted with hydraulic piston jacks. Employees were required to enter and work in an 8-degree sloped, snow and ice tunnel underneath the Mini Magic Carpet surface lift and used a hydraulic piston jack to lift and solely sustain the weight of one or more carpet sections while height-adjustment pins were removed and replaced. When the carpet was lifted, a means of securing the load was not utilized during this operation. This condition exposed employees to crushing and/or struck-by hazards from an overhead load.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.244(a)(1)(i): The operator did not ensure that the jack used had a rating sufficient to lift and sustain the load:  a)  On or about February 19, 2025 and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure hydraulic piston jacks were sufficiently rated to lift and sustain the weight of the portable, Mini Magic Carpet surface lift during height and slope adjustment operations.  Employees were required to work in an 8-degree sloped, snow and ice tunnel underneath the Mini Magic Carpet lift and use hydraulic piston jacks to lift and solely sustain the unknown total weight of one or more carpet sections while height-adjustment pins were removed and replaced in the carpet support legs.  This condition exposed employees to crushing and/or struck-by hazards from an overhead load.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.244(a)(2)(i): In the absence of a firm foundation, the base of the hydraulic piston jack was not blocked:     a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure the base of the hydraulic piston jack was sufficiently blocked for stability during height and slope adjustments of the portable, Mini Magic Carpet surface lift. Employees were required to work on an 8-degree sloped, snow and ice tunnel underneath the surface lift   and use hydraulic piston jacks to lift and solely sustain the weight of one or more carpet sections while height-adjustment pins were removed and replaced in the support legs. The hydraulic piston jacks were placed on lumber that was too narrow to support the base of the piston jacks.  The lumber was then placed on the sloped surface or on the surface lift's horizontal cross-member that was not rated as a blocking structure.    This operation exposed employees to crushing and/or struck-by hazards from an overhead load.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.244(a)(2)(vi)(b):    Each jack was not thoroughly inspected at times which depend upon the service conditions. For jacks sent out of shop for special work, inspections were less frequent than when sent out and when returned:  a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure hydraulic piston jacks were thoroughly inspected when sent out for special work, and when returned to the Maintenance Shop Facility located at The Basin Area. Employees were required to transport hydraulic piston jacks to The Valley Area for the purpose of lifting and solely sustaining the portable Mini Magic Carpet surface lift during height and slope adjustments. This operation required employees to enter and perform the adjustments on the 8-degree sloped, snow and ice tunnel underneath the lift's conveyor belt. This condition exposed employees to crushing and/or struck-by hazards from an overhead load.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $9,457 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Listed or labeled electrical equipment was not used or installed in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling:   a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure portable electrical equipment was used in accordance with instructions included in the listing or labeling. Employees were required to perform maintenance operations in the tunnel and lower vault areas underneath the portable, Mini Magic Carpet surface lift and in close proximity to an actively running 120V DuraHeat XTR8000 portable heater and associated flexible cord set installed in those areas. Use of the electric heater in wet locations was not in accordance with the product's Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) Listing. This condition exposed employees to shock hazards.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(4):   Portable electric equipment and flexible cords that was  used in highly conductive work locations (such as those inundated with water or other conductive locations) or in job locations where employees were likely to contact water or conductive liquids were not approved for those locations:  a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure  flexible cord sets used to power portable heaters  were approved for use in a highly conductive work location. In the Valley Area, employees were required to perform maintenance operations in spaces underneath the Boardwalk Surface Conveyor (Magic Carpet) Lifts where flexible cord sets were used in wet locations. This condition exposed employees to shock hazards.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.334(a)(2)(i): Portable cord and plug connected equipment and flexible cord sets (extension cords) were not visually inspected before use on any shift for external defects (such as loose parts, deformed and missing pins, or damage to outer jacket or insulation) and for evidence of possible internal damage (such as pinched or crushed outer jacket):   a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure portable electrical equipment and flexible cord sets were visually inspected for defects or damage before being used on any work shift. In the Valley Area, employees were required to perform maintenance operations in spaces underneath the Boardwalk Surface Conveyor (Magic Carpet) Lifts. These spaces also contained actively running 120V DuraHeat XTR8000 portable heaters and associated flexible cord sets in close proximity.  This condition exposed employees to shock hazards.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $165,514 · Current $130,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2150

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4):  When the employer decided that its employees would enter permit spaces, the employer did not develop and implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146:  a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, required employees to enter permit spaces to engage in maintenance operations on the portable, Mini Magic Carpet surface lift. Maintenance operations requiring permit entry included, but were not limited to the following: inspections, height and slope adjustments of one or more surface lift sections, conveyor belt re-alignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. The employer failed to implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146 for safe permit entry operations to protect employees.  On February 9, 2025, an employee was engaged in maintenance operations in the lower vault on the portable, Mini Magic Carpet surface lift. During these operations, the employee's arm was caught in and pulled between the moving conveyor belt and rollers. This incident resulted in the employee sustaining multiple bone fractures. This condition exposed employees to caught-in, crushing, electrical shock, engulfment, and entrapment hazards.    b) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, required employees to enter permit spaces to engage in maintenance operations on the Rainbow Magic Carpet surface lift. Maintenance operations requiring permit entry included, but were not limited to the following: inspections, conveyor belt re-alignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. The employer failed to implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146 for safe permit entry operations to protect employees from hazards while performing these operations. This condition exposed employees to caught-in and electrical shock hazards.  c)  On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, required employees to enter permit spaces to engage in maintenance operations on the Ski School Magic Carpet surface lift. Maintenance operations requiring permit entry included, but were not limited to the following: inspections, conveyor belt re-alignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. The employer failed to implement a written permit space entry program that complied with 29 CFR 1910.146 for safe permit entry operations to protect employees from hazards while performing these operations. This condition exposed employees to caught-in and electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3): Under the permit-required confined space program required by 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4), the employer did not develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operations, including but not limited to, the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(i) through 29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(v):   a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, required employees to enter permit spaces to engage in maintenance operations on the portable Mini Magic Carpet surface lift. Maintenance operations requiring permit entry included, but were not limited to the following: inspections, height and slope adjustments of one or more surface lift sections, conveyor belt re-alignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. The employer failed to implement procedures and practices necessary for safe permit entry operations to protect employees. On February 9, 2025, an employee was engaged in maintenance operations in the lower vault on the portable, Mini Magic Carpet surface lift. During these operations, the employee's arm was caught in and pulled between the moving conveyor belt and rollers. This incident resulted in the employee sustaining multiple bone fractures. This condition exposed employees to caught-in, crushing, electrical shock, engulfment, atmospheric, and entrapment hazards.    b) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, required employees to enter permit spaces to engage in maintenance operations on the Rainbow Magic Carpet surface lift. Maintenance operations requiring permit entry included, but were not limited to the following: inspections, conveyor belt re-alignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. The employer failed to implement procedures and practices necessary for safe permit entry operations to protect employees from hazards while performing these operations. This condition exposed employees to caught-in and electrical shock hazards.  c)  On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, required employees to enter permit spaces to engage in maintenance operations on the Ski School Magic Carpet surface lift. Maintenance operations requiring permit entry included, but were not limited to the following: inspections, conveyor belt re-alignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. The employer failed to implement means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit entry operations to protect employees from hazards while performing these operations. This condition exposed employees to caught-in and electrical shock hazards.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $165,514 · Current $130,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i):  Procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:   a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure that employees who were required to engage in maintenance activities on the portable, Mini Magic Carpet surface lift that included, but were not limited to the following activities: inspections, height and slope adjustments of one or more surface lift sections, conveyor belt realignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. The employer failed to utilize procedures to control the potential release of energy when employees were performing these activities.  On February 9, 2025, an employee was engaged in maintenance operations in the lower vault on the portable, Mini Magic Carpet surface lift. During these operations, an employee's arm was caught in and pulled between the moving conveyor belt and rollers. This incident resulted in the employee sustaining multiple bone fractures. This condition exposed employees to caught-in hazards and injuries that could result in death or serious injuries.  b) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure that employees who were required to engage in maintenance activities on the Rainbow Magic Carpet surface lift that included, among others, the following activities: inspections, conveyor belt realignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. The employer failed to utilize procedures to control the potential release of energy when employees were performing these activities. This condition exposed employees to caught-in hazards and injuries that could result in death or serious injuries.   c) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure that employees who were required to engage in maintenance activities on the Ski School Magic Carpet surface lift that included, among others, the following activities: Upper vault entry, conveyor belt realignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. The employer failed to utilize procedures to control the potential release of energy when employees were performing these activities. This condition exposed employees to caught-in hazards and injuries that could result in death or serious injuries.

Issued

Aug 5, 2025

Abate by

Sep 10, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):  a) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure that all the steps outlined in 29 CFR 1910.147(d), required for the control of the hazardous energy sources, were performed. Employees did not deenergize and lockout all hazardous energy sources on the portable Mini Magic Carpet surface lift that included but were not limited to the following activities: inspections, height and slope adjustments of one or more surface lift sections, conveyor belt realignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components.  While performing these tasks, the applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lock-out/tag-out device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910.147(d)(5)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)] were not implemented to protect employees from struck-by and caught-in-between hazards.  The employer failed to ensure the energy isolating device needed to control energy to the surface lift was physically located and operated in a manner that isolated the lift from the energy source.  On February 9, 2025, an employee was engaged in maintenance operations in the lower vault on the portable Mini Magic Carpet surface lift.  During these operations, the employee's arm was caught in and pulled between the moving conveyor belt and rollers. This incident resulted in the employee sustaining multiple bone fractures.  Performing maintenance work on this energized surface lift exposed employees to caught-in hazards that could result in death or severe injury.  b) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure that all the steps outlined in 29 CFR 1910.147(d), required for the control of the hazardous energy sources, were performed. Employees did not deenergize and lockout all hazardous energy sources on the Rainbow Magic Carpet surface lift that included but were not limited to the following activities: inspections, conveyor belt realignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. While performing this task, the applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lock-out/tag-out device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910.147(d)(5)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from struck-by and caught-in-between hazards.  The employer failed to ensure the energy isolating device needed to control energy to the surface lift was physically located and operated in a manner that isolated the lift from the energy source.  Performing maintenance work on this energized surface lift exposed employees to caught-in hazards that could result in death or severe injury.  c) On or about February 19, 2025, and at times prior, the employer, Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, did not ensure that all the steps outlined in 29 CFR 1910.147(d), required for the control of the hazardous energy sources, were performed. Employees did not deenergize and lockout all hazardous energy sources on the Ski School Magic Carpet surface lift that included but were not limited to the following activities: inspections, conveyor belt realignment, snow and ice removal, lubrication of bearings, as well as repair and replacement of lift components. While performing this task, the applicable energy control elements, involving machine isolation [1910.147(d)(3)], lock-out/tag-out device application [1910.147(d)(4)], dissipation of residual energy [1910.147(d)(5)], and verification of isolation [1910.147(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from struck-by and caught-in-between hazards.  The employer failed to ensure the energy isolating device needed to control energy to the surface lift was physically located and operated in a manner that isolated the lift from the energy source.  Performing maintenance work on this energized surface lift exposed employees to caught-in hazards that could result in death or severe injury.