Report on ropeway accident at SkiStar Trysil, 6 January 2024
ROP report 2024/01
On Saturday 6 January 2024, at approximately 15:00, a six-year-old girl fell from the Knetta chairlift at the Trysilfjellet branch of SkiStar Norge AS, while she was taking the lift with her mother and sister (aged 10). The girl fell into the snow from a height of about 14 metres and suffered compression injuries to her back and a severe bruise on her chin. The incident occurred when a mother with two young children were taking the Knetta chairlift. The mother and the girl’s sister got into the chair, while the girl was left hanging by her elbows from the seat and was unable to get into the chair.
In the investigation, the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) has focused on young children’s use of chairlifts. The investigation has also looked at the interaction between lift operators and passengers, roles and responsibilities, and safety management.
As part of the NSIA’s safety investigation, the chairlift in question has been inspected and relevant personnel and witnesses have been interviewed. The average height and age of children has been assessed against their ability to use a chairlift and their need for assistance. The investigation has also focused on the company’s safety management system, risk assessments, instructions and applicable requirements and standards.
The NSIA is of the opinion that several factors contributed to the accident:
- The height of the chair in relation to the girl’s height when boarding meant that she needed assistance to get properly into the chair.
- The way the family was positioned when boarding, with the girl’s sister placed between the mother and the girl, made it difficult to assist the girl after the chair had left the boarding area.
- The lift operators did not notice that the child had not managed to board the chairlift properly and that the safety bar had not been lowered.
- The mother held onto the girl in the belief that she was approaching the top of the chairlift. Visitors to the ski resort are rarely informed of the necessity of immediately letting go of the chair if they are unable to board the lift properly.
- SkiStar Trysil had not identified the dangers associated with young children using chairlifts, and the issue had not been specifically addressed in the company’s instructions and procedures for lift operators.
This safety investigation has highlighted several risk factors associated with young children’s use of chairlifts. The NSIA therefore recommends that SkiStar Trysil include these conditions in its safety management system.
The difference between adults and children in a chairlift. Illustration: NSIA
The place where the girl fell down. Photo: NSIA
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation ROPEWAY no 2024/01T
On 6 January 2024, a young child fell from the Knetta chairlift at Trysil branch of SkiStar Norge AS. The child was accompanied by a parent and an older sibling. Upon boarding, the child did not manage to get properly into the seat and the parent attempted to hold onto the child. At some point, it became impossible to hold on any longer and the child fell from a height of about 14 metres. SkiStar Trysil has not sufficiently risk assessed the activity of transporting children under 140 cm on a chairlift.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that the Norwegian Railway Authority ensure that the Trysil branch of SkiStar Norge AS addresses the risks associated with transporting young children on chairlifts as part of its safety management system.
Facts
| Location | SkiStar Norge AS, avd. Trysilfjellet |
| Occurrence date | 06.01.2024 |
| Type of occurrence | Cable car accident |
| Cable car type | Chairlift |