How often these injuries happen
OSHA recorded 28 severe cases involving winter sports equipment over the recent reporting period. Fractures are the most common nature of injury, often requiring extensive medical intervention and time away from work.
These incidents frequently impact the lower legs, which account for 25% of all reported body part injuries.
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Free Benefits ReviewCommon injuries
Injuries in this category typically stem from direct contact with skis, snowboards, and related gear during active instruction or mountain maintenance. Common scenarios include catching an edge on uneven terrain, collisions with students, or falls during routine slope sweeps.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fractures | 16 |
| 2 | Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries | 5 |
| 3 | Injuries to the brain, spinal cord and other injuries | 2 |
| 4 | Injuries to internal organs and major blood vessels | 2 |
| 5 | Intracranial Injuries | 2 |
| 6 | Bruises, contusions | 1 |
Where injuries happen most
Arts and entertainment industries account for 82% of these severe incidents. This concentration reflects the risks you face as a ski instructor or patrol staff member navigating mountain conditions.
Real cases like yours
Common patterns in these reports involve you falling due to surface inconsistencies or being struck by students during instruction. These incidents often result in significant fractures to the lower extremities or head injuries. If any of these scenarios sound like what happened to you, an attorney can help you evaluate your claim and ensure your employer meets their safety obligations.
| Year | State | Industry | Incident summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | CO | Arts & Entertainment | "An employee was going snowboarding down a slope when his snowboard caught and he fell to the ground. The employee sustained a fractured right ankle." | |
| 2025 | NJ | Arts & Entertainment | "A ski instructor was teaching skiing/snowboarding when a student on a snowboard crashed into them. The employee was hospitalized with broken bones that required surgery." | |
| 2025 | NY | Arts & Entertainment | "A ski patrol employee was conducting a "sweep" to ensure all guests were safely off the hill for the night before closing. While approaching the bottom of the mountain, the employee's right ski got caught in an inconsistency in the snow, causing them to fall forward onto their right shoulder. The employee sustained non-displaced fractures in the posterior rib cage, a fractured right scapula, and a fractured right clavicle." | |
| 2025 | ID | Accommodation & Food Services | "A mountain guest services employee was escorting an injured customer to safety on a ski run. The employee was following slowly behind patrollers and a toboggan when he caught an edge and fell on the snow. The employee struck his face and head when he fell. He was hospitalized with a head contusion and a strain." | |
| 2025 | MA | Arts & Entertainment | "On 2/23/2025, a ski instructor was teaching a student when he fell on the snow/ice and struck his head. The employee was hospitalized with a concussion." | |
| 2025 | CO | Arts & Entertainment | "Two employees were raising tower pads on lift towers following a recent snowfall. They were making their way down between towers when the injured employee became unbalanced on a mogul and struck a tree on the edge of the trail with their left shoulder and chest. The employee was hospitalized with a broken clavicle and a pneumothorax." | |
| 2025 | PA | Arts & Entertainment | "An employee was walking in the "runout" area between snow tubing lanes and was adjusting deceleration mats used to slow down the guests. A guest riding a snow tube struck the employee, knocking the employee to the ground. The employee sustained a concussion and a fractured clavicle." | |
| 2025 | PA | Arts & Entertainment | "An employee was skiing in a closed terrain park and went off a jump. Upon landing, the employee struck the ground and sustained internal injuries that required hospitalization and surgery." | |
| 2025 | WV | Arts & Entertainment | "An employee was skiing downhill checking the trails after a competition when their foot caught the edge of a ski and they fell. The employee sustained multiple rib fractures and a pulmonary contusion. " | |
| 2025 | CO | Arts & Entertainment | "An adaptive skiing instructor and a tethered student were skiing down a trail. The student lost control and gained momentum. While the instructor tried to regain control of the student, the two collided. The instructor suffered a fracture to the right tibial plateau." |
Source: OSHA Severe Injury Reports. Narratives are verbatim from filings; identifying details may have been redacted by OSHA.