Blackbird Mountain Guides fined $151,000 after deadly Tahoe avalanche

Blackbird Mountain Guides Cal/OSHA fines Castle Peak avalanche backcountry skiing workplace safety violations

Blackbird Mountain Guides has been fined $151,300 by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) following a deadly avalanche in February. The incident near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada resulted in the deaths of nine people, including six clients and three guides, making it one of the deadliest modern avalanches in California.

Cal/OSHA cited the company for seven violations. The most significant penalty, $81,000, was issued for failing to correct an imminent hazard by traveling in avalanche terrain despite high danger ratings. Other violations included failures to provide effective employee training, inadequate hazard assessment, failure to maintain an injury and illness prevention program, and failure to report employee fatalities within the required timeframe.

Blackbird Mountain Guides has filed a formal appeal, stating the company operated in full compliance with regulatory requirements and that the citations do not reflect the reality of their safety programs.

Separate investigations are ongoing. Cal/OSHA’s Bureau of Investigations is reviewing the deaths for potential criminal charges, and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department has forwarded its criminal investigation findings to the district attorney’s office for review.

Entities

Blackbird Mountain Guides · Cal/OSHA · Castle Peak · Nevada County Sheriff’s Office · Sierra Nevada

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The company failed to report three employee fatalities within the required timeframe. offthepress.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The February 17 avalanche near Castle Peak killed nine people, including six clients and three guides. offthepress.com · sfist.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk
[● 3 SOURCES] Blackbird Mountain Guides has filed a formal appeal against the fines. sfist.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk
[● 4 SOURCES] Cal/OSHA issued $151,300 in fines against Blackbird Mountain Guides. offthepress.com · sfist.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk
[● 2 SOURCES] An investigation by Cal/OSHA’s Bureau of Investigations into possible criminal charges is ongoing. wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk
[● 4 SOURCES] The company failed to correct an imminent hazard by traveling in avalanche terrain when danger was rated high. offthepress.com · sfist.com · wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk
[● 2 SOURCES] The company failed to provide effective employee training. offthepress.com · sfist.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The Nevada County Sheriff’s Department forwarded its criminal investigation results to the district attorney’s office. wtop.com · www.independent.co.uk