Finnish safety authority finds no evidence of negligence in fatal ski slope accident

The Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) has found no indication of safety failures in the ski slope accident at Himos ski resort in Jämsä that resulted in the death of a middle-aged Estonian man in mid-March, reports Yle.

A man in his 50s from Estonia died after colliding with a rock on a transitional section of the slope. The accident occurred around March 13.

Under Finnish law, service providers must report serious accidents to Tukes. Jaakko Laitinen, a senior specialist at the agency, confirmed that officials reviewed the resort’s accident report and discussed the case with the service provider.

“Based on the available information, there is no reason to suspect that the ski resort neglected the safety of its services,” Laitinen said.

The agency did not conduct an on-site investigation, as such measures are evaluated case by case. “In this instance, there was no need to visit the location,” Laitinen added.

Tukes carried out a safety management inspection at Himos in 2024, which included an assessment of the slope areas. No regulatory issues were identified at the time.

While no safety deficiencies are currently suspected, the agency’s review of the accident remains ongoing. The exact cause of the incident is still partially unclear, and Tukes has requested additional information from police regarding their findings.

“The case is still under consideration. More details may yet emerge,” Laitinen noted.

Fatal skiing accidents are rare in Finland, according to Laitinen, who described the incident as “a very unfortunate and sad event.” He added that safety standards at Finnish ski resorts are generally high.