OSHA cites, fines outfitter in kayaker death last summer
Posted On January 16, 2018
OSHA listed eight safety violations and fines totaling $38,672 against OARS in the accidental death of Timothy Hayden Ryan Conant, 23, of Salt Lake City on June 14, 2017.
OSHA said the company should have had a more senior guide on the water. With 45 days experience, Conant was the longest tenured employee on the excursion. OSHA also said the guides were insufficiently trained and clothed.
OSHA’s Fatal Alert bulletin:
On June 14, 2017, three kayak guides were leading a party of nine clients on Yellowstone Lake. The guide service supplied all gear and Kayaks to the clients. The guided trip was to the West Thumb geyser basin and then back to the Grants Village Marina.
On the return trip from the West Thumb geyser basin a client’s kayak capsized. The three guides got the client back into his kayak and were struggling to get him back to the shoreline. At this point, guide one’s kayak capsized. Guide two took the client to shore while guide three attempted to help guide one into his boat. Two clients of the party came and helped get guide two and the client to shore.
Client two then went to help guide one and guide three. After client three was sure guide two and client one were okay, client three took guide two’s kayak out to help with guide one and three. With the two clients help guide one was pulled out of the water.
The party was rescued by the National park service water Rangers and transported to the marina where guide one was pronounced dead as a result of exposure and hypothermia.
Significant factors
- The three guides on the water the day of the incident were all first year guides with the longest tenured guide being the deceased at 45 days.
- The guides were not trained in self or buddy rescue techniques for kayaks.
- The guides were using everyday clothing for extremity protection.
- The guides were not familiar with the company’s emergency response procedures.
- The employer should evaluate the rescue training provided to its guides, as well as the training used to familiarize new guides with their duties within the company’s emergency response plan.
- The employer should reevaluate their PPE policy specific to Yellowstone Lake.
JACKSON HOLE, WYO – A kayaker has died in Yellowstone National Park.
Guide Timothy Hayden Ryan Conant, 23, from Salt Lake City died while attempting to rescue a client who capsized on Wednesday, June 14. The incident occurred in the West Thumb area of Yellowstone Lake.
The kayaking group consisted of nine clients and three guides. After receiving a call through the park’s dispatch center, rangers responded to the scene in a patrol boat and found the victim in the water. They brought him on board and immediately started CPR while in route back to the dock. CPR continued as Conant was transported to the helipad at Grant Village via ambulance (approximately a half-mile from the dock). A Life Flight landed to assist, but Conant was pronounced dead before taking off.
The client who Conant attempted to save was rescued by other guides in the group and brought to shore before rangers arrived. The client was transported to the park clinic and treated for hypothermia. The incident is still under investigation.
“Our hearts are with the Conant family after this terrible loss,” said superintendent Dan Wenk.
Conant worked as a guide for Oars, a company based out of Angel Camp, California. Oars has offered non-motorized boat tours in Yellowstone under a permit since 1996. This was Conant’s first season working for Oars as a guide.
Since 1894, there have been 41 deaths in Yellowstone Lake. The most recent was in 1997 when two people died while canoeing. With a surface area of 132 square miles, Yellowstone Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in the United States that is above 7,000 feet. It is roughly 20 miles long and 14 miles wide with 141 miles of shoreline. The average year-round temperature of the lake is 43F. Survival time is estimated to be only 20 to 30 minutes in water of this temperature.
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Timothy Hayden Ryan Conant, age 23, summer kayak guide of Wyoming, passed away on June 14, 2017.
Tim was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 26, 1993 to Steven B. Conant and Molly C. Ryan. Tim lived in SLC as a youth and again since 2012, graduating from the University of Utah with degrees in History and Anthropology in Spring 2017. Tim attended grade school and high school in Anchorage, Alaska graduating from South High in 2012.
Tim lived and breathed skiing with his closest friends! You could always find him talking about a recent trip or planning his next one. Tim loved adventures in the outdoors and especially liked clean mountain air.
Tim worked as a ski instructor for several years throughout school and was looking forward to working with ski patrol and doing more backcountry skiing with special friend Glenn Vitucci of Tetonia.
Tim had a love and adventure for life that touched everyone he met. He taught others through example, of the selfless life, ultimately giving his to save another. His life and friendship he shared has spread a ripple of love throughout the community of his family and friends that leaves us saddened at his departure and happy that he awaits us in a place of love where all tears will be wiped away.
Tim was preceded in death by his sister, Hailey Ryan Conant, and his Grandparents Kathryn and James Ryan.
He is survived by his parents Molly and Kyle James and Steven Conant, Grandparents Elsie and Roger Conant, Uncle Doug (Leigh) Conant, Uncle Hayden (Melissa) Conant, Uncle Jay (Lisa) Conant, Uncle B. Tim Ryan, and Aunt Susan (Jack) McCabe, Aunt Sheila (Duane) Kerber. He also leaves behind his cousins: Ben, Tyler, and Sarah Conant, Miles Conant, Lindsay and Dylan Conant, Kathryn Manoly and John Ryan, Margaret Kerber and Krista (David) Chaich.