Smarter Workers’ Comp Management for Ski Resorts

How Digital Claims Reporting Improves Safety, Compliance, and Costs — and Why the SmartMountain Platform is Leading the Way

In the ski industry, where operations are fast, terrain is unpredictable, and seasonal staffing is the norm, workplace injuries are an unfortunate reality. For risk managers, this means navigating a maze of incident reports, claims documentation, OSHA compliance, and insurance coordination — often with limited administrative support.

Yet despite the high stakes, many ski resorts still rely on paper forms and manual reporting to manage workers' compensation claims. These outdated processes cause delays, incomplete data, lost paperwork, and missed compliance deadlines — all of which increase both risk exposure and insurance premiums.

Digital Reporting Changes the Game

A digital-first approach to incident reporting and claims management helps ski resorts take control of the process from day one — improving speed, accuracy, and oversight. Instead of chasing paperwork and playing phone tag, resort teams can manage incidents in real time, from the moment an injury occurs.

Key Benefits:

·         Faster, More Reliable Reporting:
 Staff can submit a First Report of Injury directly from their phone or tablet, even from remote areas of the mountain. No paper, no guesswork, and no waiting.

·         Increased Reporting Compliance:
 Easier reporting leads to higher reporting rates — giving risk managers better visibility into incidents and trends that might otherwise go unnoticed.

·         Immediate Manager Notifications:
 As soon as a report is filed, the system automatically alerts the appropriate supervisor or risk manager, prompting faster follow-up and medical triage.

·         Centralized Documentation:
 The system organizes all claims-related data — including incident reports, medical notes, and correspondence — in one secure dashboard.

·         Automated OSHA Tracking:
 It flags incidents as OSHA recordable or reportable and updates your OSHA 300 log while also calculating DART rates — saving hours of manual tracking and reporting time.

Reduced EMR and Lower Workers’ Comp Premiums

All of these improvements lead to fewer errors, faster claim resolution, and better outcomes for injured employees. Just as important, they contribute directly to a lower Experience Modification Rate (EMR) — the key metric insurers use to assess risk and set workers’ comp premiums.

By reducing claim frequency and severity, staying ahead of regulatory requirements, and improving return-to-work processes, resorts that implement digital claims systems often see a measurable reduction in their annual premiums. That’s real ROI, with cost savings that compound year over year.

Built by the Industry, for the Industry

This isn’t a generic software platform — it’s a system built by someone who understands ski resorts from the inside out.

The Smart Mountain Work Comp Claim Management Module was developed by Matt Thomas, a 28-year veteran of the ski resort industry who has held operations and safety roles at multiple U.S. resorts. Since 2013, Matt has overseen workers’ compensation programs at the resort level, gaining firsthand experience with the inefficiencies of paper-based systems.

At every resort where Matt helped implement digital-first reporting tools, the outcome was consistently the same: improved incident tracking, faster claims resolution, enhanced safety culture, and ultimately, lower premiums. That real-world success is now embedded into the SmartMountain platform, built by someone who understands the terrain, the workflow, and the regulatory landscape unique to the ski industry.

SmartMountain: Your Resort’s Digital Safety Hub

The new Work Comp Claim Management Module is part of Earth Analytics’ SmartMountain platform, a growing suite of digital tools designed specifically for ski area operations.

How it Works:

·         Employees submit digital First Reports of Injury via mobile or desktop.

·         Managers receive automatic email alerts to review the incident immediately.

·         Communication with the injured employee begins right away — no delays.

·         As the claim progresses, the system:

o   Tracks documentation and medical notes,

o   Flags OSHA-reportable cases,

o   Calculates DART,

o   Automatically updates your OSHA 300 log.

This level of integration and automation reduces administrative overhead, improves accuracy, and ensures that nothing falls through the cracks — even during the busiest times of the season.

Ready to Modernize Your Claims Process?

If your resort is still using paper forms or relying on email chains to manage injuries and claims, now is the time to evolve. Digital-first claims management isn’t just a convenience — it’s a proven way to protect your staff, control your costs, and stay compliant in a highly regulated space.

With the Smart Mountain platform, you’re not just adopting technology — you’re partnering with people who’ve lived your challenges and built real solutions.

Contact Steep Management today to learn more about the SmartMountain Work Comp Module and schedule a personalized demo.