Disneyland
Forced to Close 3 Rides
Cal OSHA told Disneyland to close Resort
Space Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Soarin’ Over California for safety
violations. These safety violations have nothing to do with guest safety. These
are all safety violations having to do with the maintenance of the outside
façade of the buildings for these rides.
November 20, 2012 a worker cleaning the
outside of the Space Mountain fell and was badly injured. According to
documents Cal OSHA informed Disneyland of violations in regards to safety
protocol and equipment used when cleaning that attraction. Disneyland was given
time to appeal the decision and or make ordered changes.
I do believe that Disney Parks are
the safest of any amusement park you can be in. I also believe they do their
best to maintain a safe work environment. But, the nature of the attractions in
the parks does bring a certain level of risk to both guest and worker. As a
guest I accept a certain level of risk. If I were to work at a Disney Park,
especially maintenance I would expect a higher level of risk. It is incumbent
upon both guest and employee to follow existing safety protocols/rules.
Cal OSHA is known for wanting to
keep everybody in padded rooms so no one gets hurt. I honestly believe they
would ban paper or require warnings to protect people from paper cuts if they
could. Many of their policies are overreaching and greatly overreacting to
incidences. I know in the past Cal OSHA, in my humble opinion overreacted and
requiring wailing on wide easily walked tracks that are not very high on the
Alice in Wonderland ride.
Cal OSHA is notorious for requiring
redundant safety systems such as portable fire extinguishers when there is a
fire sprinkler system in the facility. Once Cal OSHA shows up is almost
impossible to get them to leave.
If Disney did not provide proper
safety gear, guidelines and training for those maintaining the outside of the
bride buildings (Space Mountain, Matterhorn Mountain and Soarin’ Over
California) they should be penalized. It appears that in the case of Space Mountain
it was an outside company hired to clean the building that employed the worker
that fell. It was not a Disney Cast Member cleaning the outside of Space
Mountain. So the question is who is responsible to make sure the worker follows
proper safety rules and uses adequate safety gear?
Here is a link to the DOSH document
in regards to the alleged safety violations.
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