Disneyland accident - Beyond Tiki

S suzywong Member New Orleans Upper 9th ward Joined: Feb 22, 2003 Posts: 161	S suzywong Posted posted on Sun, Nov 30, 2003 7:44 AM Updated: 10:21 PM EST Workers blamed for fatal Disneyland coaster crash By Peter Henderson, Reuters LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California safety officials Wednesday ruled that Disneyland workers failed to maintain a roller coaster that crashed and killed a man in September, a verdict that raised new questions about Disney's liability in the mishap. A lawyer for the victim's family said he saw a pattern of safety lapses at the Walt Disney Co. theme park, but California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which issued the report, blamed workers for not following established procedures rather than systematic problems at the park in Anaheim, California. Disney Wednesday agreed that incorrectly performed maintenance led to the accident on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which runs on a track like a runaway train. The ride partially derailed on Sept. 5, killing 22-year-old rider Marcelo Torres. The OSHA report said that the coaster's locomotive crashed after a wheel gripping the rail from underneath fell off, allowing the locomotive to jump the track. The first passenger car slammed into the back of the derailed locomotive, fatally injuring Torres, the report said. Bolts holding the safety wheel in place were not tightened correctly and a wire to hold the bolts was missing, it said. "A failure to follow procedures resulted in grave consequences, which we deeply regret," Disney spokeswoman Leslie Goodman said. But Burbank, California-based Disney, the world's largest theme park company stressed that the ride design was sound and that Disney was committed to safety. Safety regulators found that some mechanics had signed off for others' work, and they required Disney to make changes in maintenance procedures and retrain workers extensively. "This is a serious, serious issue when certain things are taken for granted in the maintenance procedures," said OSHA spokesman Dean Fryer. He said the design of the ride was safe and added: "We don't have evidence that there are problems beyond this ride." OSHA said that some Disney workers heard strange noises on the coaster before it crashed and had intended to take it out of service after the ride which ended in the accident. OSHA required Disney write guidelines in case of unusual sounds. Torres family lawyer Wylie Aitken, who challenged Disney in the previous fatal accident at Disneyland in 1998 said he would continue his own investigation. "This seems to me to be a consistent pattern rather than a single incident," he said. Goodman said Disney was following safety regulators' corrective actions and retraining workers. "At no time have we ever done anything which we believe would compromise the level of safety required for the safe operation of our attractions," she said. "Our long-standing commitment to safety remains the same. Anyone who suggests otherwise is simply wrong," she said. Reuters/VNU 11/26/03 22:20 ET

Updated: 10:21 PM EST
Workers blamed for fatal Disneyland coaster crash
By Peter Henderson, Reuters

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California safety officials Wednesday ruled that Disneyland workers failed to maintain a roller coaster that crashed and killed a man in September, a verdict that raised new questions about Disney's liability in the mishap.

A lawyer for the victim's family said he saw a pattern of safety lapses at the Walt Disney Co. theme park, but California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which issued the report, blamed workers for not following established procedures rather than systematic problems at the park in Anaheim, California.

Disney Wednesday agreed that incorrectly performed maintenance led to the accident on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which runs on a track like a runaway train. The ride partially derailed on Sept. 5, killing 22-year-old rider Marcelo Torres.

The OSHA report said that the coaster's locomotive crashed after a wheel gripping the rail from underneath fell off, allowing the locomotive to jump the track.

The first passenger car slammed into the back of the derailed locomotive, fatally injuring Torres, the report said. Bolts holding the safety wheel in place were not tightened correctly and a wire to hold the bolts was missing, it said.

"A failure to follow procedures resulted in grave consequences, which we deeply regret," Disney spokeswoman Leslie Goodman said.

But Burbank, California-based Disney, the world's largest theme park company stressed that the ride design was sound and that Disney was committed to safety.

Safety regulators found that some mechanics had signed off for others' work, and they required Disney to make changes in maintenance procedures and retrain workers extensively.

"This is a serious, serious issue when certain things are taken for granted in the maintenance procedures," said OSHA spokesman Dean Fryer.

He said the design of the ride was safe and added: "We don't have evidence that there are problems beyond this ride."

OSHA said that some Disney workers heard strange noises on the coaster before it crashed and had intended to take it out of service after the ride which ended in the accident. OSHA required Disney write guidelines in case of unusual sounds.

Torres family lawyer Wylie Aitken, who challenged Disney in the previous fatal accident at Disneyland in 1998 said he would continue his own investigation.

"This seems to me to be a consistent pattern rather than a single incident," he said.

Goodman said Disney was following safety regulators' corrective actions and retraining workers.

"At no time have we ever done anything which we believe would compromise the level of safety required for the safe operation of our attractions," she said.

"Our long-standing commitment to safety remains the same. Anyone who suggests otherwise is simply wrong," she said.

Reuters/VNU

11/26/03 22:20 ET

Post #62641 by suzywong on Sun, Nov 30, 2003 7:44 AM