Amusement Park Accidents

Firefighters responding to a call doused a small fire that started backstage at one of Universal Orlando’s resorts recently. A spokesperson for Universal Orlando said that the incident was a “small pyro fire,” that could have been caused by a malfunctioning part of the pyrotechnics display during the performance of a resort attraction called Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue. Firefighters were called to the scene as a precaution, and the fire did not cause any major damage or interrupt the show’s schedule.
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A group of people enjoying a day of fun and adventure at a Denver area amusement park had a bit more adventure than they bargained for recently when a train at the park tipped over, injuring 19 of them. Fifteen of the amusement park accident victims received treatment at area hospitals for injuries that occurred at Tiny Town, a replica of an old frontier town scaled down for children in the foothills near Denver. The accident happened when the engine of a small, open-car train that runs through the amusement park left the tracks and tipped over, causing the five attached train cars to tip over and spill the occupants.
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A minor Orlando amusement park accident sent one worker to the hospital briefly for treatment and shut down Walt Disney World monorails for a short time recently. Early reports say the worker was a monorail pilot at the popular amusement park who suffered an electric shock when he flipped a switch. Flipping the switch created a short and caused electrical sparks to shock the worker on his hand and arm.
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A jury decision in a recent California case involving whether or not the legal term “common carriers” applies to amusement parks as well as bus companies, airlines and other businesses classified as common carriers favored Disney and other amusement park operators. The ruling in this case is very important as five years ago, the California Supreme Court declared that amusement park operators are common carriers and subject to strict safety regulations for rides and other attractions. Amusement parks are, of course, subject to safety standards, but those that govern businesses classified as common carriers are far stricter.
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A top federal regulator recently cited popular Orlando amusement parks SeaWorld and Walt Disney World for poor commitments to worker safety, pointing to recent deaths at both theme parks. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulator said that he was putting Florida theme parks “on notice” following several amusement park accidents that led to serious injuries or fatalities in recent months.
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An Orlando SeaWorld trainer died in an accident while handling one of the park’s trained killer whales on Feb. 24. According to official reports, 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau was standing in knee-deep water, interacting with the performing whale known as Tilikum, when she was pulled into the water and subsequently drowned. Brancheau was an experienced trainer, and officials are still looking at exactly how the tragic incident unfolded. Witnesses reported that staff could not assist Brancheau immediately because the animal could not be effectively controlled.

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An article published recently in the Orlando Sentinel reported that Walt Disney World has been cited for multiple workplace safety violations and faces fines up to $44,000 after a July monorail accident. The accident claimed the life of a 21-year-old Disney World employee on July 5 of last year and resulted in the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration citing Disney for one “serious” safety violation. Officials say the accident occurred when a monorail train was moving in reverse during a track switch and backed into another train, killing the driver of the train.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a $3,750 fine against Universal Orlando for an employee injury last summer. OSHA said that the worker was injured when he was struck by one of the cars on the Dueling Dragons roller coaster, one of the Orlando theme park’s most popular rides. The accident resulted in the worker suffering serious injuries in the Islands of Adventure area of the theme park, a part of Universal Orlando that will become part of the new Wizard World of Harry Potter area of the theme park.

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The Orlando Sentinel reported that an Orlando amusement park accident severely injured a four-year-old girl. According to eyewitnesses, the girl was riding in a golf cart with her father at Disney’s Fort Wilderness when the golf cart overturned, partially pinning the girl underneath and causing serious injuries. The article reports that the Orlando amusement park accident occurred around 10:30 p.m. when the girl’s 37-year-old father swerved to avoid colliding with another golf cart that was heading towards them with no lights on.

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