Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
SeaWorld Orlando fined $75,000 in whale trainer's death
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced $75,000 in fines for SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment.
The fines are related to safety violations found during a 6-month investigation at SeaWorld Orlando, following the February death of killer whale trainer Dawn Brancheau.
Brancheau drowned in a tank at SeaWorld after being grabbed and pulled under by a killer whale used in the Shamu shows at the theme park.
SeaWorld has already said it would challenge the findings, releasing a statement to the Orlando Sentinel that denied their validity:
"OSHA's allegations in this citation are unsupported by any evidence or precedent and reflect a fundamental lack of understanding of the safety requirements associated with marine mammal care," the statement said.
This morning on ABC's Good Morning America, Linda Simons, a former SeaWorld health and safety director, accused the company of obstructing OSHA's investigation. Simons said SeaWorld officials refused to turn over key documents or make certain officials available for interviews with the federal agency.
According to Simons, the documents included details about the aggressive histories of some of the company's killer whales.
Simons was hired by SeaWorld about two weeks before Brancheau's death, and fired on April 20. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment said her comments this morning were "unfounded charges" from a disgruntled employee.
The fines are related to safety violations found during a 6-month investigation at SeaWorld Orlando, following the February death of killer whale trainer Dawn Brancheau.Brancheau drowned in a tank at SeaWorld after being grabbed and pulled under by a killer whale used in the Shamu shows at the theme park.
SeaWorld has already said it would challenge the findings, releasing a statement to the Orlando Sentinel that denied their validity:
"OSHA's allegations in this citation are unsupported by any evidence or precedent and reflect a fundamental lack of understanding of the safety requirements associated with marine mammal care," the statement said.
This morning on ABC's Good Morning America, Linda Simons, a former SeaWorld health and safety director, accused the company of obstructing OSHA's investigation. Simons said SeaWorld officials refused to turn over key documents or make certain officials available for interviews with the federal agency.
According to Simons, the documents included details about the aggressive histories of some of the company's killer whales.
Simons was hired by SeaWorld about two weeks before Brancheau's death, and fired on April 20. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment said her comments this morning were "unfounded charges" from a disgruntled employee.
Filed under: North America, United States, News, Theme Parks
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shaun Aug 23rd 2010 1:41PM
I'd like to know why we can't find any video footage of the actual death. No where on the web can you find ANYTHING! Well, I actually know why this is....Sea World paid off and confiscated anyone's video footage and or photos. They spent money to keep their mistakes under wrap only to pass their expense on to visitors in ticket prices. You KNOW SOMEONE must have had it recorded. It is incredible hoe much it costs to go to theme parks these days. My family did a stay-cation this Summer and we just stayed home and did fun things around our area. The site http://urlmule.com/?5975 has some good free games and great ideas for saving money on travel and all kinds of things. I've gotten free samples from them too.