Another CM Killed at WDW

[Timmy Boy]

I really think OSHA needs to do an investigation at Disney. I used to work there and they treated us awful. Guest first, guest first, guest first. Labor Laws have been broken there a lot, especially the ones involving minors. Just because they're Disney, doesn't mean that their allowed to do whatever they want. I have a feeling OSHA HAS done an investigation, and Disney paid them a lot of money to cover it up to keep Disney's image as a safe place to play and work.

The reason I'm typing this is because I used to work attractions, and they're system over there drives me nuts. We were allowed to walk into ride tracks without locking out the ride system because "it was an inconvenience to guests, as it would take too long to lock out", we never checked any lapbars, and were told to stay away from hitting the Estop. It all seemed to be "look, these rides are safe, we trust them, we gotta please the guests, do whatever it takes to keep the line moving and dont touch the lapbars, have the guests do it, that's faster." Oh well, they'll learn eventually. Lose a couple people on the way there.

 

[WAWDWLUVER]

My prayers are for peace and comfort for the family and co-workers.

 

[Debbie-TN]

Another very sad day. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. I do hope Disney will make things safer for the CM's. This is just so much loss in such a short time. It is true about the 3's.

 

[YensidRocks]

OMG! What's going on @ Disney?? Are the cast members receiving proper training?? The monorail, pirates, now this? It's unreal. I agree with the above poster. Someone needs to conduct an investigation concerning training and procedure practices. This is so unfortunate for all involved. My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved.

 

[JOCAmom]

That's just so heartbreaking. Prayers his family, friends and coworkers.

 

[ducati748_4life]

God bless him and his family in these very tough times.

 

[BabyPiglet]

I really think OSHA needs to do an investigation at Disney. I used to work there and they treated us awful. Guest first, guest first, guest first. Labor Laws have been broken there a lot, especially the ones involving minors. Just because they're Disney, doesn't mean that their allowed to do whatever they want. I have a feeling OSHA HAS done an investigation, and Disney paid them a lot of money to cover it up to keep Disney's image as a safe place to play and work.

The reason I'm typing this is because I used to work attractions, and they're system over there drives me nuts. We were allowed to walk into ride tracks without locking out the ride system because "it was an inconvenience to guests, as it would take too long to lock out", we never checked any lapbars, and were told to stay away from hitting the Estop. It all seemed to be "look, these rides are safe, we trust them, we gotta please the guests, do whatever it takes to keep the line moving and dont touch the lapbars, have the guests do it, that's faster." Oh well, they'll learn eventually. Lose a couple people on the way there.

That part isn't true. My lapbars have always been checked, and they do require that CMs check them. I know several CMs.

That might not be what it used to be, but it is now.

Otherwise, this is terribly sad.

 

[tkitty]

I would think that OSHA always investigates these tragedies. They are not swept under the rug. Hard to hide anything that goes on at WDW. I find it crazy to think that Disney would let unsafe practices go on if the right people know of it. There may be supervisors that are not following safety guidelines, and telling their subordinates to cut corners.
I work for a huge, worldwide Co., and if our business is unsafe and we have accidents, we lose alot of money in law suits and such. So safety is huge.

The last two accidents sound like just that, terrible accidents, not something that was negligent. The Monorail accident should be carefully investigated, as it does appear that someone was at fault.

So sad, I hope this is it for a long time to come.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

So sad, my thoughts are with his family.

 

[rosiep]

I just can't believe this....it's so awful.

My prayers for his family and friends.

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

This is just so sad! It brings me to tears each time I read one of these stories.



My thoughts and prayers going out to all of his family and friends. This must be such hard time for a lot of cm's right now who are missing good friends.

 

[cheshirecatUK]

Oh my goodness, not another one. Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the CM and the CM community too. So tragic

 

[Whitewater]

Hearing this news made me feel very upset. I can't imagine what this CM's friends and family are feeling right now. I am so sorry.

The truth is, tumbling and rolls are two very dangerous stunts. It might not seem like it, and movies always make them seem easy (remember when Will Turner and Jack Sparrow were tumbling all over during one of their combat scenes?), but they're not. I was in training for many years for stage combat and stunt work, and when I was learning how to do rolls, falls, and how to tumble, I practiced by myself (a mistake), late at night (a mistake) at home (also a mistake, since my lodging's floors were concrete) -- and wound up accidentally pile driving myself into that selfsame concrete floor. I was knocked unconscious for about 45 minutes, broke my collarbone and 'stretched' (my doc's words, I suspect I tore) all the tendons in my right shoulder.

That was almost ten years ago and I still have issues with my rotor cuff. It could have been much worse, thankfully, I survived to tell the tale. Some other people don't.

Stunt work by its very nature is dangerous and potentially deadly. When accidents happen, they're usually pretty serious, and a fatality is always a possibility. Stunt people are trained to a demanding, high standard (and then train over and over again for their particular stunt(s), but still, accidents can and do happen. Just because you're trained to do it safely doesn't mean that safe always is. The risk is one of the first things the Fight Masters teach you about. But despite all the training, you never think it will happen to you.

My heart goes out to the CM's survivors, we're all part of the larger stunt and stage combat community. It's dreadful when a person is lost. Again, my condolences, I am so sorry. There just aren't words.


Whitewater

 

[Tinks1984]

So, so sad What a terrible time the Disney Company and it's staff have had recently.

My thoughts go out to everyone invloved, esp. the CM's parents, family and friends - and of course, each and every worker who is employed at Disney.

 

[aurora23]

My thoughts and prayers are with the CM and his family.

 

[chigirl]

This is sad...three castmembers this summer.

WDW did make several cuts during this tough environment, right before summer. When you're fighting for every dollar and to please ever-tougher to please guests, its a recipe for disaster. Look at how many of us are on this very board...freaking out over cut Fantasmic performances, hyper-analyzing every aspect of our trips. I work for a giant US company you all know and I can tell you this: EVERY business is hurting now and many businesses are forced to make cuts now to stay afloat and most are trying to do everything to please their customers. Accidents happen in the best of times...but, at least in the case of the Pirate Tutoral, its alleged the CM slipped on a wet spot. When I was at SWW at HS in June, it downpoured right before the end of day hoopla show and the stage was drenched. I said to my husband "They'll cancel the show, somebody can fall and get hurt in those costumes" and he said, "Are you kidding? This crowd will go nuts!" Sure enough, CMs came out with towels and push brooms and tried to dry the stage. I just wonder if before the economic downturn and super-hyper guests, would this have happened? I am not blaming WDW or guests, I am just saying....I do not recall a time that WDW had 3 cm deaths in 7 weeks time.

Prayers to the families, guests & castmembers.

 

[lustergirl]

Wow!! That is so sad.

 

[seashoreCM]

Unlike the stunt accident and the leukemia and the car accidents on the way to work, the monorail crash (Mr. Wuennenberg) and the parade accident (Mr. Cruz) were totally senseless and obviously preventable.

If someone needs to go out inspect the track, then that person should not be multitasking with something else such as dancing or supervising passengers or answering questions or getting back by a certain time. His first task is his own safety which does not always need pushing the stop button on the ride.

Disney hints: http://www.cockam.com/disney.htm

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Praying for the family.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office has identified the victim as 30-year-old Anislav Varbanov.
http://wdbo.com/localnews/2009/08/disney-performer-dies-during-r.html

and named here too
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/orl-bk-disney-death-081709,0,4390708.story

 

[Hallowishes]

this story makes it very unclear as to what happened. I am so sad for the loss of another CM. This is truly terrible and my thoughts go out to his family