Disneyland: Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Soarin' Closed Indefinitely Due to Citation

[WaltD4Me]

Three E Ticket attractions at the Disneyland Resort have been suddenly closed this weekend. The Matterhorn, Space Mountain and Soarin' Over California are now closed indefinitely, after state DOSH investigators on Friday disciplined Disneyland for the accident last November where an outside contractor cleaning the Space Mountain roof slipped and was slightly injured. The closed attractions all have at least one backstage area that don't meet the state requirement of harnessed fall protection for any employee walkway with more than a 30 inch drop opposite a hand rail. Disneyland is rushing to find quick fixes for these backstage areas this weekend to satisfy DOSH, and several other E Tickets were delayed in opening by several hours Saturday morning for inspections. The rest of the Anaheim attractions will be inspected for DOSH compliance in the next few days, and more temporary closures are possible.

Here is a like to the citation from California OSHA
http://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/citation...any_DBA_Disneyland_Resort_ IMIS_315531715.pdf

 

[cmwade77]

While I do think these items should be corrected, I don't think they should have to shut down the attractions until they are fixed. I think it should be we give you x number of days to correct these items, if you fail to do so, then we shut them down.

The fire extinguishers are definitely something that is disconcerting, why wouldn't they have been expected annually? The fire department does this for free in Anaheim the last time I checked.

But in all reality, if we look at the safety record for Disney, they have had very few problems and that should also be taken into consideration.

Incidentally, we were at the parks today and didn't notice anything closed, aside from the attractions listed (although the Matterhorn was definitely running this morning; however, we didn't go on it)

 

[OKW Lover]

It seems like these violations are more about the safety of the workers (contractors) and not about anything that would affect guest safety or the safe operation of the attraction.

 

[cmwade77]

It seems like these violations are more about the safety of the workers (contractors) and not about anything that would affect guest safety or the safe operation of the attraction.

Yes, because that is what this agency handles. They don't deal with guest safety, but not having fire extinguishers checked indicates a bigger problem that could affect guest safety as well.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

While I understand that workers safety is important, I know the group of teens I'm going with next Wednesday are going to be disappointed.

We knew the Matterhorn would be down but expected the other rides to be running. This is a group who is primarily interested in Roller Coasters and rides like Soarin' and Splash Mountain.

The whole Disney Magic thing is not on their radar and they won't want to stay in the parks if the primary rides they are expecting aren't running. That will be very disappointing to me since the parks are the main reason I chaperoned the trip this year.

I sure hope I'm wrong and they will be fine with staying in Disneyland/DCA even without the Headliners running. Otherwise I'm in for a frustrating and disappointing chaperoning experience.

 

[Angel Ariel]

While I do think these items should be corrected, I don't think they should have to shut down the attractions until they are fixed. I think it should be we give you x number of days to correct these items, if you fail to do so, then we shut them down.

From the reports I've read, Disneyland has voluntarily closed the attractions. They weren't forced to do so, they chose to in response to receiving the citations.

Two major attractions at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim remained shut down on Sunday as part of a voluntary closure by park officials.

Space Mountain, Soarin over California, and the Matterhorn were closed by Disneyland officials after the park received seven citations from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA)

Source

 

[jcb]

Thank you for posting the link to the CBS story. It confirms what I thought when i read the citations.

California's Labor Code gives DOSH the authority to close attractions if there is a hazardous condition. But if it is like any governmental entity DOSH prefers not to take on the bad PR that would come from exercising that authority. Instead, DOSH regulations let it fine an employer if the employer doesn't have an "Injury and Illness Prevention Program" in place that shuts down an activity if there is an "imminent hazard" to employees that cannot be abated.

Not having (or complying) with the Program was one of the (three) $70,000 fines. The fine for the condition that led to the subcontractor employee being injured was $22,500.

Go figure.

(I am still waiting for the fine for not having a Starbucks on Main Street USA.)

 

[Plaid Princess]

I feel bad for the CM's today. I was in both parks this morning, and there were Cast Members getting abused at every turn for having closed attractions.

I went to City Hall with my friend to get a birthday button and heard no less than 4 people yelling "I'm an annual passholder and this is unacceptable, I want my money back" and various things to that effect.