Jim Hill article about new safety cutbacks at WDW

[lodgelady]

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

"Speaking of strange priorities, how's this for a truly frightening peek at how the Walt Disney Company REALLY feels about safety-related issues at its theme parks: Less than 24 hours after Disney's annual shareholders meeting was adjourned, a new policy was announced to Disney World cast members. One that would merge the separate Central Base of Operations for the four Disney World theme parks into two backstage locations. A cost savings measure that could -- due to the additional response time now involved here -- eventually wind up costing someone their life."

Link to full article:http://www.jimhillmedia.com/main/index.htm


Link to a thread about this on the parks board:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=522342

 

[OnWithTheShow]

I am unclear how this could cost someone their life. The bases are for the dispatching of mechanics and the like. If there is an emergency you dial 911 and get reedy creek you dont call maintenance base.

 

[KNWVIKING]

.... but on this board,trying to understand why something is bad makes you an apologist. Just say "This is terrible" and use the applicable frowny faces.

 

[larry_poppins]

Look at the accidents resulting in deaths that came from a lack of maintenance on Big Thunder and the sailing ship Columbia at Disneyland. I fear WDW will head for a similar disaster in a couple of years.

 

[Bstanley]

It looks like all parties need to READ THE ARTICLE.


The article claims that in the case of dispatching an emergency vehicle it is the CENTRAL BASE that actually contacts Reedy Creek EMT.

The concern is that because of combining the individual Central Bases for Epcot and MK (for example) the individual dispatching an EMT to EPCOT that used to support only the MK might not be as familiar with the closest entry location to an 'event' simply because they aren't familiar with EPCOT yet. And any delays in getting to the scene might prove to be critical.


Seems like it would be easy enough to overcome with a modest amount of training and preparation.

Oh and if Central Base doesn't dispatch the EMTs it is totally 'off-base'

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Right, I am saying the article is wrong. Central Base certainly can call Reedy Creek, but cast members are trained to call 911 in an emergency. when you dial 911 you reach Reedy Creek Emergency Dispatch (or Orange County in select areas).

 

[Bstanley]

Well then somebody needs to tell Jim, otherwise Disney Inc might think he is just a shill for the anti-Disney crowd and pull his Press Credentials...

 

[Chuck S]

And, under their agreement with FL, Disney has it's own EMT services, etc. Reedy Creek EMT is, in a sense, a Division of Disney. They should certainly know where the back stage entrances are in relation to specific attractions, whether a Central Base tells them or not. It is a little different than calling your county EMT and explaining how to get to your house. Reedy Creek is very, very familiar with all the back roads, Resorts, attractions and park entrances.

 

[lodgelady]

So Show...this cutback is really O.K? For all of the years WDW has been in operation, these bases have not really been needed???? .....I'm sure you must have taken a Red Cross training class along the way somewhere. A few minutes in the care of a trained first responder could very well make the difference between life and death....Heck, even our local 6 flags has a crew of paramedics right at the park!

 

[smjj]

I think what OnWithTheShow is saying is the emergency response is not being changed or how one get ahold of them. Just the Central Base operations are being combined. I see nothing wrong with that. I am sure even with all the cutbacks in services and hours, the one thing Disney is not going to do is create a situtation where someones life will be put in jeporady. One thing Disney has a lot of is lawyers and I am sure they took this into account...smjj

 

[seashoreCM]

The worst this base consolidation would do is lengthen the time it takes a broken down or shut down ride to get up and running again, or lengthen the time it takes to get a bathroom cleaned after a complaint.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Another Voice]

Yea, that's what they said at Disneyland too.

But don't worry – I'm sure you'll say the losses are acceptable.

 

[raidermatt]

see nothing wrong with that. I am sure even with all the cutbacks in services and hours, the one thing Disney is not going to do is create a situtation where someones life will be put in jeporady.

Since WDW's safety record seems to be pretty good, I can give them the benefit of the doubt. However, as AV alluded to, this is the same company that runs DL, which has had some issues, to say the least.

Just because a practice has been around forever, it doesn't mean its right. At the same time, changing a long time safety practice shouldn't be taken lightly. Hopefully it wasn't.

 

[WDSearcher]

Originally posted by Another Voice
Yea, that's what they said at Disneyland too.

Yes ... maintenance problems at Disneyland caused a death and some injuries. And no one has ever said that was "acceptable." To assume that one set of problems in California is automatically going to cause the same thing in Florida ... or Tokyo ... or Paris is unfair. Unless you've got a whole lot of knowledge about Central Base and how it works and who the people are who work there -- and maybe you do -- you can't possibly make a call like that. And a flip little comment that alludes that the whole company is careless because of one incident is wrong as well. I know you hate the company, but come on.

 

[HauntedMansionFan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but while no fatalities should happen, wasn't what happened on BTMRR only one of a few or the only one maintenance related issue in Disneyland's 50 year history?

 

[randytenn]

I thought that the article was one of the worst examples of knee jerking and what if'*** I had read in a while.

Consolidating dispatch centers will not mean less safety. Of course, the dispatchers will be cross trained. They will know the additional parks, just as well as they knew their original parks.

If we want to get into what if'***, what if this results only the best dispatchers from the four central bases being employed in the two remaining, thus increasing quality? What if this allows more money to be invested in technology and assistance for the two bases, because there is now two less? What if this actually works for the better, cutting costs and increasing efficiency?

This article was one of the worst examples of "sky is falling" writing I've read in a while.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by thedscoop
This is a ridiculous statement especially coming from someone who has worked with Central Bases. You know darn well that this is not analogous. Your points would be much better served by not relying on fallacious connections.

This will not affect guest safety one iota.

Now, whether this is bad show or will affect show or such is an entirely different discussion.

But, trying to vaguely link this change with the tragedy at BTMRR is disengenous.

Thanks for putting some prespective on this change.

 

[DancingBear]

If I recall the CA OSHA report correctly, the fault in the BTMRR tragedy was in the execution of maintenance, not in standards or staffing.

 

[raidermatt]

If I recall the CA OSHA report correctly, the fault in the BTMRR tragedy was in the execution of maintenance, not in standards or staffing.

Standards/procedures were described as "generally adequate" (quite a ringing endorsement), but were not being followed, or even understood by maintenance teams.

The maintenance crew was not fully staffed, but OSHA did not believe this contributed to the accident.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but while no fatalities should happen, wasn't what happened on BTMRR only one of a few or the only one maintenance related issue in Disneyland's 50 year history?

A guest was killed when a cleat from the Columbia broke loose back in the late '90s. I believe this was classified as a training issue.

Space Mountain had a "near-miss" when a train derailed. Not sure what the cause ended up being, since nobody was seriously hurt.

Later, Space Mountain was abruptly shut down for safety reasons, about 5 months prior to its scheduled shutdown for replacement. One could argue that this means the process was working, but I think we would all agree a ride should not be run to the brink of failure.

But I repeat, WDW's safety record seems to be much better than DL's, so again, I'll give the benefit of the doubt.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Certainly new computer, wireless, and Nextel technological contributed to the combination these bases.

Also for someone who mentioned it, each park and downtown Disney does have an on site EMT/Paramedic team with a well equipped golf cart. Usually these are the first responders and transport the patient to the nearest backstage area where a Reedy Creek Ambulance can access the park.

Another guest safety measure enacted in the past few years was the installation of AEDs or Automated External Defribulators in many locations around property.