Disturbing Disneyland Findings

A new state report on a fatal accident at Disneyland last Christmas Eve reinforces the need for independent oversight of amusement park rides. If Cal/OSHA’s fine and criticism of training and maintenance at the Sailing Ship Columbia ride further the case for tougher legislation, the report will have made an important contribution.

The findings, which carried the maximum $12,500 fine, certainly were convincing. Assemblyman Lou Correa of Santa Ana has concluded that inspections are needed, along with better training. He previously had offered a bill that only would have required operators to file sworn statements annually. That in effect would have been a self-policing system. He has become a co-author of alternate legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) that would provide inspections.

There are some new and disturbing findings in the report. Disneyland violated its own policy manual by having an assistant manager work the dock without having been trained in the specific task of mooring Columbia. An obvious concern arises. If a theme park operator doesn’t follow its own operational guidelines, how can it be left to vouch for safety procedures? It can’t.

Investigators also found evidence that the park ignored evidence that a cleat had been misused previously. This was the cleat that tore off the ship during a botched docking procedure and killed a visitor standing nearby.

These conclusions add to previous concerns arising from the slow response of police and the knowledge that Disney cleaned the accident scene before investigators got there. There have been some important changes in procedure since the end of last year, but it’s apparent that the public also needs better protection in the future.