When the state issued its investigation report Thursday on a July roller coaster crash at Disney's California Adventure, it came as no surprise that officials ordered the amusement park to overhaul the ride's faulty brake system.
But in an unprecedented move praised by safety advocates, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health pushed the limits of its authority, asking Disney for a wholesale re-evaluation of similar brake valves at its other parks, including those outside the United States. It was determined that a leaky brake valve had caused the crash.
Disney did what the state asked, then went further: It issued an alert to the entire amusement park industry warning of the potential brake problems. The move marks a major turnaround and an attitude change for an industry that has long fought government oversight and regulation.
"The level of cooperation and standard of care exhibited by Disney and DOSH ... exceed even my most optimistic expectations for California's ride safety program," said Saferparks founder Kathy Fackler, who began lobbying for an amusement park safety law after her son was injured in a 1998 accident at Disneyland.
"I have never been prouder of Disney than I am right now."
That's high praise coming from a La Jolla mother who has butted heads with amusement park officials and federal legislators since her son's foot was crushed while he rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The safety law, which requires that parks report accidents, took effect in 2000.
State officials also applauded Disney's efforts and characterized their own actions as a sign of the program's evolution.
"The ride safety program has matured since it first started and we need to ensure that riders are safe," said Dean Fryer, a Division of Occupational Safety and Health spokesman. "So why wouldn't we take this step? Disney really stepped up to the plate and took the requirements that we brought forward seriously."
Before the 2000 law took effect, parks were not required to report accidents and the state had no authority to investigate. The law was prompted in part by the death at Disneyland of a tourist who was fatally struck by a metal cleat that snapped loose from the Columbia sailing ship on Christmas Eve 1998. Disney officials delayed Anaheim police for 90 minutes while workers mopped up the blood and carted away evidence.
