Have you ever wondered how Disneyland keeps its workers safe when they are performing maintenance to some of their famous buildings, like Space Mountain, Matterhorn, and Sorin' Over California? Well so has the sate of California. They wondered so much they decided to pop into Disneyland and do a little safety inspection and see what they could find.
The result was the sudden and immediate closure of Space Mt., the Tomorrowland side of The Matterhorn, and Sorin' Over California by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
If you would like to read the actual citations from DOSH, here's the link:
Disneyland Citations
This isn't the first time Disneyland, or any other California park, has had one of its attractions shut down or changed by the state and it won't be the last. The remnants of DOSH's 2010 visit to the Alice in Wonderland ride are still present in the form of very visible "temporary" hand rails that were erected to protect anyone working on the outer portion of the second story of the attraction. This was required to get the ride back open and get DOSH off the mouse's back.
Obviously, the closure of Space, Sorin', and Matterhorn isn't the first time Disney has had to deal with changing policies regarding the state of California's stance on worker safety. In fact, California has some of the most detailed, strictest labor laws in the country, and it should come as no surprise to an employer as large as Disneyland that the laws were updated. I am a little baffled that no one in the Anaheim theme park offices took note of the safety changes and didn't think to start some sort of process to assure the state they were taking appropriate actions to appease the state, especially when the result would be the closure of major attractions and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
Say what you will about the fairness of California constantly changing its labor laws and its expectations that employers constantly update their facilities to whatever the government deems fit. Its a fact of life when you do business and employ workers in the state of California that you will have strict guidelines to conform to and failing to do so will impact your business. Disney can drag its heals all it wants and the fans can complain all they want about how "it hasn't been an issue in 50 years, why is it an issue now?!?!?" but none of that matters when if comes to the law. Besides, its not like Disney doesn't have the means, manpower, and insight to comply with any new law if they truly wanted to. Like any business owner, they tried to spend as little as possible on updates to their product that they didn't think were necessary. They just got caught, that's all.
Here is Parker and my take on the situation. Enjoy!
See you at Space Mountain Nerds! (Whenever it reopens)
Mike
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