Cal/OSHA Cites SeaWorld For Safety Violations

The California division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited SeaWorld for safety violations.

According to an article published by the Los Angeles Times, SeaWorld received four citations for allegedly not training its employees on how to safely interact with the Orca whales it houses. Three of the four citations are classified as "serious" and involve failure to implement an effective injury and illness prevention program to identify workplace hazards that could result in injury or fatality. In two of the citations, Cal/OSHA specifically said that SeaWorld did not have the necessary safeguards in place to protect its workers and supervisors who handled killer whales.

The four citations issued to SeaWorld carry a total fine of $25,770. While not necessarily a huge amount for a park that generates millions of dollars in revenue per year, it's more symbolic than anything. SeaWorld said it plans to appeal the citations.

If you've ever attended SeaWorld, you are probably well aware of the emphasis it places on its killer whales. The park has numerous events, shows and attractions in which killer whales are the main focus. Trainers will often command Orcas to jump out of the water, roll over, and in some cases they will even ride them. Cal/OSHA states, however, that SeaWorld did not properly train the workers who rode the killer whales, placing them at risk for serious injury.

SeaWorld has come under fire in recent years for its treatment towards whales. In 2013, Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films released a film titled BlackFish, which reveals the story of Tilikum, an orca killer whale held in captivity by SeaWorld, that was involved in the deaths of three people. This sparked criticism for animal activities and park-goers alike, many of whom changed their perception on SeaWorld.

In a response to the citations, SeaWorld officials released the following statement:

"There is no higher priority for SeaWorld than the safety of guests and team members and the welfare of our animals," the park said in a written statement. "The citations issued by Cal/OSHA today were not precipitated by any workplace incident, accident or injury, and they reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the requirements of safely caring for killer whales in a zoological setting."

Do you think Cal/OSHA was justified in issuing these citations to SeaWorld? Let us know in the comments section below!