Cal/OSHA Fines Great America $70k for Safety Violations

The California branch of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) has fined the amusement park Great America more than $70,000 for various safety violations that resulted in a worker being critically injuring.

The incident back in June at the Great America amusement park in Santa Clara, California. Mechanic Robert Hooks, 66, was working on the Flight Deck ride around 8 PM when he was struck by a passing train. The train was returning to its station when it struck Hooks, leaving him critically injured. According to reports, an person on the ride was also struck and injured during the incident.

Both Hooks and the person on the ride were taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation and treatment. Following this incident, Cal/OSHA immediately sent a team of investigators to investigate the details leading up to the injuries. After a short but thoroughly investigation, Cal/OSHA determined that the park did not implement the necessary safety protocols, nor did it train its workers on how to disengage the rides. As a result, Great America was fined more than $70,000.

In total, Cal/OSHA identified eight safety violations with Great America, five of which were considered to be "serious in nature," meaning they poses a serious risk of injury or death. Juliann Sum responded in a press statement, saying that employers must maintain an injury and illness prevention program that addresses all safety hazards within the workplace.

"Employers are required to maintain a comprehensive injury and illness prevention program that addresses all safety hazards," Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum said in a statement.

Of course, Great America isn't the first amusement park to be fined by OSHA for safety violations, nor will be the last.. Earlier this year, OSHA launched an investigation into Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom after a worker was hospitalized. Prior to this incident, Dorney Park & Wildwater was cited $9,000 for failing to protect its workers from heat-related illness, as well as failing to properly maintain records.