As part of a settlement with DOL, Ringling Bros. and Barnum
& Bailey Circus
agreed to implement
ongoing safety enhancements in aerial acts. The agreement concerns an
OSHA citation
issued in connection with
last
year’s incident in Providence, RI, in which eight aerialists were badly
injured while performing their “Hair Hang” act. During the May 4 show, the
carabiner used to support the performers failed, and they fell 15 ft to the
ground, injuring a ninth employee who was struck by the falling aerialists.
The
OSHA inspection
determined that the carabiner was not loaded per manufacturer’s instructions.
Under the settlement, the circus agrees to take several ongoing actions:
- All new and existing aerial acts will be reviewed by a
registered P.E.
- For each act, assemble and provide to each circus unit a
technical book.
- Develop a written checklist for equipment and hardware
inspections for each act.
- Each circus unit will conduct an annual safety day that
will address employee safety topics.
