Disney fined for death of pluto

dannydp · Post by **dannydp** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 7:32 am

From News.com

WALT Disney Entertainment had been fined $US6300 ($8866) for the
death of a worker dressed as Pluto who was run over and killed by a
float as it entered a Magic Kingdom parade, officials said today.

The right foot of Javier Cruz, 38, became caught between the second and
third sections of a three-part float as it was about to enter the parade
route from a backstage area for the afternoon Share a Dream Come
True parade last February.

He fell and was run over by the third section of the vehicle.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration categorised the
citation as "serious" because employees were exposed to the hazard of
being struck by motorised vehicles, according to OSHA.

The maximum penalty for such a citation is $US7000 ($9851), although
the agency issues citations as high as $US70,000 ($98,515) for repeat
violators or if the violation was considered willful.

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DLSweeper · Post by **DLSweeper** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 4:25 pm

So... He dies and Disney pays? Shouldn't they be mourning or something?

Canoe30x · Post by **Canoe30x** » Thu Aug 12, 2004 8:36 pm

Poor pluto guy...

lady ulrike · Post by **lady ulrike** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 9:03 am

Well, if what I heard is true, it was really Pluto's fault. I had heard he was
in an area of the float that he wasn't supposed to be in in the first place
and the float driver couldn't see him from there. Don't know if that's true
though, does anyone else?

Zazu · Post by **Zazu** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:17 am

lady ulrike wrote:Well, if what I heard is true, it was really Pluto's fault. I had heard he was
in an area of the float that he wasn't supposed to be in in the first place
and the float driver couldn't see him from there. Don't know if that's true
though, does anyone else?

First, his name was Javiar Cruz. Pluto was just his role that day. I knew
him slightly.

He was indeed in the wrong place. The 3-part articulated float had
stopped just over the railroad crossing to unhitch the tow motor, and he
went between the second and third sections for some reason. Completely
out of sight of the driver, he was caught under the float when it started.

His being in such an unsafe location was and is a violation of safety
rules -- not to mention being just plain stupid. The fine was for the
Company's long-term laxity of not enforcing this safety rule.

The float in question is still out of service. I did read one newspaper
report that the Company was no longer using articulated floats in
daytime parades, but that makes little sense. After all, wouldn't they be
even more hazardous in nighttime parades? Further, IIRC the float that's
been substituting for the first float is also articulated.

This is the second death of a CM I knew since I was cast in 1999. Both of
them were where they didn't belong at the time. Let's all hope that their
examples will stay in our minds and keep us out of harm's way.

DLSweeper · Post by **DLSweeper** » Sun Aug 15, 2004 1:14 am

O man. Yeah, let's let that be a lesson to everyone! Don't go where you don't belong. It could be a life and death situation. :( Seriously, be careful where you are and be aware of your surroundings! ;_;

goose · Post by **goose** » Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:49 am

That's really sad. I think I will be a litle more careful at work.