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View Full Version : Disney Takes Blame on Ride Upkeep - LA Times, 11/26/03



Darkbeer
11-25-2003, 11:30 PM
Disney Takes Blame on Ride Upkeep (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-thunder26nov26,1,4626888.story?coll=la-editions-orange) - Los Angeles Times, 11/26/03

QuikQuote As the state prepares to release its report on the cause of September's fatal crash on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the attorney for the victim's family said his experts have determined that faulty maintenance was to blame and questioned whether it was part of a larger safety problem at the Anaheim amusement park.
"Our own analysis found that the accident was caused by incorrectly performed maintenance tasks required by Disneyland policy and procedures that resulted in a mechanical failure," said Leslie Goodman, senior vice president of strategic communications for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

NirvanaMan
11-26-2003, 12:05 AM
Wow, that is surprising and very "uncorporate" Innnnnteresting.

efoxx
11-26-2003, 03:05 AM
so Disney is in fact pointing the fingers at an employee instead of itself. in essence saying "if the employee's had done what they were instructed to do then this wouldn't have happened."

this is actually typical of Disney. point a finger at somebody else, and if you must blame Disney look for the lowest person on the totem poll.

merlinjones
11-26-2003, 06:06 AM
Hmmm... Al Lutz had been speculating in his recent column as to why T Irby had not yet resigned in the wake of the reorganization of management.

Perhaps they are saving his resignation until after this hits the press.

Notice too that they are poised to release this story during the distracting Holiday period when people are away from their tvs, newspapers and computers to minimize collateral PR damage.

In any event, if they take public responsibility, perhaps things will change more effectively.

hazlnut
11-26-2003, 06:07 AM
T Irby... Nah, nah, nah-nah...hey, hey, hey... good-bye!

cryan71
11-26-2003, 06:18 AM
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031126/ap_en_ot/disneyland_accident_2

So looks like all the headlines will blame maintenence.

As former military man, T. Irby must understand that blame goes all the way to the top. If your soldiers aren't doing the job, then you aren't doing the job. Its time to take some responsibility and RESIGN.

Also, it will be good for the company because it will send clear signals that 1) changes are being made; 2) some hourly worker isn't the only one at fault; 3) signing off on others maintenence is a management issue - a culture of doing this would not prevail if management is doing their job; 4) Al doesn't like T. Irby, isn't that enough?

hazlnut
11-26-2003, 06:23 AM
Leslie Goodman, senior vice president of strategic communications for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts: "At no time have we ever done anything which we believe would compromise the level of safety required for the safe operation of our attractions."

What about the fact that they expanded to two parks and a shopping mall but reduced the maintenance workforce?


Al Lutz: "Due to cutbacks the staffing of the MRC (Maintenance Response Center) switchboard has been reduced to the the bare bones over the past year, and now there is quite often just one single Cast Member there to answer the phones for the entire Resort.

Many, many times the attractions CM's report that they are left on hold with the MRC for up to five to seven minutes while their attraction has broken down with people stranded in vehicles. While the CM's scramble to get out to the trains/boats/jeeps or whatever vehicle people are stuck in, the attraction Lead or Manager has to listen to Muzak™ versions of the latest Disney hits while they wait for what feels like an eternity. Only once the MRC operator finally is able to answer the line can they relay the news that an attraction has broken down and needs the Facilities CM's to come assist in getting people out of stuck ride vehicles."

merlinjones
11-26-2003, 06:31 AM
>>"At no time have we ever done anything which we believe would compromise the level of safety required for the safe operation of our attractions," Goodman added. <<

Shoulda listened to the old timers.

Tony
11-26-2003, 07:09 AM
Originally posted by efoxx
so Disney is in fact pointing the fingers at an employee instead of itself. in essence saying "if the employee's had done what they were instructed to do then this wouldn't have happened."

this is actually typical of Disney. point a finger at somebody else, and if you must blame Disney look for the lowest person on the totem poll.

Actually, my reading of it goes beyond the finger pointing at one maintenance worker. Yes, he is (rightfully) criticized for failing to tighten the bolt according to specs. However, the report nails Disney for faulty procedures, and a failure to properly train and supervise the staff. This isn't a white-wash of Disney's culpability. This is a full frontal assult on the systemic issues involving maintenance today.

We are looking to get more information on the accident and report, and hope to have more for everyone shortly.

Tony

iwannabeanimagineer
11-26-2003, 08:00 AM
Originally posted by cryan71
As former military man, T. Irby must understand that blame goes all the way to the top. If your soldiers aren't doing the job, then you aren't doing the job. Its time to take some responsibility and RESIGN
Amen.

UncleGDogWord
11-26-2003, 08:06 AM
Sounds like Irby is finally getting all the well deserve blame he deserves.

He rolled the dice one too many times and lost.

merlinjones
11-26-2003, 08:11 AM
Let's please not forget that the Finance Department imposes ridiculous limitations and goals on business units. And the executive culture awards those who succeed short term. That system is as much to blame as anything.

hazlnut
11-26-2003, 09:32 AM
Originally posted by efoxx
so Disney is in fact pointing the fingers at an employee instead of itself. in essence saying "if the employee's had done what they were instructed to do then this wouldn't have happened."

this is actually typical of Disney. point a finger at somebody else, and if you must blame Disney look for the lowest person on the totem poll.

The legal concept of Agency prevents them from skapegoating.

In civil litigation all employees are considered agents of DLR and lawyers will go after the deepest pockets.

wendybeth
11-26-2003, 09:50 AM
Goodman's statement that "at no time have we ever done anything that we believe would compromise the level of safety required for the safe operations of our attractions" is hardly an admission of responsibility. It sounds like the spin is on; if you reduce the statement to it's basic message, I read it to say that they believe they were following the level (however basic) of safety procedures that are legally required to ensure safe operations. Not that they were following the high standards one would expect from Disney, just a certain, unspecified level. Next, as MJ indicated, there will be the sacrificial fall guy, and the persons who are really responsible will sit back in their comfortable offices and wait for the fallout to subside.

olegc
11-26-2003, 11:42 AM
Originally posted by Tony
Actually, my reading of it goes beyond the finger pointing at one maintenance worker. Yes, he is (rightfully) criticized for failing to tighten the bolt according to specs. However, the report nails Disney for faulty procedures, and a failure to properly train and supervise the staff. This isn't a white-wash of Disney's culpability. This is a full frontal assult on the systemic issues involving maintenance today.

Tony

I just finished reading the report myself - and the only "faulty" procedure it seems to nail Disney on is the fact that ride operators had no procedure in place to handle the "strange noise" or other possible safety concerns the operators may have (conclusion #4). If you look at the conclusions in #2 and #5 it specifically states that there was an omission for two required actions. So, in a sense, Disney could say that the specific hardware related safety procedures were already in place had someone followed direction. And the fact that ALL other trains were in compliance, but only #2 seemed to lack the proper work, shows incompetence, not a lack of procedure...

Although, I will say that #6, which says procedures allowed the car to be added wihtout test cycling is damaging. And #8- signing someone elses work, is bad.

BUt if I were Disney, I'd be saying that the work is only good as the people who perform it. Yes, Disney is responsible, but they will claim responsibility like Reagan did after the Marine barracks were bombed in the middle East. Saying you're responsible is not the same as taking some action. Unfortunately, that's what I think will happen...

wendybeth
11-26-2003, 12:03 PM
The report states that the outside machinists consistently demonstrated ignorance of tagging procedures, were understaffed at the time of the accident, and that the safety line was not installed on the wheel assembly of the car. Couple this with the ride operators not knowing how to respond to 'unusual noises', and I'd say this is a pretty big procedural oversight- lack of training. The report states that the attractions mgr and other higher ups knew the proper tagging procedures and what the green and yellow tags stood for- why didn't the people doing the actual work? It's the reponsibility of the park management to see that employees have a thorough knowledge of their job, especially as it pertains to safety. Lack of training and improper staffing levels = failure on the part of management, not the employees.