SeaWorld cited over safety of trainers who work with orcas

[Omaha Steve]

FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2006, file photo, SeaWorld Adventure Park trainer Ken Peters, left, looks to a killer whale during a performance at Shamu Stadium inside the theme park in San Diego. SeaWorld {2014} whose safety practices have been under scrutiny since an animal trainer was killed in 2010 by an orca at its Orlando, Fla., park {2014} has now been cited for not adequately protecting its killer-whale trainers at its park in San Diego. (AP Photo/Bizuayehu Tesfaye, File)

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150501/us--seaworld_cited-6b90352523.html

May 1, 6:10 PM (ET)

By JULIE WATSON

SAN DIEGO (AP) — SeaWorld — whose safety practices have been under scrutiny since an animal trainer was killed in 2010 by an orca at its Orlando, Florida, park — has now been cited for not adequately protecting its killer-whale trainers at its park in San Diego.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health issued four citations this week that carry nearly $26,000 in fines. SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. said in a statement that the citations show a "fundamental misunderstanding" of what's needed to care for orcas and that it plans to appeal.

According to the citations, the park hasn't kept employees aware of the dangers posed by orcas, and it required them to sign an annual confidentiality form that discouraged trainers from reporting hazards for fear of reprisal. They say employees ride and swim with killer whales in the park's medical pool — although keepers have not been allowed in the Shamu Stadium pool during orca shows since the Orlando death. It also cited SeaWorld for allowing trainers to be with orcas in shallow areas on the edges of pools known as "slide outs."

The theme park also is accused of not effectively training its employees and supervisors to safely interact with killer whales. The citations stem largely from an inspection on Oct. 29.

FULL story at link.

[eloydude]

1. Funny! Just last night, Seaworld just released a commerical citing safety

and I thought it was one of the most ridiculous and ironic commercial knowing their history and Blackfish.