SeaWorld Cited: Employees Allegedly Aren’t Taught How To Safely Work With Orcas

SeaWorld has been cited by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health with allegedly failing to properly train their employees on how to safely work with orcas, also known as killer whales. The four citations SeaWorld faces could cost the aquatic theme park nearly $26,000 in fines.

According to CAL/OSHA spokeswoman Erika Monterroza, the citations were prompted by a complaint, but at this time it’s unknown whether the complaint came from a SeaWorld employee or someone outside of the park. A spokesperson for SeaWorld would not comment on the complaint’s origin.

Monterroza said, “All employers are required to have a safety plan that looks at all of the jobs and duties, looks at any hazards related to those duties and takes the appropriate steps, whether it’s specific work practices or protective equipment in order to keep employees safe on the job because the goal is to have people go home safe and sound.”

As the Inquisitr previously reported, SeaWorld said in a statment that the citations “reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the requirements of safely caring for killer whales in a zoological setting.” SeaWorld also stated they will appeal.

The Huffington Post reports SeaWorld is alleged to have required trainers to sign confidentiality forms every year to discourage them from reporting any safety “hazards for fear of reprisal.” While employees aren’t allowed in the Shamu Stadium pool during orca shows at SeaWorld, they still ride and swim with orcas in the medical pools. Trainers are permitted to be with orcas in shallow areas of water. SeaWorld is also alleged to have failed in training employees and supervisors on safety practices when interacting with killer whales.

In 2010, killer whale Tilikum pulled SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau into a pool, resulting in Brancheau’s death. Since then, trainers are not allowed in the pool during orca shows at SeaWorld. Three years later a documentary, Blackfish, came out suggesting captive orcas provokes violent behavior, and attendance at SeaWorld dropped drastically.

Animal rights groups are working hard to end killer whale shows at SeaWorld. Jared Goodman of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, known as PETA, has sued SeaWorld demanding the orcas be freed.

“SeaWorld resists safety reforms every step of the way because it puts profit before the welfare of its employees and the orcas confined so miserably to its tiny concrete tanks. With the life-threatening dangers to trainers and the detrimental effects of enslaving intelligent, social, and far-ranging orcas, SeaWorld’s tawdry shows will soon be a thing of the past. SeaWorld needs to make the only responsible and humane choice and release its captive orcas to coastal sanctuaries.”

SeaWorld claims they have put a number of safety measures into place; however, the investigation by CAL/OSHA is alleging those measures are not enough.

After the findings from CAL/OSHA becoming public knowledge, SeaWorld may experience another drastic drop in attendance soon.

[Photo by SeaWorld/Getty Images]