Rebecca Manzi SeaWorld Orlando fined after trainer injured while training orca. Worker not adequately protected
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SeaWorld Orlando is back in the spotlight due to an incident that occurred in September 2024 during a training session with an orca. A trainer was injured, prompting the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to impose a fine of $16,550 (approximately €15,500).
According to the Department of Labor, the worker was not adequately protected from the risks associated with interacting with the animal during a desensitization exercise in the park’s medical pool. Investigations revealed that the trainer was exposed to significant dangers, including bites, impacts, and the risk of drowning, leading to SeaWorld receiving a citation for a serious violation of the general duty clause.
Too many incidents at seaworld
This is not the first time SeaWorld has been at the center of controversies regarding employee safety. One of the most tragic incidents occurred in 2010 when trainer Dawn Brancheau lost her life during a performance with the orca Tilikum. That event shocked the public and led to significant changes in safety regulations, such as banning trainers from entering the water during orca performances.
Since 2017, SeaWorld Orlando has received at least seven reports related to workplace safety, and despite some improvements, concerns remain about the actual protection of workers. Reports suggest that the five orcas currently at the park live there full-time and continue to perform daily.
Although SeaWorld also plays an active role in rescuing and rehabilitating injured or distressed marine animals, the park has faced years of criticism from animal rights groups, especially after the release of the documentary Blackfish, which raised ethical concerns about the treatment of orcas in captivity. This latest incident reignites the debate about whether entertainment can justify the exposure to significant risks, both for the animals and for the people working with them every day.
