While cleaning the outside of Disneyland’s Space Mountain attraction last November, a 37-year-old contractor was injured after a fall that caused several bones to be broken. The Disney contractor who employed the worker has been struck with a fine of $60,995 that was levied by California safety regulators who maintain that the contractor failed to provide anchors for the employee, as reported by The Orange County Register.
It is unclear whether the victim has filed for worker’s compensation, but the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health stated that the company, HSG Inc., which is based out of Los Angeles, failed to adhere to multiple safety rules.
The contractors are not the only ones deemed responsible in this accident. Disneyland itself may also face a penalty of approximately $235,000 in connection with the incident as proposed by Cal-OSHA. Disney has yet to confirm whether or not it will appeal the decision. HGS Inc. can file an appeal for up to two weeks.
Various degrees of injury can have a significant impact on a worker’s financial future. Whether it’s because he or she is unable to return to work on a regular basis or because their physical health is permanently altered after an accident, a worker’s compensation attorney can help injured parties obtain damages, medical expenses and lost wages. A worker should especially hire an attorney if the employer chooses to dispute the worker’s compensation claims or if the employer’s insurance company has made an adverse decision against the worker’s claims. The right attorney will understand the personal injury claim process and represent the worker’s interests.
Source: NBC Los Angeles, “Disney Contractor Fined $61,000 after Worker was Hurt on Space Mountain,” April 21, 2013