Niamh Shackleton
SeaWorld Orlando has been slapped with huge fine after one of its trainers was injured by a killer wale.
In September 2024, one of the park's trainers was injured by an orca and an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) followed suit.
SeaWorld Orlando, Florida, is the same park where trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed in 2010.
She was pulled under the water by male orca Tilikum and her death was ruled as drowning and blunt force trauma.
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Speaking at the time of her tragic incident, OHSA said in a news release, as per NPR: "On Feb. 24, a six-ton killer whale grabbed a trainer and pulled her under the water during what SeaWorld describes as a 'relationship session', which was also observed by park guests.
"Video footage shows the killer whale repeatedly striking and thrashing the trainer, and pulling her under water even as she attempted to escape. The autopsy report describes the cause of death as drowning and traumatic injuries."
Fortunately, the trainer who was injured last year survived the ordeal, but SeaWorld is now facing a fine of $16,550 from OHSA.
Following its investigation, it was ruled that the trainer in question was 'not properly protected from hazards'.
OSHA issued a 'general duty clause serious citation for allowing employees to work in close contact with the whale, exposing them to the potential for bites, struck-by and drowning hazards', Denver7 reports.
The incident happened during so-called desensitization training with a killer whale.
This type of training is said to help the orca get used to the presence of their trainer and to ignore them unless they’re signaled 'to interact for a specific learned behavior', a 2010 lawsuit explained, as per WFLA.
The news of the fine was announced on March 21 and, from that date, SeaWorld had 15 days to respond.
SeaWorld can comply with the fine, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
According to OSHA, SeaWorld Orlando has had seven complaints since June 2022 regarding safety.
For Brancheau's death 15 years ago, OSHA initially fined the park $75,000, but it contested.
Following a lawsuit, a judge ruled that SeaWorld only had to pay out $12,000 for two violations: failing to equip two stairways with standard stair railings on each side, and for exposing animal trainers to struck-by and drowning hazards when working with killer whales during performance.
In the wake of the recent fine, a SeaWorld spokesperson told UNILAD in a statement: "The safety of our guests and employees along with the welfare of the animals in our care are our top priorities. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on regulatory matters."