A Cast Member’s Amputated Finger Could Cost Walt Disney World $10,000 in OSHA Fines

UPDATE: According to an OSHA spokesperson, the $10,000 citation and fine related to the amputation of a Cast Member’s finger have been withdrawn.

OSHA says that a physician has ruled the injury an “avulsion,” not an amputation. According to the spokesperson, “amputations are required to be reported, avulsions are not required to be reported.”

An avulsion involves the “tearing away of a body part accidentally or surgically.”

Source: Orlando Sentinel

The failure to report an amputation of a cast member’s finger by the Walt Disney World Resort might end up costing the company nearly $10,000 in fines.

Workplace injuries must be reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration within 24 hours of their occurrence, yet Walt Disney World notified the agency over two weeks after the event. According to OSHA documents, a cast member at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort had his finger surgically removed on June 21st. OSHA was not made aware of the situation until July 10th. The inciting incident which lead to an amputation being necessary has not been released, and Disney has not elaborated on the injury’s cause.

In an email statement released by Disney, a spokesperson for the company said, “The safety of our Cast members is central to everything we do. We regret one of our Cast members was injured and are continuing to review this matter.”

OSHA has notified Disney of a proposed citation and accompanying $9,239 in fines, which they have until September 4th to contest.

This news follows another incident on Walt Disney World Resort hotel property. Last month, a cast member suffered a fatal injury at the backstage area of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. A utility cart jumped a curb on July 9th, killing 33-year-old Juan Alberto Ojeda as he was working on the cart’s battery.

Source: The Orlando Sentinel