The so-called "human chandelier"
stunt was performed May 4 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode
Island.
Eight performers sustained
serious injuries when the apparatus holding them failed, and they plummeted more
than 15 feet. A ninth employee was hurt on the ground.
An investigation by the
Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found the
accident occurred because the carabiner -- a metal ring used as a connector --
supporting the performers was improperly loaded.
OSHA cited the circus for one
serious safety violation with a proposed penalty of $7,000, the maximum allowed
by law, regulators said in a statement Tuesday.
"This catastrophic failure by
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus clearly demonstrates that the
circus industry needs a systematic design approach for the structures used in
performances -- approaches that are developed, evaluated and inspected by
professional engineers," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor
for occupational safety and health.
"While the $7,000 penalty is the
maximum allowable by law, we can never put a price on the impact this event had
on these workers and their families," he said.
A spokesman for the circus said
the company has not yet made a decision about whether to appeal. It has 15 days
to decide.
"We do not agree with the
conclusion that they drew that the way the carabiner was loaded was the sole
case of the accident," said spokesman Steve Payne. "But we're going to make
changes out of an abundance of caution."
The hair-hanging act is no
longer in the show, and the circus does not have any plans at this point to
bring such a stunt back, he said.
"The safety of our performers,
our crew -- as well as our audience -- is our top priority," said Payne. "No one
wants an accident like this to ever happen again."
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