OSHA: Circus At Fault

OSHA cited the company for a serious safety violation and proposed the maximum fine, $7,000, for the circus’ parent company, Feld Entertainment. It concluded circus staff had improperly loaded a carabiner clip. Investigators claim the circus put two rings rather than one at the bottom of the carabiner, violating an industry practice and the manufacturer’s instructions.

OSHA said that caused the clip to be overloaded. A spokesman for Feld Entertainment said the company disputes the findings and is considering contesting it. The company also claims the clip was carrying a lower load than it was rated to hold. David Michaels, OSHA’s assistant secretary of labor, said the “catastrophic failure” demonstrates the circus industry needs professional engineers to develop, evaluate and inspect the structures it uses in performances.

The eight acrobats were attached by their hair to a chandelier-like apparatus and suspended in the air. They had just begun their May 4 performance when the carabiner clip snapped. Most of the women were severely injured and some were unable to walk as of June.

One woman has returned to the circus but the others have not, although they are covered by workers compensation insurance, according to the Feld spokesman. The hair-hanging stunt has not returned to the circus and it is unclear if it will.