This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Visitors to Disneyland and California Adventure this weekend may have been bummed to learn that three very popular rides were shut down due to safety violations, and two remain voluntarily closed Sunday.
"Space Mountain, Soarin’ over California, and the Matterhorn were closed by Disneyland officials after the park received seven citations from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA)," reports CBS2.
Only the Matterhorn has been re-opened.
Disneyland officials say they closed the rides in order to review safety procedures for employees, aka "cast members."
Space Mountain's shut down stems from an incident last fall during which time Cal/OSHA says "an employee of a contractor was injured while performing building maintenance."
In October 2012, a 68-year-old Disneyland machinist was hospitalized after being accidentally struck by a vehicle from the Space Mountain ride. That employee had been returning a vehicle that had been taken out of use to the ride after the park closed on October 3 when "something went awry" and the vehicle struck him.
According to the complaints filed against Disneyland, Space Mountain has a variety of issues with building safety and inspection. The theme park is expected to rectify those issues by April 22, or face proposed fines of $234,850.00, according to Cal/OSHA documents.
It is not known at this time how long Space Mountain and Soarin' Over California will remain closed.
