Inspection Detail

Inspection: 123618464 - Six Flags Astroworld

Inspection Information - Office: Houston South Area Office

Inspection Nr: 123618464

Report ID: 0626700

Date Opened: 08/11/1997

Site Address:
Six Flags Astroworld
9001 Kirby Drive
Houston, TX 77054

Mailing Address:
, , 00000

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:7996

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 08/11/1997

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 10/31/1997

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	361144280

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$5,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$5,000
Current Penalty	$2,500	$0	$0	$0	$0	$2,500
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	19100147 C04 I	09/22/1997	09/25/1997	$2,500	$5,000	$0		I - Informal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14408801

Event: 08/09/1997

Employee struck and killed by roller coaster

At approximately 11:30 a.m. on July 9, 1997, Employee #1 was performing maintenance work on a roller coaster. He was brushing oil on the track rails at ground level when he was struck by the coaster train. Employee #1 died of massive head injuries. Management had decided to use a handheld radio to communicate with Employee #1 instead of lockout/tagout procedures. Management's theory was that if they warned Employee #1 via radio that the train was going to be cycled, there would be no "unexpected" energization or startup of the coaster and, therefore, no need to follow lockout procedures. Management also allowed Employee #1 to remain in a recognized danger zone after informing him by radio that the coaster was going to be cycled. The main causal factor for this accident was Management's decision not to use lockout/tagout procedures.

Keywords: MAINTENANCE, WORK RULES, LOCKOUT, STRUCK BY, AMUSEMENT RIDE, COMMUNICATION

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	123618464			Fatality	Concussion	Occupation not reported

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