Jul 10, 2008 3:57 pm US/Pacific
Cal/OSHA Gives Local Water Park OK To Reopen
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
A Sacramento waterslide park is being investigated by the state after multiple employees complained of heat-related illnesses yesterday.
Crews from the Sacramento Fire Department were called out to "Raging Waters" after nine employees reportedly sustained heat-related injuries. The park closed early, as a result.
Representatives from the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, also known as Cal/OSHA, investigated the incident and has given the park clearance to continue operations
Tonight, CBS13 asks the question: How are they keeping workers safe?
"We're not doing anything different today than we normally do," says one Raging Water manager.
That's because management says they already follow state regulations to protect employees in extreme heat, and try to go above and beyond the law. To prove it, they took CBS13 cameras behind the scenes.
CBS13 cameras captured the employee break area where there are misters, cold water and sunscreen.
"I hope they allow them to jump in the water every now and then, that's for sure, to cool off," says Jerry Syrobatk of Stockton.
Managers say they do, as often as they want. Floaters also cruise around to check on their health. But still, nine employees needed medical attention yesterday.
"We left about 3:30 p.m. That's when they started having breathing problems," says Debbie Shirley of Sacramento.
When CBS13 asked manager Joe Pinell what went wrong yesterday he replied, " Wrong means that we did something wrong, and I don't believe that we did. We definitely got our employees the medical attention they needed. Obviously, I can't control 105, 107 degree heat, and I can't control the smoke."
And that's the biggest concern for managers. Smoke shut the park down an hour early yesterday, and they'll consider doing the same today.
The heat and smoke are a concern for all employers, and a new law regulates their exposure.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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