PROVIDENCE, RI — [UPDATED, MAY 16, 2014, SEE BELOW] Although an OSHA investigation is ongoing, preliminary reports from safety investigators pointed to the failure of a five-inch steel carabiner in the circus accident that seriously injured nine at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center here May 4. Eight of the nine female performers were injured after falling from a 30-foot height to the floor, the ninth was on the ground when the rigging for the “hair hang” apparatus used for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Legends tour suddenly failed.
Although the carabiner had a reported breaking strength of 10,000 pounds, and the combined weight of the performers and apparatus was reportedly close to 1,500 pounds, the carabiner proved to be a poor substitute for industrial grade rigging components, such as a shackle, with a breaking strength far exceeding its safe use rating. See correction from previous posting below *
Providence safety official Steven Pare said the rigging for the hair hang stunt is done by circus workers, not local contractors. He added that the failure of the carabiner appears to be accidental, with no apparent criminal intent.
Although two of the nine hospitalized workers remained in critical condition three days after the accident, none of the injuries were described as life-threatening. Two were in serious condition, two more in good condition, and one performer has been released from the hospital.
While Feld Entertainment canceled the other circus performances set for its Providence stop, the circus resumed May 8 in Hartford, CT after a tribute to the injured performers by the show’s ringmaster.
Feld Entertainment also issued an open letter to thank emergency responders and the people of Providence for their care and support, pledging to return to present shows in the city for many years to come.
For more details, go to http://plsn.com/wp/news/21-news/13303
* CORRECTION – An earlier version of this posting incorrectly noted that the carabiner was rated for use with a 10,000-pound load. PLSN has since been contacted by experienced rigger Rocky Paulson, who said that the 10,000 pound number was most likely the carabiner’s breaking strength, an important distinction.
Rigging components, Paulson noted, are typically rated for use at a small fraction of their breaking strength. Hypothetically, a carabiner with a 10,000-pound breaking strength, if it had a rating for use, might only be deemed safe for one or two people only.
Paulson added that while the need for a quick-latch solution might have led to the decision to use a carabiner instead of a shackle, there are a variety of shackle alternatives that combine quick-latch speed with much higher breaking strength and safe-use ratings. He cited two manufacturers for these kinds of components in particular – Crosby and CM.
