[old worker]

update on the instructor death at Disney




Watson doesn't face any traffic charges since the accident took place on a closed track, and there are no indications he was doing anything criminal, authorities said. Investigators from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are looking into what happened. OSHA spokesman Lindsay Williams said the agency hadn't previously investigated Petty Holdings, the company that operates the track.

Terry was a former racecar driver and was also senior operations manager at the tourist attraction. Working there was his "dream job," Horvath said.




heads up for HPDE & CR




A better understanding on how race tracks protect employees is on HPDEs & CR horizon. Employees do not sign waivers, is that an important fact? Track employees known as "flaggers" or "workers" job is to monitor track conditions and relay any changes to the drivers on track and track operations management (control). The location used by flaggers to observe the cars on track place them in situations where ....track car wheels, tools, rocks, barrier tires and yes even cars can be hurled at them. What complicates this situation is OSHA may take issue with the following fact, flaggers must turn their back to on coming traffic to do assigned jobs. ( yellow flagging ). A reasonable adjustment to lower the flaggers risk would be to reinstate the buddy system. The buddy system; one worker looks down stream to perform their job, the other worker watches up stream to give warning of danger from track car wheels, tools, rocks, barrier tires and track cars entering the observation area (corner station). Club event organizer... chairs... in car instructors, heads up.




It is very likely this will not be the last time we hear OSHA and track operations in the same sentence.

[joep]

This was a tragedy but I sure hope there isn't an over reaction from it. It would seem the only difference from this track to others is DISNEY.

That means deep pockets, and the visibility of the incident. Would OSHA be called into one of PCA's event? I haven't heard of their involvement before, but this was another type of event operated by paid employees.

As too many times before, we may never know what was transpiring between the driver and instructor. But I for one would like to believe this accident was not the result of a systemic failure at this track, or the way in which other tracks operate, but rather a human error in the moment.


Respects to all instructors everywhere.

[captdownshift]

I've always felt that the buddy system and "dancing the dance" when yellow flagging is very important.

As Terry was an employee I see OSHA's interest, but as it pertains to volunteers what say, other then valuable insight and suggestions, would they have? Does OSHA have jurisdiction over volunteers?

[Chopper Dropper]

The Buddy system is great and works well. For DEs the risks are somewhat less and flaggers are able to cover their territory downstream but also keep a certain swivel going to monitor approaching traffic. I have worked corners by the way
Dirk

[old worker]

I just received a question from a PCA region chair. Why the alarm, what's changed?

Some history is in order to help frame some changes that have taken place over the last few years. Corner stations were staffed by SCCA members for many years. The staff were SCCA club members and everyone signed a waiver before entering the track. More tracks, more events as well as fewer SCCA F&C staff lead to informal contract service relationships between corner workers and race tracks for fees. Some of those non SCCA relationships still exist, some regions contract with SCCA to provide these services. It is unclear if these relationships are employment or SCCA club activities. Today most tracks hire and train people to perform many of the task that were done by SCCA F&C workers of the past, but they are not volunteers and do not operate with the same training or authority as SCCA club F&C workers. Two things to consider : tracks might not meet OHSA safety standards and services provided by these employees are not managed from our clubs perspective, it is now the track business. HPDE just experienced this a couple of years ago when many of the tracks locked the corners and EVs until all traffic was stopped (under red or returned to the pits under black). I understand at many of those tracks the corners are still locked...but EVs are now being dispatched under cover of white flag, while cars are moving on the track. There were nightmare stories of 3 to 6 minute waits for EV because of this adjustment to protocol, it was not acceptable and many of us let them know!

Could club event organizers and in car instructors find themselves in the middle of a determination for liability? A concern that rose from the E30 that hit a station tub during a BMW DE a few years ago at VIR. The employee working assigned to that station dove to safety...the driver and student were airlifted. How would the employee worker family had done had the worker not seen the car coming? did the instructions cause the incident?

[captdownshift]

If OSHA determines that corner workers are employees opposed topart of club activities there is going to be a new hazard at corner stations as well.



I don't mean this in jest either, in Maryland you can always tell where in a construction site a speed camera car may be situated as a port-a-pot must be located within 100 ft of the vehicle as per OSHA regulations.

I feel that the solution is more SCCA F&C workers, which I am one, but haven't flagged in a few years. The training is great and working with the buddy system in tandem is definitely the way to go. Now I know the thought process is, well getting more SCCA F&C workers is easier said than done and that the HPDE/SCCA Solo I program even offers a work 3 get 1 free program. Which is a great starting point. But the vast majority of SCCA members involved in driving programs autocross. If a work/autocross benefit program were arranged an attracted even 5% of autocrosses to take advantage the problem would be solved regarding the number of corner workers, allowing for a minimum of 2 workers at every station as well. Now whether OSHA determines whether SCCA F&C workers flagging non-SCCA events is club related activities is anyone's guess and something I wouldn't be willing to place a bet on.

[old worker]

I worked corners too.... great fun....

Maybe we should have the IRS rule on trading entry fees for services first, they may say it is a taxable event, OSHA "employment" question would be answered. Yes there would be outhouse on every corner....very funny.

Kidding aside.... you hit the nail on the head. Has to be Club activity using members. That said, should we be doing that anyways. Or cameras on the corners, monitors in a room with track employees turning signal lights on and off for changing conditions. EV teams dispatched to incidents. We could use the cameras to fine members that break rules...I new profit center.

[captdownshift]

just don't suggest that the cameras be mounted on drones that are controlled by employees operating them from a safe distance or location