Recently, at a circus event in Rhode Island, eight performers fell to the floor when the tent roof caved in. Investigators now believe that it was the fault of a single steel clamp which suspended the top of the tent. There were approximately 3,900 people in the audience at the show when the acrobats tumbled from where they hung, suspended by their hair, all the way to the floor below. Two of the performers are now in critical condition.

The investigators believe that the entire welded steel rigging system that comprised the tent was developed by a husband and wife team. One of the investigators for the Providence Fire Department states that it is not immediately clear why the carabiner failed. Allegedly the large clamp was designed to hold up to 10,000 pounds, and was only suspending about 1,500 pounds at the time of the performance. The movement of the rig may have increased the force.

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus was paused after the accident while the performers were rushed to the hospital. Two of the performers are in serious condition, two are in critical, and four are steadily recovering. Hospital staff says that while some of the individuals were injured, none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening. The acrobats fell approximately 40 feet to the floor. One video of the act shows the women falling to the floor and the lights were dimmed immediately. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration are also investigating the cause of the collapse in hopes of protecting the acrobats.

Circuses are not commonly cited for OSHA violations, because the circus companies tend to take extreme precautions. They recognize that what they are doing is extremely dangerous and perform in a way that promotes safety. If you want more information about workplace injuries like this one, don't hesitate to use our directory and contact a local personal injury attorney. With the right lawyer on your side, you will be able to seek compensation today!