OSHA Punishing SeaWorld for Environmental Activist Reasons
Lara Padgett is a drone for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration who is also an apparent environmental activist. She jumped at the chance to investigate SeaWorld after the death of one of the orca trainers.
She imposed restrictive performance standards on the company before the company found out that she hated SeaWorld, and posed with the makers of an anti-SeaWorld documentary called BlackFish. Now SeaWorld wants to have Padgett investigated for violating several government restrictions, including taking free travel accommodations and for leaking confidential documents.
From CNN here:
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is requesting the U.S. Department of Labor investigate the conduct of employee Lara Padgett, alleging she violated the ethics code for government employees.
Padgett is an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) agent who investigated SeaWorld for safety violations after the death of Dawn Brancheau, a veteran trainer killed by a 12,000-pound orca named Tilikum in 2010.
As a result of some of Padgett’s findings, OSHA determined SeaWorld violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act, saying it exposed its workers to a “known hazard” in the workplace.
OSHA fined SeaWorld and restricted the interaction between trainers in the water with the killer whales.
SeaWorld said it has obtained information showing Padgett is biased against the aquatic park and accused her of engaging in cronyism with the producers of the documentary, “Blackfish,” produced by Magnolia Pictures and acquired by CNN Films last year.
OSHA referred the matter to the inspector general in January, immediately after allegations first surfaced.
Padgett attended the 2013 Sundance Film Festival with “Blackfish” producers and accepted lodging free of charge.
SeaWorld provided CNN with photos of Padgett, from social media accounts, showing the federal employee in various photos with the film’s cast and crew — including a picture of the group in a “Charlie’s Angels” pose, complete with air guns, at the film’s premiere in New York.
The company also accused Padgett of disclosing confidential information. “Blackfish” associate producer Tim Zimmermann asked to borrow a witness’ thumb drive and was subsequently seen working with Padgett on a laptop computer.
The witness then found new documents related to OSHA’s investigation on the drive after it was returned — documents were clearly labeled as SeaWorld trade secrets.
Government employees are prohibited from divulging trade secrets. They face imprisonment, fines or termination if found in violation.
So Padgett tried to maximize damage against a company she hates in exchange for free lodging and the chance to divulge corporate secrets. BlackFish was a movie full of lies and distortions. And the government sent goons to punish the world’s leading research organization that studies the orca.
