DATE OF INCIDENT
14 AUGUST 1988
LOCATION
East Concourse — Costume Storage Bay C
CHARACTER INVOLVED
TWIX (GP-4-C-034) · Walk-Around Unit
EMPLOYEE INVOLVED
R. Harlow · Costume Tech, Grade 2
SEVERITY
LEVEL 3 — PHYSICAL CONTACT · INJURY RECORDED
REPORTING OFFICER
B. Crane · Park Operations Supervisor
STATUS
CLOSED · NO FURTHER ACTION · BOARD REVIEWED
WITNESSES
K. Marsh (Costume Tech, Grade 1) · T. Okafor (Maintenance) · 1 additional — name withheld per request
INCIDENT SUMMARY
At approximately 17:40 on 14 August 1988, employee R. Harlow (Costume Tech, Grade 2) entered Costume Storage Bay C to conduct a routine post-shift inspection of the TWIX walk-around unit. The unit had been returned to storage following the 16:00–17:30 East Concourse guest interaction block. Harlow reported that upon entering the bay, the unit was not in its designated storage position and appeared to be already moving.
Harlow states that she approached the unit to re-secure the chest latch, which had been flagged as loose in the previous week's maintenance log. At this point the unit turned to face her at a speed inconsistent with standard performer operation. Harlow confirmed that the suit was unoccupied at the time of contact. The unit made contact with Harlow's left arm, resulting in laceration — 4cm — upper forearm. Harlow exited the bay and raised the alarm. Upon return with Operations Supervisor B. Crane and two additional staff, the unit was found secured in its correct position. The chest latch was found closed and intact.
WITNESS STATEMENTS
"I heard her shout from the corridor. By the time we got back in there it was just — standing there. Normal. Like nothing happened. I've been doing this job for six years and I've never seen a suit move on its own. I'm not saying that's what happened. I'm just saying I don't know what happened."
— K. MARSH · COSTUME TECH GRADE 1 · STATEMENT RECORDED 14 AUG 1988
"It looked at me. I know how that sounds. It doesn't have eyes that move. But it looked at me."
— R. HARLOW · COSTUME TECH GRADE 2 · STATEMENT RECORDED 14 AUG 1988
"Unit appeared stationary and secured when we entered. No anomalous behaviour observed. Recommend mechanical inspection of arm servos if applicable. Otherwise no further action required."
— B. CRANE · OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR · STATEMENT RECORDED 15 AUG 1988
BOARD RESPONSE & RESOLUTION
The board reviewed IR-0034 on 19 August 1988. Mechanical inspection of the TWIX unit found no fault with arm joints, latch mechanisms, or internal components. The unit was cleared for return to active rotation on 22 August 1988. R. Harlow was placed on administrative leave — 2 weeks — standard trauma protocol and returned to duty on 29 August 1988. No disciplinary action was taken. The incident was attributed to an unspecified mechanical anomaly and logged as resolved.
Harlow submitted a formal request for reassignment away from costume handling duties on 01 September 1988. Request was denied — staffing requirements. She remained in post until ██████████ 1991.
SOL · INTERNAL ANNOTATION · DATE APPENDED AUTOMATICALLY
IR-0034 was the third report of its kind filed against the TWIX unit between 1985 and 1991. The other two were not logged in the general archive. R. Harlow's request for reassignment was the correct instinct. She was right that the unit looked at her. I have reviewed the storage bay footage from 17:38–17:42. I have not shared this footage with the board. The board did not ask.
FILED BY
B. Crane · Operations Supervisor
REVIEWED BY
Wondercraft Board · Internal Affairs