The state Division of Occupational Safety and Health is scheduled to inspect the Big Thunder Mountain ride March 8 and 9, state officials said. If Disney has completed all the mandated changes and DOSH recertifies the attraction, it could reopen in time for the busy spring season.

"It will be a comprehensive review of the ride, its operation and procedures," said state spokesman Dean Fryer.

The state agency ordered several changes last November, when it issued a report that linked the accident to a wheel that fell from the train. Experts found that no one had safety-wired or tightened two bolts holding a guide wheel.

The state's investigation report revealed that Disney had allowed mechanics who did not perform maintenance to sign logs certifying that the work was done - a practice that might have contributed to the death of Marcelo Torres of Gardena.

Disney acknowledged that maintenance workers erred and that a team of workers was not adequately trained.

Disney has been working to meet the state's requirements since September and performed an annual refurbishing of the ride.

The state asked Disney to:

Retrain all mechanics and managers on its "West Reliability Team," which covers Big Thunder and other rides on the west side of the park.

Draft a policy requiring ride operators to stop a train if they detect unusual noises.

Require that only mechanics actually performing the work be allowed to sign forms that the work is complete.

Wylie Aitkens, the attorney for the Torres family, was surprised to hear the ride will reopen soon. He said his team's investigation suggests "there are some inherent problems with the Big Thunder ride, both in terms of its age and the original design."

BY MICHELE HIMMELBERG
The Orange County Register