ORLANDO — The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) fined SeaWorld of Orlando LLC $75,000 and cited it for three safety violations after the death of a killer whale trainer. The 6-ton whale, Tilikum, grabbed Dawn Brancheau, during what SeaWorld refers to as a “relationship session,” according to a statement made by OSHA. The autopsy report noted the cause of death to be drowning and traumatic injuries as a result of Brancheau being thrashed and struck by the orca. OSHA stated that SeaWorld management “failed to make meaningful changes to improve the safety of the work environment for its employees.” Tilikum was one of three orcas involved in the death of a trainer in 1991 in Vancouver. One “willful citation” was issued to SeaWorld as a result of it placing trainers in hazardous conditions while working with whales. OSHA issued a “serious citation” for SeaWorld’s failure to have a railing system in place as a barrier between the water and the trainer. The third violation was an “other-than-serious” violation for SeaWorld failing to equip electrical receptacles with weatherproof enclosures, according to a statement from OSHA. “The safety of our guests and employees and the welfare of our animals are core values for SeaWorld and areas in which we do not compromise,” according to a statement released by SeaWorld. The statement went on to say, “that there have been so few incidents over more than 2 million separate interactions with killer whales is evidence not just of SeaWorld’s commitment to safety, but to the success of that training and the skill and professionalism of our staff.” SeaWorld plans on challenging the findings of OSHA. —DEBBIE HATCH