Circus Agrees to Boost Aerial Act Safety After Nine Workers Hurt in ‘Hair Hang’ Stunt

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will implement a safety program for the flying trapeze and other aerial acts as part of a settlement the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced April 23.

The circus reached an agreement with OSHA to settle a citation issued after its “hair hang” act went awry during a May 2014 performance in Providence, R.I.

Eight workers fell more than 15 feet when rigging failed during the act, striking a ninth worker on the ground. All nine workers sustained serious injuries, the agency said.

“This agreement goes beyond this one case,” Patrick ...