Amusement Ride Safety

Tragedy Hits in Louisiana at the State Fair

2011-11-04T09:18:00.007-04:00

On Wednesday November 2, 2011 at the Louisiana State Fair, (http://www.statefairoflouisiana.com/default.aspx) located in Shreveport, LA a five year old child was critically injured after another child was able to depress the start button for the Kiddie ride called the Twin Ring Demolition Derby manufactured by Moser Rides (http://moserrides.com/funnyrides/twin-rings/tw-cars/twin-rings-cars.htm) . According to documentation released by the Louisiana Office of the State Fair Marshall, the ride was manufactured in 2007 and had been inspected at least twice during 2011 by two different people outside of the carnival. The most recent inspection was dated 10/26/11. This report is clearly incomplete and is missing important information.

In Louisiana the law allows for competent third party inspections with over sight by the State Fire Marshall. To assist in that oversight the state has adopted the American Society of Testing & Material (ASTM) F-24 Committee on Amusement Rides and Devices Consensus Standards. The F-24 Standards are guidelines and/or minimum requirements as outlined by law.

The circumstances in Wednesday's tragic incident are covered in detail in the F-24 Standards and the related references. The particulars of the incident as reported also suggest to me that OSHA Lock Out - Tag Out rules would also apply.

I urge the state to take immediate action to correct all amusement rides that operate in Louisiana with out the required Fail-Safe and/or Lock Out Tag Out devices that are required under the ASTM F-24 and applicable related consensus standards.

http://www.krmgoup.com

What you need to know before renting a bounce/jump house

2011-06-07T06:01:00.003-04:00

What You Need To Know
Before You Rent or Purchase
A Bounce/Jump House

March 2009

They are called many things; moonwalk, bounce house, bounce, jumpy thing or just inflatable. There is one thing they are not, they are not toys. There are strict procedures and guidelines on how to set them up and how to operate them. There are many professional companies and individuals who are in the business and do a very good job of helping facilitate you and your child’s fun. We see them in parks, at schools, churches, stores, birthday parties, block parties, automobile dealers, grand openings, radio station remotes and just about any event where people come together. The comments that follow are design specifically for events that are open to the public. Private events should follow the same guidelines.

Here are my tips that can make your event go smoothly. You need to make sure that the business or individual is licensed and insured in your locality. If applicable in your locality you need to make sure the device itself is permitted and inspected by the authority having jurisdiction (i.e. county, town, city or state). If there is some type of inspection in your locality, you need to verify that it has been performed. Part of the permitting and inspection process may include liability insurance. You need to check and verify or see the original certificate of insurance, no copies. Your homeowner’s insurance will not cover any incidents that may occur while the inflatable is on your property. The person or business you are using is making money and as with any business they have operating expenses and cost. Insurance is one of them.

Now that you have the research and the paperwork done it is time to focus on the setup of the inflatable. You need to make sure that the area you are using to set up the inflatable is free from hazards, including underground, above ground and on the ground. This will involve the local utility locater service that operates in your community. The number is usually found in the front of most telephone directories. Your local utility company can also provide the number via their customer service number. The utility locater service should make the area 2-3 days in advance of your rental/event. They use spray paint which will not harm your lawn. The colors will disappear when you cut your grass. By the way, do not cut your lawn between the time it is marked and you have your event.

During the setup, it is all about location. Take care to have the surface area that users come in contact with face away from the sun. This is very important in the summer months. Facing north is the best option. Use the measurements of the inflatable for positioning. If you have a 15’ x 15’ unit you want to be at least 15’ away from the nearest object or hazard in all directions. That distance would increase as the size of the inflatable increases. The inflatable should have a protective cover placed between your lawn and the inflatable. No discoloration should occur provided your event is just one day. The cover may or may not be held down with spikes that look like giant nails. The inflatable is then rolled out, the blower is attached and inflation may begin. Some times stakes, sandbags or counterweights are put in place before inflation. This is a good idea.
Most people do not think of an inflatable as a sail, but it is a giant sail and if enough winds get in it or through it, it will fly away children and all. Every inflatable may have different anchoring requirements. There are many factors to consider such as the type of soil, is the soil wet or dry, sandy or rocky. Only the manufacturer and the person providing you the inflatable will know the requirements. If the requirement are not known the Consumer Product Safety Commission requires at least 75 pounds per anchorage point for a standard inflatable or 500 pounds per anchorage point for the large inflatable such as slides. Stakes that can be used are metal straight or screw stakes that range from 32 – 42 inches in length. At least 75 percent of the length of the stake should be in the ground. The ends of the stakes should be covered and protect to prevent tripping hazards. The bottom line is; if the inflatable has a loop, d-ring, eyelet, strap or other place of attachment, it should be connected to an anchoring device. Do not attachment any anchoring device to a tree, motor vehicle, building, pole or other device.

Protective mats such as a tumbling or wrestling mat are required at all entrance and exits. They should cover the fall hazard area. Mats are important on grass as well. Take a fresh egg out to your yard and drop it from 3-4 feet. It may not break completely, however it will crack.

By now the electricity should be ready to be connected to the blower/motors. A general rule of thumb is you will need a 20 amp, 110 volt circuit for each blower/motor. It should be a dedicated circuit with no other devices/outlets on it. You are out doors so it also needs to be a GFIC outlet. That is the funny looking outlet with the buttons between the receptacles that is usually found on bathroom, kitchen and outdoor electrical outlets. Avoid running electric cords to outlets inside a building if possible. A generator may also be used. Make sure the generator is properly grounded per the manufacturer and the National Electric Code Article 525. After everything is properly set up and connected it is time to turn the switch of. The blowers will make a lot of noise and you will have a hard time talking and hearing people. If a generator is used there will also be lots of noise.

During inflation the inflatable may look like it is not inflatable properly. The people setting it up may pull or tug on various areas. This is normal as sometimes the material is cold and just does not want to move quickly. One the inflatable is fully inflated the blowers will continue to run and it is normal to feel air escaping from areas around the seams. There are various areas on the inflatable that are used for deflation. They should be closed and secured. You are just about ready to go.

Before you allow your child or any child into any inflatable there needs to be a responsible and trained adult supervising the bouncing and jumping. This is necessary for many reasons some of them are: all manufacturer state it in their manual, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says so and the authority’s having jurisdiction
over inflatable’s say so as well as the amusement ride/device industry. The trained/responsible person must have no other duties or responsibilities other than making sure the users are doing so safely. Safety Rules should be posted and enforced. I look at the responsible person as a life guard. Give them a whistle and when someone is not obeying the rules, let that person know that what they are doing is wrong. Remember the blowers make a lot of noise so you need to be heard. On inflatable’s that have slides or courses where the one attendant can not see or view the entire area then you should have two trained attendants.

Some other tips to make your event safe and happy are be sure to have a telephone close by in case of an emergency. A first aid kit would be handy in the event of a minor injury. An ABC rated fire extinguisher would also be a good idea. If using a generator it is a must. Keep all fuel cans away from the generator and never re-fuel a generator while hot or running. No Smoking while handling fuel.

http://www.krmgoup.com

2011-06-05T08:41:00.002-04:00

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/05/new.york.floating.houses/

Once again a bounce house takes to the air. This time with children on them. Want to bet they were not properly secured?

http://www.krmgoup.com

11 year old child dies in fall from amusement ride

2011-06-05T07:51:00.003-04:00

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/investigation-begins-into-fatal-fall-from-morey-s-pier-ferris/article_5890785a-8f2d-11e0-ae01-001cc4c03286.html

According to this article, officials from the amusement ride industry are calling this incident freak, unique. I say it is neither. It has happened before and most likely may happen again. That is why many owners and manufactures of these types of attractions have a "No Single Rider" policy and/or have installed seat belts.

http://www.krmgoup.com

Don't expect quick payout in amusement park accident | InsuranceQuotes.com

2011-05-29T08:13:00.000-04:00

Don't expect quick payout in amusement park accident | InsuranceQuotes.com

http://www.krmgoup.com

2011-05-19T07:59:00.003-04:00

I usually write about issues related to amusement ride safety. This time I fell obligated to report on something that I witnessed first hand the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada. While waiting to board a flight to Atlanta on the Delta Concourse, Gate 41 yesterday, the Gate Agent announced that the TSA would be performing secondary screening and to please keep your ID out and available.

The Las Vegas airport has the full body scanners at the main checkpoint, but for some reason they do not appear to use them. Yesterday they were pre-boarding my Delta flight to Atlanta, GA. Dozens of people who had all types of extra bags and items were allowed to board in advance. Then general boarding was called. None of these people were pulled aside and checked. As I boarded with my group of five one of our traveling companions was pulled out of boarding and given a pat down at least three times in certain areas in front of several hundred other Delta passengers.

The pat down was very, very through, the woman was very embarrassed and started to tear up. They went through her bag again, which contain only camera gear. They did not make her take her shoes off.

I do not understand why TSA publicly humiliated this woman in front of hundreds of passengers. You could tell this woman was not hiding anything in or under her clothes. But why seen her through the full body scanner? The TSA web site clears out lines the procedure for pat downs. The Las Vegas TSA agents did not even follow their own rules.

Something needs to be done to stop this type of behavior.

http://www.krmgoup.com

Another Deadly Weekend in the Amusement Ride Industry

2011-04-03T15:21:00.003-04:00

April 3, 2011

Another Deadly Weekend

On Saturday afternoon two children sailed over a three lane road in Arizona and Saturday night a child was killed while riding a roller coaster at a “fun center” located in Norridge, IL. Published reports say the child in Illinois fell from the Python Pit located at a “Go Bananas” indoor entertainment center.

http://www.suntimes.com/4638714-420/boy-3-dies-in-fall-from-roller-coaster-at-suburban-amusement-park.html

The Arizona incident was blame on a “dust devil”.

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_fac994cb-f69e-5064-ae0b-c2d136e53cda.html

In both cases I suspect human error was involved. I predict in the Arizona case we will learn that someone failed to adequately secure the inflatable and lack of proper supervision. The Illinois’ case is already releasing some very good information. The Sun Times article says the ride travels behind an area that is “walled” off from the rest of the ride. Industry standards mandate that the operator has a clear view and control of the ride at all times. Also the child came out of the restraint system. The industry has sort of a one size fits most system for kiddie rides. What is needed is a system similar to a seat belt in an automobile that fits across the lap and hips and not a strap that goes across the top of the car or carrier.

Hopefully these stories do not get forgotten and something good will become of this tragic event.

Ken Martin

http://www.krmgoup.com

Consumer Alert: CPSC Warns of Deadly Danger with Water Walking Balls -- WASHINGTON, March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

2011-03-31T09:06:00.001-04:00

Consumer Alert: CPSC Warns of Deadly Danger with Water Walking Balls -- WASHINGTON, March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

http://www.krmgoup.com

South Carolina Kiddie Train Death

2011-03-29T09:19:00.003-04:00

March 29, 2011

It disturbs me that yet another death on an amusement ride has occurred and a ride inspector may have played one or more roles in this tragedy. A kiddie train that has a service proven record that was manufactured over fifty years ago is at the center of attention. The manufacture, Miniature Train Co., an Affiliate of P.A. Sturtevant was a Rensselaer, Indiana based business. That company was purchased or obtained by the Allan Herschell Company. The Allan Herschell Company was acquired by the Chance Manufacturing Co,, INC of Wichita, Kansas.

All of these companies manufactured and produced very good products which were primarily amusement rides. None of these businesses exist today to my understanding. The key to a good ride is good maintenance, a good inspection and proper operation.

The kiddie train at Cleveland Park in Spartanburg, South Carolina is reported to be owned and operated by the County Parks and Recreation Department, is called a G-16 Miniature Train. It was operated by one of their employees.

In South Carolina kiddie trains are considered amusement rides and are required to be inspected once a year by a state amusement ride inspector. It is reported that the inspector falsified his report for an inspection just days before the March 19, 2011 incident where the train is reported to have been going too fast and overturned while approaching a curve in the tracks.

The Operator of the kiddie train has given several statements publicly. I’ll go with his first statement to police while on the way to the hospital. It is the most believable and appears to be from the heart.

We have now found out that a manual exists for this train that gives detailed information on how to maintain and operate this G-16 Miniature Train. A child’s life was lost and many people were injured. How can anyone have faith in the system?

Ken Martin

Amusement Ride Safety Consultant

KRM Consulting

Richmond, VA

804-342-1808

http://www.krmgoup.com

Rider Thrown From a Roller Coaster

2011-03-27T14:19:00.003-04:00

Rider Thrown From a Roller Coaster

On Sunday March 20, 2011, a 46 year old male passenger was riding the Hi-Miler portable Roller Coaster, located at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Houston, Texas. The victim fell almost 30 feet to the pavement below resulting in fatal injuries. This Hi-Miler Roller Coaster travels from state to state, primarily in the southwest corner of the United States. The states that it operates in are very loosely regulated when it comes to amusement ride safety. For the most part all the owner needs is insurance. In Texas they are required to have an inspection by an inspector that is approved by their insurance company.

In published reports the amusement industry was very quick to focus blame on anyone but themselves, rather than coming out and assuring the public that no stone would be left unturned to find the cause(s) of this horrible incident.

There are many, many factors that could affect the outcome of this case. They occur so infrequently and so little information is forth coming from within the industry. Anytime you mix people and machinery you can have a recipe for disaster. The first thing that we will hear about is mechanical failure. Remember this is a 30 year old out of production amusement ride. However by industry standards it appears to have somewhat of a “service proven” record. Remember it primarily operates in states with little regulation and government oversight.

In past similar incidents, the focus has been on the “safety envelope” of the attraction, signage, possible medical issues, operator inattention, language barriers and other controllable issue.

If the death of an individual wasn’t sad enough, the Hi-Miler Roller Coaster has been allowed to move on to the next spot without the proper testing or incident reconstruction that is an everyday part of life. How could we improve things without doing a proper and through investigation? The only way to accomplish this is through a multi-discipline approach to solving what happened.

No matter where you live or vote, it is time to contact your legislator and urge improvement to amusement ride safety and uniformed oversight of amusement rides and attractions.

http://www.krmgoup.com

Consumer Recall

2011-03-24T09:12:00.000-04:00

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11182.html

http://www.krmgoup.com

Courthouse News Service

2011-01-06T11:00:00.001-05:00

Courthouse News Service
This just just unbelievable and yet it happens all over the U.S.
http://www.krmgoup.com

Barrel Train incident kills 1 seroiusly injures others

2010-11-14T07:53:00.004-05:00

The incident below is an example of how loosely regulated amusement rides are throughout the United States. Chances are this homemade device has no engineering data, manufacturing standards, or even insurance. I have experience in several of these. People think they are going to get wealthy quick scheme. What makes this one so sad is a child is dead.

By the way, four wheelers are not commercial vehicle or should be used to pull human cargo.

http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?S=13495401

"News9.com

MARIETTA, Oklahoma – One child is dead and four children were seriously injured in an accident involving a four-wheeler ride at the Love County Fairgrounds.

Love County Undersheriff Jason Bone said a four-wheeler was pulling 55 gallon barrels that were hollowed out so kids could sit in them for a make-shift train ride. Seven of those drums were being pulled by the ATV when they overturned.

Three children were airlifted to an area hospital. Two other children were taken to the hospital in Marietta where 8-year-old Jaylen Wolf was pronounced dead. The other child remained hospitalized.

Bone said the children range in age from three to eight years old.

The driver of the four-wheeler was not injured.

The accident happened around 5:45 p.m. at the Big 5 Headstart benefit spaghetti supper, at the Love County fair building.

The Love's County Sheriff's Department and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are investigating the incident."

***The picture above is not the barrel train that the story refers to. It is a photo of another very similar barrel train.**

http://www.krmgoup.com

West Virginia Amusement Ride Inspections

2010-07-16T15:19:00.003-04:00

Effective immediately I am now performing official state inspections in West Virginia. West Virginia at this time requires an annual inspection of all amusement rides, devices and attractions.

Inspections can be arranged in advance by contacting Ken Martin at 804-342-1808. I will continue to do inspections in Missouri, Texas and Virginia as well as consulting and expert services.

http://www.krmgoup.com

Duck Boat incident on the Delaware River

2010-07-07T18:59:00.004-04:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100707/ap_on_re_us/us_philly_duck_boat_accident

As a Safety Consultant and Expert Witness I have handled a few premises liability cases involving Duck Boats. A Duck Boat is a combination of motor vehicle, bus, taxi, boat, amusement device and entertainment venue.

The crews that staff them for the most part are seasonal workers under 25 and should be mentioned very little training.

I think it is time for the individual states and cities to pursue stricter permitting and licensing and inspection of the devices. An incident such as the one today on the Delaware River should have never occurred, much less should there have been loss of life.

http://www.krmgoup.com

A third incident involving a child

2010-03-30T12:56:00.001-04:00

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/fl-miami-dade-fair-boy-hurt-20100330,0,4787526.story

It is reported that the child was not secure in the ride located at the Miami-Dade Fair.

http://www.krmgoup.com

A new incident involving a child and an amusement ride

2010-03-29T21:39:00.003-04:00

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=12223096

Warning graphic pictures of the injured child.

This latest incident involves a Zamperla Tea Cup ride also know as a mini Tea Cup. It can be considered a family ride and is designed for multiple riders. The mini Tea Cup had a mandatory Safety Bulletin last year regarding the installation of seat belts.

The seat belts to be installed were not what we think of when we think of seat belts. It is more of a one size fits all seat belt, or in this case one size fits riders on one side of the tub/car and an exact same belt is on the other side. Of course the best type of seat belt is where each rider has their own. To do that it would perhaps restrict the capacity of this particular amusement ride.

The base of the Tea Cup rides spins at about 7 rpm's. Then within that base there are separate platforms that contain the actual tub/car that spins about twice speed of the larger platform. The individual tub/car has its own axle and brake and it could be possible for the individual tub/car to spin as fast as someone could humanly spin the tub/car.

The spinning sensation can and does create forces/pressure on the body that are called "G" forces. Normally a ride is designed and manufactured to limit these amount of forces. These forces can be negative or positive. Due to the dual spinning nature of this ride and the reported extra spinning by an unknown individual it is very foreseeable that negative forces existed and it was those forces that forced the child out of his seat. Had one seat belt per passenger been in use it is very likely the child would not have come out of the ride, however he still could have had a injury.

"G" forces sometime are hard to understand. Say you have a 50 pound rider and the negative "G" forces are -2.5 then there would be about 125 pounds of force against the rider, forcing them out of the tub/car. Even if a 50 pound individual was strong for there size, I do not think that they could hold on for very long.

My information is based on my knowledge, education and experience. It also tells me that when children and amusement rides are involved nothing is ever simple.

http://www.krmgoup.com

Inflatable Safety is in the news again

2010-03-28T09:28:00.005-04:00

http://www.kansas.com/2010/03/28/1244792/inflatables-owner-says-misuse.html

http://www.kansas.com/2010/03/28/1244818/rules-for-inflatables-safety-seen.html

Plain and simple the owner of this Kansas inflatable center was not following the industry standards, Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements or standard common sense. On top of that he allowed his own son to inspect and certify his inflatables. Why because the city allowed that.

Then comes a fellow safety consultant who suggest the extreme when it comes to inspection. As of my last information the testing and certification he speaks of does not have any questions regarding inflatables.

Here is what needs to be done.

1. Write a comprehensive law similar to Pennslyvania's or New Jersey's for Inflatables.

2. Train the owner and operators.

3. Staff each and every inflatable with a training operator. Two for the larger ones.

4. Educate the patron and let them know that they are responsible for following the rules and listening to the operator of the inflatable.

http://www.krmgoup.com

2010-03-05T12:37:00.002-05:00

LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY
(Is This in Store for Richmond, VA)
March 5, 2010

As a safety consultant and premises’ liability expert I am often called upon to evaluate or opine on incidents where people and/or property are injured and/or damaged as a result of other people’s inadequate care or negligence. Or in other words, I find out what went wrong. In doing so, I travel down many paths and gather lots of information and evidence regarding the what, when, how and where an incident occurs.

Recently I had an opportunity to attend a training seminar conducted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Amusement Ride Safety bureau, held in Grantville, Pennsylvania. The seminar covered every aspect of amusement ride safety, which is heavily premises’ liability related. This year a track was added on Haunted Attractions. It included night clubs, dance halls, auditorium, arenas and just about every type of public assembly place imaginable.

The keynote speaker was Dave Kane. Unless you are from Rhode Island most likely most likely you might not know him. He is the father of the youngest person killed in the Station Night Club a few years ago. In this particular fire 100 people were killed and over 200 were injured as the result of negligence on the part of many people.

The facts of this case were a night club run by two brother that had been decorated with flammable material where live music with pyrotechnics were used. The original certificate of occupancy was for much less than the over 400 people in the building that night. Make no mistake; the brothers who owned and operated this night club are ultimately responsible for the man made disaster. As a result of the massive and multi-jurisdictional investigation it revealed failure on not only the owners, but also the Building Official, Fire Marshall, other city Officials and the band. The band member who pushed the button for the fireworks stepped up and took responsibility for his actions. He served a few months in jail. No one else served any time. Civil lawsuits and their settlements are pending.

Let’s apply this to the situation right her in Richmond, Virginia. We have people promoting teen parties at various locations across the city in buildings that are not approved for that type of use. In fact we don’t even have a current night club ordinance on the books to enforce any laws that we may or may not have regulating these situations. The police say they are short staffed, over worked and not well versed in the social networks where these events are promoted.

We add to this fact that teenagers are being brought into the city from all over the metro area. Others are being dropped off by their parents while others are telling their parents they are out with friends or at the movies. Add some alcohol, motor vehicles, attitudes, guns and you get an unbelievable formula for disaster, all man made.

For the most part the Richmond Police top brass are being tight lipped. Just like they were a few years ago when my neighbor was murdered in broad daylight on West Broad Street near the DMV. Many times I have asked why do you keep the information to yourself. Times they are a changing. Electronic notification via email and messaging service is the latest in many cities. The more eyes and ears we have listening and looking for things the more responsive we can be to dangerous situations such as these teenage parties. Hey the teens are using it, why not the people trying to prevent tragedy?

Just like in the Rhode Island Station Night Club incident we can ultimately indentify the responsible party, which are the parents and they should be held responsible. However the rest of us have a moral obligation to participate in preventing these catastrophic events.

http://www.krmgoup.com

Lessons learned in amusement ride safety

2009-08-21T08:50:00.006-04:00

This is regarding a recent incident involving a "swing" type amusement ride called The Swinger. Last year in Georgia a patron was reported to have come out of the fiberglass chair style seat that was attached to a set of chains that hung from one of the sweeps or arms of this very popular amusement ride.

As reported by the Atlanta Constitution-Journal the ride had recently under gone a refurbishment, a Georgia state amusement ride inspection and an inspection by the insurance carrier. Three sets of eyes, possibly more depending on how many people were involved with the refurbishment failed to see or ignored the warning on the package. In all fairness chances are the various inspectors did not have the advantage of having the package available for inspection. However these "S" hooks can be bent with a pair of pliers. That alone should speak volumes.

I hope and pray that the people involved with this particular ride have learned a lesson when it comes to fastners. If they had ever attended any amusement ride training at all they would have learned the first day that fastners hold and keep amusement rides together.

http://www.krmgoup.com

Marriott once again disregards the CPSC

2009-07-06T07:59:00.003-04:00

According to NBC's The Today Show the Marriott corporation has failed to 100% comply with and install the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) mandated pool drain cover recall program. This is not the first time the Marriott Corporation has snubbed their noses at the CPSC. Here is information regarding a previous encounter.

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 1981
Release # 81-004

Commission Announces Settlement Of Civil Penalty Action Involving Amusement Rides

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 27, 1981) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Marriott Corporation today announced that a civil penalty action against Marriott has been settled in the amount of $70,000. The action involved the company's alleged failure to report to CPSC accidents and other information about Marriott amusement rides which indicated possible product hazards at Marriott's Great America amusement parks in Santa Clara, California and Gurnee, Illinois.

The settlement, which relates solely to CPSC charges that Marriott failed to meet these reporting requirements, concludes one of the first civil penalty actions brought against an owner of amusement park rides for failure to report possible product hazards.

Last August, after modifications made by Marriott to the "Willard's Whizzer" ride at the Great America park in Santa Clara (near San Jose) where an accident occurred on March 29, 1980, the CPSC staff inspected the ride and identified no safety defects. The same modifications were made on the "Willard's Whizzer" ride at the Great America Park in Gurnee (near Chicago).
As part of the settlement, Marriott agreed to begin making regular reports to CPSC during the next two years regarding the safety of amusement rides the company owns or operates. Marriott also agreed to withdraw a lawsuit it has brought in U.S. District Court in San Francisco which alleges that the Commission does not have any jurisdiction over amusement park rides.
The company took these actions without conceding to the jurisdiction of CPSC or to any violation involving the reporting requirements under the Consumer Product Safety Act.

The law permits the Commission to seek civil penalties of as much as $500,000 from a company which fails to report promptly to CPSC a defect which could create a substantial product hazard.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information or report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.

Come on Marriott close the pools immediately and fix the drain covers.

http://www.krmgoup.com

Overview of Virginia's Amusement Ride Safety Program

2009-06-30T12:13:00.002-04:00

In Virginia amusement rides are regulated by the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development. Rides are permitted and inspected by the local authority having jurisdiction (Building Official). A trained and certified third party inspector may be used however the local Building Official still is in charge. They are also in charge of investigating any incident where serious injury occurs.

The ride involved in the recent Virginia incident is no longer in production. It was made by Eyerly Aircraft of Oregon. No they did not make airplanes. The former Lakeside Amusement Park had several rides by Eyerly Aircraft. This particular ride is required to have periodic stress testing called non-destructive testing. This testing involves the use of x-rays, liquid dye penetrate or magnetic particles. These test of performed at various intervals.

Tips to enjoy your day at the Fair.

Make sure you are well hydrated.

Where shoes that cover the entire foot no sandals or flip flops.

Secure loose article of clothing, jewelry & hair.

Empty pockets of loose items and do not take cell phones, PDAs or other like items on amusement rides.

Before riding a ride watch the action of the ride. What type of reaction do the riders show? Is this something that you want to experience or have your child experience?
Look at the ride. Does it look rust, worn or all beat up? Listen to the ride? Does it make unusual noise all the time or just some of the time? Ask the ride operator what is that noise. If you don’t like their answer, avoid the ride. Never force a child to ride a ride.

READ THE RULES TO THE RIDE.

PAY ATTENTION TO THE RIDE OPERATOR.

Keep all body parts (hand, arms, feet, legs, hair) inside the passenger compartment of the ride.

Make sure your ride has a seat belt, lap bar or other secure method of securing you in the seat. A piece of rope or chain will not secure you.
Sit down in the seat properly, feet on the floor as applicable, eyes forward

If you suspect a problem or you have an unanswered question(s) seek out someone from the Fair or Carnival provider’s management team or look for a police officer to report the problem.

http://www.krmgoup.com

Collier County Fair Amusement Ride Investigation

2009-04-15T07:40:00.002-04:00

April 15, 2009

Recently the Florida Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fair Rides issued their report concerning an incident on February 5, 2009 involving the “Avalanche” amusement ride located at the Collier County Fair. A young woman was ejected/thrown from the ride during the operation of the ride. The injured woman was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where she was treated for her injuries. Her status is not known however from the Bureau of Fair Rides Report the potential existed for life threatening injuries.

A subsequent investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Fair Rides and the manufacturer of the “Avalanche” amusement ride. The Bureau of Fair Rides report indicates that the ride was functioning properly. The manufacturer reports that they found the ride to be operating faster than recommended by the Operations Manual and at least one of the individual seat restraint latching was not operating properly. However a secondary device was operating properly at that time. Further investigation revealed other intermittent problems.

This particular “Avalanche” amusement ride has been the subject of several other patron ejections dating back to almost ten years. The restraint system is set up to have a redundant back-up. However that system must checked and tested as well.

The owner/operator of the “Avalanche” amusement ride went as far as to install a crotch strap that ensures the restraint is held down in place. This was done with the permission of the “Avalanche” manufacturer. Additional the Ride Manufacturer issued a Bulletin requiring Owner/Operators of “Avalanche” amusement rides to check the speed and if a ride is found to be operating outside the parameters established by the manufacturer you should make repairs as necessary.

There are some things that I do not understand about this particular incident. The Manufacture requires that the revolutions per minute (RPM) be checked on the ride. Anyone who has ever ridden an amusement ride knows that the motion of the amusement ride is what makes it fun. Spinning too slow can be boring and spinning too fast can have fatal consequences. Yet the Bureau of Fair Rides and the Ride Owner/Operator have no indication that the RPM’s were ever were ever counted, checked, recorded or otherwise observed anywhere in the report.

This particular amusement ride has both positive and negative forces and is very dependant on knowing what the forces and the amount of force is. That is why it has the restraint system with redundancy and why it is necessary to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines in the repair and maintenance of the amusement ride.

There are several other things in the official report that stand out. They pale in comparison to the ones I have mentioned.

A quick overview of the amusement ride industry shows at best it is a patchwork of regulations and very little in any information sharing on a regular basis. The industry tends to be reactive as opposed to proactive. Incident, statistic and tracking systems are non existent on a nationwide basis. For all intents and purposes the amusement ride industry is self regulated by the same people who manufacture, design, own and operate the amusement rides. Government involvement is minimal at best and then they are using the industry’s own self regulation as an enforcement tool. Talk about the fox guarding the hen house.

http://www.krmgoup.com

Child Lost Inside Inflatable Obstacle Course

2009-03-15T13:11:00.005-04:00

Several Dallas, Texas area news outlets are reporting a three year old child was lost inside an Inflatable Obstacle Course located at an indoor Fun Center in Flower Mound, Texas. Yes, I said inside the inflatable obstacle course.
http://cbs11tv.com/local/bounce.house.flower.2.957910.html
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/localnews/news8/stories/wfaa090313_mo_inflatables.2cbf63d5.html

Inflatable Amusement Rides and Devices have become very popular over the last 5-10 years. Once they were found only on carnival midways and amusement parks. Now any Tom, Dick or Harry as well any Mary, Jane or Suzy can order one off the Internet or go to their local warehouse club and purchase one. In a blink of an eye you are in the amusement ride business.

This Texas incident could not have occurred in a worse location. In Texas the Texas Department of Insurance oversees the insurance portion of the amusement ride industry. An annual inspection by a third party inspector is required. The inspector has to be approved by the Texas Department of Insurance. The oversight and enforcement is not as good as some of the east coast states, but it is better than nothing.

Back to the Inflatable Fun Center. The Obstacle Course that this child was using has a minimum height limit. That height limit is 42 inches. The average height of a three year old is 39 inches. This inflatable has pillars that inflate and stick up out of the floor of the unit. The reports and information at hand have suggested this three year old child stepped in or on one of these pillars and fell into and between the pieces of vinyl that make of this device. We were not there so we don't know all the facts.

Here is what we know that should have been in place so that this incident should not have occured.

1. Strict enforcement of the manufacturers rules and regulations, which would include enforcement of height limit and other minimum requirements.

2. A trained and responsible attendant(s) that are responsible for each and every child in or on the inflatable obstacle course. If one attendant can not observe the entire obstacle course, then as many as needed or required by the manufacturer should have been present.

Perhaps more should be added but for now I suspect these two have covered this situation.

If you take nothing else away from this article be sure to remember this. Parents and supervising adults of children, yes you are responsible for your children. However when you go into a business with your child that business has an obligation to operate safely so that you leave the same way you came in. NEVER allow your child to enter, use or otherwise participate in or on any type of amusement ride, inflatable or otherwise without an Attendant. Hopefully that Attendant will be properly trained, educated and tested on the subject matter he/she is overseeing.

Related Links
http://www.rideaccidents.com
http://www.saferparks.org

http://www.krmgoup.com

What you need to know before renting a bounce/jump house

2009-03-11T21:01:00.001-04:00

Alltel Slams Amusement Ride Safety Industry

2009-03-04T21:09:00.002-05:00

Thursday March 5, 2009

For Immediate Release:

For More Information Contact:
Ken Martin, KRM Consulting
804-342-1808

ALLTEL MOCKS AMUSEMENT RIDE SAFETY

Richmond, VA A Richmond television station (WWBT NBC) is airing Alltel’s latest commercial. The primarily computer generated commercial features their spokesperson Chad and an unnamed family. The setting is underneath a steel suspended roller coaster at an amusement park. The family members are seen gathering dropped items from the riders of the roller coaster as it passes.

Despite the heavily branded theme of the commercial, it shows and allows teenagers and adults access in a highly restricted area underneath the roller coaster. Roller coaster riders and other individuals have been seriously injured and killed while doing this type of activity.

The commercial not only promotes unsafe practices, it encourages individuals to take a chance for a reward. The commercial even shows how to perform this potential deadly error.

This is not the type of behavior of the vast majority of roller coaster riders. It also negatively portrays amusement parks as a place to take a chance or risk for a reward.

The amusement ride season is just around the corner. Thousands of people will flock to their favorite amusement ride for good entertainment with relatively little risk. Human behavior is the number 1 cause of injury and death on amusement rides.

# # #

Will scalping change laws

2009-02-20T09:35:00.003-05:00

A Washington state woman is lobbying to change a designed to improve the safety of amusement rides in that state.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/39889487.html

The interesting thing about this particular incident involves machine guarding or guarding of moving parts of a machine.

Machine guarding has been around as an OSHA regulation for many years. We see it all the time at and at home. The powers tools we have at home or the drill press or grinding device at work. Federal Safety Regulators realized years ago that moving parts of machinery can and will cause damage, amputation, death and even scalping.

Amusement rides are notoriously know for being self regulated and having a patchwork of state and local regulation and very little federal oversight. This is not the first scalping incident on either a go-kart of amusement ride. I'm sure it will not be the last.

Bounce House Safety - How not to do it

2009-02-02T08:27:00.005-05:00

These are actual pictures of a single Inflatable Bounce House that was set up in Richmond, Virginia on January 31, 2009. Just a few of the thing that seem to be wrong are:
1. Only three of the four corners are secured by weight. Each corner is required to have 75 pounds.
2. The bounce house is set up in the street with No Barricades to prevent contact with automobiles or other vehicles.
3. It is located too close to utility lines.
4. The blower is not protect from accidental contact
5. There was no current 2009 inspection sticker displayed.
6. The attendant was not watching the participants.

I could go on and on. I consider the operation to be lacking. It could have been done better.

The LA Times is Reporting

2009-01-27T07:04:00.002-05:00

The death of Brandon Zucker.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-brandonzucker27-2009jan27,0,603793.story

inflatable bounce house safety

2009-01-02T19:08:00.000-05:00

DOCS WEIGH IN ON INFLATABLE BOUNCER SAFETY

A recent study by the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, California has revealed some concerns for parents regarding Inflatable Bounce House Safety. A 4 ½ year study of over 4,000 children seen in their Level I Trauma Center has indicated that slight more than 1% of all children seen for trauma related injuries. 74% of the injured children were male and the average was 7.8, with the age range 1.5-15. Over 1/3 of the injured children were between seven and nine years old.

Of the injuries being treated 2/3 of them involved the upper extremities with the most common body part injured being the elbow and humerus. A third of the injuries involved the lower extremities. Of the injuries the most common was a simple fracture.

43% of those families reached during the survey said the injuries occurred on a rented device in their backyard. Of the families contacted, adult supervision was absent in almost half of the incidents. The average age of the children in the device at the time of injury was 5.4. Over half of the incidents involved children of mixed ages. The most common types of injuries involved a collision of two or more children and a child falling out of the device.

The study concluded that inflatable bouncers can cause serious orthopedic injuries. The entire study can be found at the American Academy of Pediatrics publication AAP Grand Rounds.

Since 2001 the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s report and subsequent Safety Bulletin the industry has known injuries are increasing on inflatable bounce devices. Basically there is no or very limited oversight in regulating bounce house safety. The industry does have a set of consensus standards in conjunction with the American Society for Test & Materials F-24 Committee. However these are basic guidelines that are a good start and could use improving. The two most reported causes of injuries on inflatable devices are improper set-up and unattended devices.

Oversight at the local level is the best solution. Proper licensing, insuring, permitting and inspection by the local authority is the best way to go. Additional safeguards would be compliance with applicable industry consensus standards that involve all aspects of inflatable operation, ensuring a trained and competent operator (some devices require 2 or more operators) is present during set-up, operation and take-down and a national reporting system or clearing house for inflatable incidents.

For Parents, Do Not assume you can safely attend your child while using an inflatable. Insist as industry standard do, that a trained operator is present at each device. Make sure the devices you rent or patronize are properly insured, licensed and inspected. Your Homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover you. Research the company you are going to do business with, you and your child’s safety may depend on it. The majority of inflatable company owners want your business as this industry has sky rocketed the past few years and they have a large investment in your fun filled experience. FYI, they may operate out of their home or warehouse district. Some even offer pick up service at a cheaper rate. If they are professional they will insist on handling the set up, operation, take down and provide a professionally trained attendant.

Ken Martin

KRM Consulting

Richmond, Virginia USA

Resources:

http://www.saferparks.org

http://www.cpsc.gov

http://aapgrandrounds.aappublications.org/

http://www.rideaccidents.com

http://www.astm.org/COMMIT/COMMITTEE/F24.htm

http://www.sioto.org/

Safe Fun In The Summer Ride Safely

2008-05-17T09:06:00.004-04:00

HOW TO HELP ENSURE YOUR SAFETY ON AMUSEMENT RIDES

Summer fun almost always means a trip to an amusement park, carnival or fair. Here are some
tips and tricks, to make your visit an enjoyable one.

The first thing to remember is to dress appropriately. Proper footwear is must. No bare feet, sandals or clogs. A good walking shoe or athletic shoe is recommended.

Clothes should fit, be cool and comfortable. No baggy or loose fitting clothes.

Secure long hair and other loose items.

Be sure to use plenty of sunscreen. Skin types vary so pick the one right for you. A hat to protect you from the sun is a good idea as well.

Don’t start on any empty stomach and be sure you are well hydrated. Water or sports
drinks are the best.

If you are under a physicians’ care for any medical condition(s) you should consult with them before you ride.

When you enter the ride area, pick a meeting place in case of an emergency or someone
gets separated from your group. A location near the Main Entrance/Office or First Aid
Station is best.

Cell phones, two-way radios and pagers are good ways to stay in touch. But remember some ride rules may not let you take them on the rides. If you do, remember to keep the device secure, as it can become a missile if it gets thrown around. Of course you could always leave it with a non-rider.

Before you eat or drink anything remember to wash your hands. Germs can be plentiful in an outdoor environment with machinery, animals and fowl. Remember, hand sanitizer is only a temporary fix.

Always be aware of the weather. It only takes a few minutes for a storm to appear. In the event of lightning, a building or automobile may provide adequate shelter. Never stand in an open field, near or under a tree or next to an amusement ride.

If there is a map, make sure everyone in your group gets one.

If there are children, be sure each one has an adult or a responsible and mature person with them. Some rides have special requirements and someone who knows the child must be willing to act and be responsible for the child. Parks, Carnivals and Fairs are not a baby sitting service. Never force a child to get on a ride. Their time will come. To be sure if the ride is right for you, watch it, listen to it and observe the people on it. If it makes a strange noise, ask about it. If it looks bad such as rust or bad paint, ask. If you see other people getting sick or dizzy as they ride or get off and that happens easily to you, you might want to pass that particular ride. If something just does not look or feel right, avoid that ride. Pay attention to all SAFETY RULES. They are there for a reason. Check your own restraint, if there is a problem, speak up. Keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times. Do not stand up or try to rock the carrier/seat of any ride. Remain seated until the Operator tells you can exit. Remember that you are the final inspector of the ride.

If there is ever a problem, remember to tell someone. Management wants and expects you to have a good time. Whether it is the Carnival Owner, Fair Manager or a Police Officer, if you don’t bring a problem to their attention, it could hurt someone. Everyone wants you to have a good time. So remember to use “common sense” and ask if you have a question.

Death of child on Washington State Inflatable Amusement Ride

2007-12-18T17:14:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 18, 2007

For More Information Contact:

Ken Martin 804-342-1808

http://www.krmgroup.com

INFLATABLE AMUSEMENT RIDE SAFETY

With the recent death of a three year old in Washington State on an Inflatable Amusement Ride, it brings to light just how dangerous a fun time can be. We call them moonwalks; bounce house, bounce house, jumpy bounce or any name with a bounce them. They started out years ago as a square pillow with open sides. Now they have walls, stairs, platforms, slides and even some with water and pools. Primarily they were at county fairs and festivals. Now they are springing up where every children and teenagers are found.

Government oversight is spotty and patchwork in most localities. There is no centralized record system of these devices. Some are imported from overseas where no standards apply. Consensus Standards from within the amusement ride industry do exist and are being adopted into law by many States. In Virginia these Standards are promulgated into law at the state level by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The enforcement is left up to the local Building Official.

Here are some tips and guidelines for these Inflatable Amusement Rides. The unit must
be properly secured. An Attendant must be present at all times, two Attendants if it a Slide over 15 feet in height. For the most part children under 3 years of age are prohibited. Never mix
people of unequal size. Rules are properly displayed and explained. Each Inflatable is properly
permitted and inspected by the authority having jurisdiction (in Virginia that is the local Building Official).

Additional items to look or ask for are a Business License, proper Fire Occupancy or
Building Load information, membership in professional associations and most important proof of
insurance. Avoid places that require a waiver of liability, in fact you can not sign your child’s or
someone else’s rights away.

In all cases remember that these Inflatable devices are nothing more than colorful fun
looking pieces of machinery. In the proper circumstance and supervision Inflatable Amusement Rides can provide many hours of fun.

***NOTE***

Ken Martin of KRM Consulting is a Richmond, VA based Safety Consultant who specializes in Amusement Rides and Devices. He is also trained and certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Third Party Inspector of Amusement Rides and Devices. He serves on the Task Group that develops consensus standards for Inflatable Amusement Rides and Devices worldwide.

New Safer Parks Editorial

2007-11-23T17:13:00.000-05:00

A very timely piece consider the Thanksgiving eve incident in Arkansas involving a child and an Orbiter.

http://www.saferparks.org/about_saferparks/editorials/congress_child_safety.php

Sharing Information for Safer Amusement Ride Thrills Text-only version

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Congress To Modernize CPSC, Strengthen Child Safety
Home > About Saferparks > Editorials

For Parents For Kids Safety Regulation Database

Editorial by Kathy Fackler - November 23, 2007

Four leaders of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce have introduced a bi-partisan bill designed to overhaul consumer protection standards and implement major changes at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Saferparks applauds Representatives Dingell, Barton, Rush and Stearns for moving children’s safety to the top of the Committee’s agenda. Rep. Barton stressed that children should not be “sickened by their playthings” and partisan politics should not get in the way of good policy. I heartily agree.

Children should not be killed or maimed by thrill rides, either, yet this happens every year. While the Commerce Committee is enacting stronger child safety protections for toys, I urge the Committee to remove the loophole that leaves amusement park rides exempt from all federal safety oversight.

Children are at highest risk for amusement ride injury. Half of all ride-related accidents and three quarters of falls and ejections involve children under 13.
Only 27 state governments have safety officials authorized and trained to investigate amusement ride accidents, and many of the existing state programs lack the engineering expertise needed to deal with accidents on complex rides. Investigation of serious accidents, including fatalities, is often left up to the park or the park’s insurer – the two entities with the most to gain from suppressing the evidence.
No central agency is empowered and funded to ensure that lessons learned in one park or one state are systematically shared nationwide across all segments of the industry.
Accidents happen everywhere, even at amusement parks. No business niche or brand name is immune. In June of this year, 13-year-old Kaitlyn Lassiter had both legs severed in a gruesome accident at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, when a cable snapped on a drop tower ride. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture employs several ride inspectors, but their authority to investigate has been superseded by a judge involved in the civil suit. State officials cannot examine the cable until the court dispute over cable testing is resolved. Five months after the accident, the state still hasn’t released any technical information on the incident, such as the age of the cable or the ride’s maintenance history. Meanwhile, similar drop towers are in operation in other states, some regulated and some not. There isn’t any agency to coordinate a coherent response or ensure that critical information is discovered and shared.

If this girl’s legs had been severed in a lawnmower accident or an ATV accident, the CPSC would have investigated. If she were an employee of Six Flags, instead of a paying customer, OSHA would have investigated. In 2006, two cables snapped on a carnival drop ride in New York. The children on board that ride were much luckier than Kaitlyn, suffering only minor injuries, yet the CPSC was authorized to investigate that less-serious accident because it didn’t happen in an amusement park. What is so special about amusement park companies that they should be exempted from such basic public safety policy?

The 1981 loophole exempting permanent parks from compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act created an artificial division in public safety policy for amusement rides, and families like the Lassiters are clearly paying the price. A partial hash of state and local codes cannot replace what’s missing. There is no public safety authority to track hazard patterns on amusement park rides, set national standards to protect the safety of children, or ensure that information on defects discovered in a ride in one state are shared with state or local regulators in every state.

I respectfully ask the members Congress, while they are reforming our child safety laws, to examine the consequences of shielding the amusement park industry from federal safety oversight. The millions of children who visit U.S. amusement parks every year deserve safe thrills every bit as much as they deserve safe toys.

How Can You Help?
If you believe that U.S. product safety policy should cover children's amusement rides as well as children's toys, call or write your representative and the committee leadership. Ask them to remove the loophole exempting amusement park rides from federal safety oversight. Here are links to contact information:

Find your representative
Representative John Dingell, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Representative Bobby Rush, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
Representative Joe Barton, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Note: Congressman Barton represents Texas, one of the 23 states without a government ride inspection or accident investigation program. In 2003, the Texas legislature passed a law protecting manufacturers from lawsuits in cases where a patron is killed or injured by any thrill ride that has been in operation longer than 15 years.
Representative Cliff Stearns, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection. Note: Congressman Stearns represents Florida, where theme park rides are exempt from both state and federal safety oversight.
The Facts About Amusement Ride Safety
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 100,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to amusement rides, inflatable amusement devices, and waterslides between 1997 and 2004.
60,000 injuries were related to use of amusement rides.
20,000 injuries involved inflatables. The annual injury count tripled from 1997 to 2004.
20,000 injuries were related to use of public waterslides.
Children are at highest risk of amusement ride injury.
Half of all accidents and 3/4 of all falls and ejections involve children under 13.
Restraints and bracing points in many rides approved for children are designed to fit adult bodies and can leave small riders vulnerable to falls or forceful ejection.
Amusement park rides are NOT subject to federal safety regulations. Only 27 state governments have safety officials authorized and trained to investigate ride accidents.
State and local government regulatory programs, where they exist, keep track of individual rides and the way they're operated within a specific jurisdiction. The better state programs audit and supplement industry’s safety measures through independent inspections of the machinery and safety records.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) looks at safety problems on carnival rides, go-karts, and inflatables through a wider lens.
The CPSC can track problems that occur on multiple rides in different states, establish uniform safety standards, negotiate hazard mitigation plans with manufacturers, and broadly disseminate urgent safety information to industry and consumers nationwide.
No public safety agency is empowered to perform those critical duties for rides operated at U.S. amusement parks.

Saferparks is a public 501(c)(3) charity. Your tax-deductible donation will support Saferparks' public service mission to prevent amusement ride injuries through research, information sharing, and advocacy.

Massachusetts shuts down all Sizzler Amusement Rides

2007-08-17T17:51:00.000-04:00

http://www.eyewitnessnewstv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6947921

State orders amusement ride shut down

Associated Press - August 17, 2007 4:24 PM ET

BOSTON (AP) - The Massachusetts Department of Public Safety orders an immediate halt to the operation of all Sizzler amusement park rides in the state.

The move follows a bulletin from the ride's manufacturer that seat belts should be installed to improve safety.

A 38-year-old man was killed in 2004 when a Sizzler broke apart during a church fair in Shrewsbury.

At the time, state public safety officials determined the accident was caused by loose and undersized nuts and bolts used on the seat.

Wisdom Industries, which makes the Sizzler, says they issued the latest service bulletin in response to "incidents of patrons coming out of their seats."

Massachusetts public safety officials say Sizzler rides in Massachusetts can not return to service until the seat belts are installed.

How To Ride Safely

2007-07-06T19:09:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 4, 2007

For More Information Contact:
http://www.krmgroup.com

HOW TO HELP ENSURE YOUR SAFETY ON AMUSEMENT RIDES

Summer fun almost always means a trip to an amusement park or fair. Ken Martin, an

amusement ride safety consultant in Richmond, Virginia offers his advice. Here are

some tips and tricks, to make your visit an enjoyable one. The first thing to

remember is to dress appropriately. Proper footwear is must. No bare feet, sandals or

clogs. A good walking shoe or athletic shoe is recommended. Clothes should fit, be

cool and comfortable. No baggy or loose fitting clothes. Secure long hair and other

loose items. Be sure to use plenty of sunscreen.

Skin types vary so pick the one right for you. A hat to protect you from the sun is a

good idea as well. Don’t start on any empty stomach and be sure you are well

hydrated. Water or sports drinks are the best. If you are under a physicians’ care

for any medical condition(s) you should consultant with them before you ride.

When you enter the ride area, pick a meeting place in case of an emergency or someone

gets separated from your group. A location near the Main Entrance/Office or First Aid

Station is best. Cell phones, two-way radios and pagers are good ways to stay in

touch.

But remember some ride rules may not let you take them on the rides. If you do,

remember to keep the device secure, as it can become a missile if it gets thrown

around. Of course you could always leave it with a non-rider. Before you eat or drink

anything remember to wash your hands. Germs can be plentiful in an outdoor

environment with machinery, animals and fowl.

Remember, hand sanitizer is only a temporary fix. Always be aware of the weather. It

only takes a few minutes for a storm to appear. In the event of lightning, a building

or automobile may provide adequate shelter. Never stand in an open field, near or

under a tree or next to an amusement ride.

If there is a map, make sure everyone in your group gets one. If there are children,

be sure each one has an adult or a responsible and mature person with them. Some

rides have special requirements and someone who knows the child must be willing to

act and be responsible for the child. Parks, Carnivals and Fairs are not a baby

sitting service. Never force a child to get on a ride. Their time will come. To be

sure if the ride is right for you, watch it, listen to it and observe the people on

it. If it makes a strange noise, ask about it. If it looks bad such as rust or bad

paint, ask. If you see other people getting sick or dizzy as they ride or get off

and that happens easily to you, you might want to pass that particular ride. If

something just does not look or feel right, avoid that ride. Pay attention to all

SAFETY RULES. They are there for a reason.

Check your own restraint, if there is a problem, speak up. Keep your hands and feet

inside the ride at all times. Do not stand up or try to rock the carrier/seat of any

ride. Remain seated until the Operator tells you can exit. Remember that you are the

final inspector of the ride.

If there is ever a problem, remember to tell someone. Management wants and expects

you to have a good time. Whether it is the Carnival Owner, Fair Manager or a Police

Officer, if you don’t bring a problem to their attention, it could hurt someone.

Everyone wants you to have a good time. So remember to use “common sense” and ask if

you have a question.

Amusement Ride Safety Editorial

2007-07-06T19:04:00.000-04:00

July 3, 2007

Amusement Ride Safety Editorial
by Ken Martin, Amusement Ride Safety Consultant

As a child and teenager I always looked forward to summer, it was my favorite time of the year. Swimming, camping and going to the amusement park with my family. I always knew there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. Perhaps then I did not even realize what the word safety stood for or the destiny that life was preparing me for.

Now summer has an entirely different effect on me. Just when I think I have seen or heard it all, something occurs that has me wondering how that could have happened. I am speaking of incidents involving amusement rides, some resulting in death and all too often serious injuries.

The amusement ride industry is self regulated. There is no one agency, government or law that applies across the board. In addition there are no record keeping requirements that will account for incidents or even near misses involving amusement rides. This self regulation is further complicated by a few states that adopt these industry standards into law and then attempt to use them as an enforcement tool.

This self regulation is conducted through the American Society of Testing and Materials F-24 Committee on Amusement Rides and Devices. The 400 or so of us that serve as members of this committee, meet several times a year and many more times by phone and email. We are the backbone of amusement ride safety. Why is that? There is nothing else. That is the way the amusement ride industry wants it. Minimal records, minimal training, minimal information all add up to Bad Safety.

One may ask, why minimal records? Years ago in California, then a park called Marriott’s Great America had an incident involving the death of a teenager on a roller coaster. In those days the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) had oversight of fixed sight and portable amusement rides. The CPSC came in and conducted an investigation. Strangely enough the “records” had been removed. As a result of the CPSC investigation and subsequent retrieval of the records, a heavy fine was given to the amusement park. Shortly thereafter the amusement park industry successfully lobbied the United States Congress and CPSC oversight was removed fixed sight amusement rides. Portable rides still fall under the CPSC jurisdiction. No differences in the rides, except portable rides go from town to town.

To further complicate the issue, amusement park industry has started voluntary collections of incident numbers from their member park members that chose to participate. No information is collected fixed parks that do not participate in this particular trade association for fixed parks. The association for portable amusement rides does not collect incident statistics from its members. Neither association records or collects near miss information.
So we have no government agency that records or collects incident information on a nationwide basis. The fixed site amusement ride industry at best tracks only the tip of the iceberg. There is no formal or informal information sharing of incidents, statistics or data. Ride Manufacturers may and most of the time will share mechanical information that pertains to ride operation. On occasion the CPSC will get involved and issue safety information on portable rides, remember they have no oversight of fixed park rides, even though they are the same type of amusement rides.

What does happen when someone is killed or seriously injured or a near miss occurs? The amusement ride industry will start by saying how many billion of rides are given each year. So millions of people ride amusement rides. That is nothing new. They will also talk about bogus percentage released by the CPSC. The CPSC said they never released any percentage statistics. Their previous reports have been all best guesses. I have always wondered where this 80-20-5 percent thing came from. Injuries are 80 percent patron, 20 percent and 5 percent mechanical in nature. Of course this is what happens when the fault appears to lean toward the industry.

Patron related causes are another interesting issue. The industry is quick to point out the patron did something wrong. I think they forget that sometimes a rider may not fit the ride, or the attendant did not check the restraint, failed to properly instruct the rider or the ride was having some problems that were not properly checked out.

The incidents so far this year appear to be pointing out some of the weaknesses in an already less than adequate system. Perhaps one day our legislatures will repair these problems.

Ken Martin, Amusement Ride Safety Consultant
KRM Consulting
Richmond, Virginia USA

Safer Parks

2006-02-22T09:48:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to an informative web site. www.saferparks.org

I particularly like the editorial on Ride Related Human Error.

One Reason Why Amusement Parks Should Be Regulated

2006-02-21T22:09:00.000-05:00

One Reason Why Amusement Parks Should Be Regulated

On March 29, 1980 thirteen year old Kyle Foss died in an unfortunate incident on
a roller coaster ride, one of the newer attractions at a Santa Clara, CA amusement park. During the investigation the CPSC learned that park officials spirited some fifteen cartons of records out of the park in an attempt to conceal them from investigators. The CPSC learned of the deception through what started out as a series of anonymous telephone calls from a former park employee who asserted that they used his automobile to remove the records from the park premises. It took several weeks of effort on the part of the CPSC’s investigative team to convince the caller that they really needed a sworn statement describing what the caller saw. The investigative team got their sworn statement.

When confronted with that affidavit, corporate officials yielded the records.
Examination of the records showed that the park had experienced earlier difficulties with
the ride, some scenarios similar to that which resulted in the Foss death. Park officials never reported the incidents to the CPSC as required by section 15 of the Consumer Product Safety Act.

Further examination of the records yielded a staff memo that informed their employees that the park was obligated, under the law, to report such incidents to CPSC as potential substantial product hazards. Confronted with what the CPSC found in their records the company agreed to a $70,000 civil penalty for failure to report under the Consumer Product Safety Act. The CPSC issued the closing news release on January 27, 1981. Make a note of this date.

Shortly thereafter, a strange thing happened. The United States Congress thought it might revisit the definition of "consumer product" in the CPSA. They did by removing the fixed rides in theme parks from the definition of "consumer product." The net result was that the CPSC no longer had authority to inspect parks, examine their records or investigate incidents.

On August 13, 1981 CPSC lost jurisdiction over these rides. By even stranger coincidence, the chief lobbyist for the industry was the same company official (by then former company official) who penned the staff memo informing employees that their company was obligated under the law to report such incidents to the CPSC as potential substantial product hazards. More important was the argument that the industry used to convince Congress that federal oversight of the industry was not necessary. Industry argued that local officials inspected the rides and therefore federal presence was redundant and therefore unnecessary.

To the extent that what industry said was true it was true. County and local officials inspected the rides in the same manner as they would inspect habitable dwellings and commercial real estate. Their inspection authority ended with their preoccupancy approval of the structure, for all intents and purposes focusing on compliance with applicable building codes. Little or nothing in these inspections addressed operation safety or continued structural integrity. I am of the opinion the amusement ride industry misled the Congress, at best, and outright lied, at worst.

Kyle Foss died because park management failed to comply with reporting requirements that may well have prevented his death. What excuse are we going to have when the next one dies? This industry is self-insured, self inspected and self regulated. Self-inspected and self-regulated in corporate America are oxymorons.

This is clearly a case of the fox guarding the proverbial hen house. The industry will say they have all sorts of self-inspection programs and arguments that they are regulated and inspected by local authorities and industry associations. Do not be fooled. Don’t believe such arguments. Inspections should be mandatory and unannounced and address more than compliance with building codes.

The purpose of government is to do for the people that which they cannot reasonably be expected to do for themselves. Since the people cannot assure, for themselves, that amusement park rides and attractions are safe then the government should do that for them.

Have things really changed sine March 29, 1980?

Ride Accidents

2006-02-21T22:05:00.000-05:00

Here is site that list many amusement ride accidents. www.rideaccidents.com

Amusement Park Advertising

2004-08-29T20:35:00.000-04:00

Recently a young child was injured on a kiddie ride at a Virginia Theme Park. It was reported that the child crawled out of the car in which she was riding. I know the people who run this Park. I also know that they would not deliberately do anything thing to hurt someone.

Why the child climbed out may be a mystery. One thing for sure, on the Park's web site for this particular ride, shows a young girl sticking her hands up into the air. What that picture says to me is the Park wants you to stick your hands up. That is a clear violation of Park rules. One of the first rules on any amusement ride is to keep ALL body parts within the container you are riding in.

Some critics will blame the parents. But how could you? This is a kiddie ride. No parents are allowed. Does the Park and the Manufacturer of the ride, not have a responsibility to secure the patrons?

Inflatable/Bounce Safety

2004-08-04T20:37:00.000-04:00

On Friday July 30 another Titanic Slide incident happened in Washington State. Here is the news link to the story, http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/04/08/01/loc_slide001.cfm . More information on other incidents involving amusement rides can be found at www.rideaccidents.com .