http://www.kenmartinsafety.com
Friday, May 13, 2016
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Child Falls From Amusement Ride
Once again a
child has fallen from a one-size-fits-all restraint system amusement rides
designed to carry adults and children.
Here is a link to the initial report.
http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Boy-falls-from-Wacky-Worm-carnival-ride-3622169.php and a link to a follow up story. http://www.newstimes.com/policereports/article/Police-say-no-mechanical-failure-in-carnival-fall-3625734.php
.
This is not the
first time these circumstances have occurred on a Wacky Worm amusement
ride. I doubt it will be the last. Hopefully some of the more progressive states
that regulate amusement rides will step up to the plate and require individual
seat belts. The responsibility lies with
the manufacture. The manufacture Fajume
is not located in the USA and I suspect is not interested in recalling this
ride or even offering suggestions.
Perhaps the
Consumer Product Safety Commission will step in and suggest a remedy. Only time will tell. I would like to offer a suggestion to the
governing authorities in Danbury, Connecticut, if a ride is designed to carry
both children and adults and yet a child can somehow exit the passenger
carrying compartment on their own is not a failure due to the design of the
amusement ride? Then how can it not be
mechanical failure?
http://www.krmgoup.com
Friday, November 04, 2011
Tragedy Hits in Louisiana at the State Fair
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
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
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
What you need to know before renting a bounce/jump house
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
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
Sunday, June 05, 2011
11 year old child dies in fall from amusement ride
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
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
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
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
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
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