Amusement Park Ride Manufacturer Almost Tips Over to Federal Oversight
When federal oversight came knocking at the door of amusement park ride manufacturers, they balked at the idea. The cost was too high. What happened? The federal oversight cost the ride manufacturers billions of dollars. But the ride’s malfunction still leaves unanswered questions. It’s an unfortunate situation that highlights the need for federal oversight of amusement park rides.
Amusement park ride manufacturers balked at federal oversight
In a letter to Senator Elizabeth Warren, amusement park ride manufacturer balked at federal oversight, arguing that it would increase costs and create an uncertain regulatory environment. The amusement park industry is comprised of small companies that don’t want to be overregulated. The industry already relies on voluntary consensus standards set by the American Society of Testing and Materials, or ASTM International.
State oversight has its advantages, but is often not enough to prevent serious accidents from occurring at amusement parks. For example, a 10-year-old boy in Kansas fell to his death from a 168-foot-tall water slide. Prior to his death, 13 other people were injured. The water slide’s manufacturers had failed to disclose their annual reports to state officials, and there was no federal regulation of the height of its rides. While the owners were charged with second-degree murder, the charges were later dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Amusement park ride regulations vary greatly across the states. Mobile rides are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, while fixed-site rides are regulated by the state government. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, 44 states regulate amusement rides. Of these, only Mississippi and Alabama have no amusement parks.
Until the 1970s, federal oversight of amusement park rides was not required. The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) was set up in 1972 to protect the public from dangerous consumer products. In 1974, the CPSC started regulating travel-themed amusement parks and smaller mobile amusement destinations. However, Congress removed the CPSC’s jurisdiction over fixed-site amusement rides in 1981.
Cost of federal oversight
There is no consensus as to whether federal oversight of amusement park rides is beneficial for the industry. While a federal program may increase oversight, it would also require the hiring of hundreds of new inspectors. This would rob state inspection programs of the talent they need. Further, it would not help the industry if the government mandates strict federal regulations without any regard for state laws. There are thousands of fixed amusement park rides across the country, including many kiddie roller coasters.
Amusement rides require professional engineering, including failure mode and “what if” analyses. Although most large amusement park ride manufacturers adhere to safety guidelines, there are still many small companies that have little regard for safety. This is why Heneage believes there should be a standard legal requirement for an amusement ride manufacturer to conduct safety analyses. Moreover, all design documents should be sealed by a PE.
There are a number of reasons why federal oversight of amusement park ride manufacturers is so critical. For one thing, if a ride manufacturer has a history of safety violations, they need to be scrutinized more rigorously. For example, excessive corrosion can lead to a malfunction in an amusement ride. In addition, the federal government may also be able to find out why certain rides have malfunctioned.
While the federal government wants more oversight of amusement park rides, the industry has resisted the idea. Amusement park owners argued that the rides were not consumer products and therefore not subject to oversight. However, the courts rejected this argument in 1977, when Chance Manufacturing Co. sued over problems with its Zipper ride that led to four fatalities.
Safety of amusement park rides
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) sets standards for the safety of amusement park rides. However, these standards are not mandatory. It is not unreasonable to find unsafe rides at an amusement park. The federal government should regain some oversight of the industry and establish a national injury reporting system. This will ensure more consistent enforcement of safety standards and allow for more comprehensive surveillance of accidents.
Recent fatal accidents at amusement parks have raised questions about the safety of these rides. In the U.S., an accident on a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas has left people uneasy. However, the vast majority of amusement park rides are safe. The National Safety Council, a branch of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, collects data on amusement park injuries to help keep everyone safe.
A major cause of injuries at amusement parks is neglect of safety rules. Often, rides are unsupervised and children and teenagers are not as attentive as an adult to their safety. In addition, these unsupervised children are more likely to ride rides that are too large for them, get into trouble with friends, and generally behave more recklessly.
The International Association for Amusement Parks (IAAPA) conducts an annual survey to determine the level of safety at amusement parks. In 2016, they reported that there were 1,253 accidents, but this number did not include fatalities. Unfortunately, the survey only includes fixed-site parks, not mobile ones. This means that these statistics are incomplete and do not reflect the true extent of accidents and injuries at amusement parks.
Although the CPSC does not regulate amusement park rides, the industry self-policing process is a key component of maintaining safety. This industry group, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), works to promote industry safety and lobby for government policy.
Safety of rides
The safety of amusement park rides is important. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks, about 270 million people visit these theme parks every year, and about 7,000 of those visit an emergency room due to an accident on a ride. According to the group, most accidents are preventable and only occur due to the failure to follow safety rules.
The manufacturers of amusement park rides are responsible for making sure their rides are safe. Some rides can have problems that can be dangerous to small children. Also, people with back or neck problems may be more susceptible to injury on a ride. Fortunately, ride designers are aware of these risks and make sure that safety rules are in place to prevent injuries. More information about amusement park rides is available in Related Resources.
While on a ride, parents can ensure that children are properly secured. Make sure to wear seat belts, and don’t drink alcohol before riding. Also, stay seated until the ride stops. Riders should use safety equipment provided by the ride operator. Never try to remove safety equipment without assistance. If something seems unsafe, report it to the park immediately.
Amusement parks are regulated by state and federal laws. Because the risk of accidents at amusement parks is well-known, state and federal laws were passed to ensure that all visitors are safe. However, state laws may vary in the specific rules that apply to injuries suffered by riders. The specific rules will also vary depending on the park where the injury occurred.
Safety of rides at amusement parks is governed by state law and industry standards. In Kentucky, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture conducts annual safety inspections on all rides and attractions. This agency oversees both larger theme parks and smaller traveling carnivals. State inspectors are also authorized to investigate accidents and injuries that may occur on the park.
Accidents at amusement parks
Although accidents at amusement parks are rare, they do occur and may not always be related to the rides. In fact, they are more common than many people believe, and they often go unreported unless they cause death. Here are a few of the most common injuries that happen at theme parks.
Accidents can happen on the park’s grounds or in the parking structures. Some are severe and require medical attention. Others are minor, and the victim may not even realize they were in an accident. The most common injuries at theme parks involve the head and neck. In addition, injuries can occur on a bumper car or boat ride.
Accidents at amusement parks can result from a variety of causes, including negligence on the part of a ride operator or ride maintenance crew. A mechanical failure can result in serious injury or death, and may be caused by a faulty part or material. Moreover, a fast-moving ride can cause an individual to become dizzy or lose consciousness and even suffer a brain aneurysm.
Despite the best efforts to protect park guests from harm, accidents at amusement parks are unfortunately common and can affect guests and employees. Falls, rides that malfunction, and tripping over objects can all result in injury or death. The consumer product safety commission (CPSC) has investigated over 4400 theme park accidents, and found that about 1.5% of these accidents required hospitalization. As a result, theme parks have to ensure that their employees follow safety procedures to minimize the chances of an accident.
If you’ve been injured in an amusement park accident, it is important to seek legal help. A personal injury lawyer can help you receive compensation for your medical bills and other expenses related to your injuries. In addition to receiving monetary damages, you’ll also have the satisfaction of knowing that a negligent party was held accountable for their actions.