In Texas, would you let your kid on an amusement park ride? How do you know it’s safe?
On Oct. 15, a ride operator at the Pecan Festival in Groves clung onto a malfunctioning ride with an unsecured young girl inside, lifting him 30 feet in the air.
The carnival worker in the southeast Texas city was helping to secure a 12-year-old girl inside the enclosed car when the wind pushed the arm of the ride up, KBMT reported. Video shows him dangling from the ride attempting to close the door of “The Bullet” ride, with one arm and cars on either end. Just as the ride descended, the worker was able to secure it with his foot.
“There’s a huge gap in the safety of the public for these traveling carnival rides,” said Alex Winslow, Texas Watch executive director. “They are in one place one day and they’re in another place the next week and they’re only inspected once a year.”
While there were no injuries reported this time around, approximately 150 people per year are injured on Texas carnival rides, according to the Texas Department of Insurance.
What are the safety standards at such Texas parks and who is in charge of ensuring they’re safe? Here’s what to know.
How does Texas Department of Insurance ensure rides are safe?
You may have noticed TDI inspection stickers on rides. That’s because The Texas Department of Insurance is largely responsible for overseeing ride safety in the state.
Texas carnival operators are required to have their rides inspected for safety at least once a year, according to Denena Points. Once inspectors have examined and cleared a ride, they issue a TDI sticker that goes on the ride.
A yearly inspection does not necessarily guarantee ride safety, because mechanical problems can happen at any time, or ride operators may be inattentive.
Another issue is that the TDI sticker may not be current. A 15-year-old died in 2008 on a carnival ride near Victoria that was two years overdue for inspection. That’s why Denena Points recommends looking for current TDI inspection stickers before you get on a ride.
Along with an annual safety inspection, Texas law requires all amusement ride operators to have a $1 million liability policy for each ride, according to Safety First Consulting.
What does the amusement ride inspection consist of?
TDI doesn’t inspect rides; amusement rides are inspected by the ride owner’s insurance company. Inspectors are licensed through the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials.
Ride inspectors are expected to perform the following, per Denena Points:
Examine assembly and reassembly steps for rides.
Check ride operations and performance without any riders to make sure that they operate safely and smoothly.
Ensure operator control panels are not easily accessible to guests.
Check all metal parts of a ride to ensure that they don’t conduct electrical current that could electrocute guests.
Check ride safety restraints to make sure they all operate and lock properly.
Check all parts of a ride, including rails, tracks and supports for any damage, wear, cracks or missing or displaced parts.
Check welds and cotter pins that hold rides together for safety, fit and wear.
Ensure amusement park ride owners and operators follow ride manufacturers’ specifications for the ride.
Carefully train employees who assemble, maintain and operate the rides.
An amusement ride compliance sticker is issued by TDI when the amusement ride meets all of the legal requirements for operating in Texas. It is valid for one year from the date of inspection, and should be affixed to a major component of each ride in a location visible to the riders. Find a list of current amusement ride stickers here.
What can be done to ensure amusement ride safety?
Safety First Consulting recommends the following to ensure carnival rides are safe:
- Be the inspector: Be observant and trust your instincts. Look for an up-to-date permit for the ride if you can find it.
- Follow the rules: Follow all directions on safety signs, including age, height and weight restrictions. If you’ve had a recent surgery or illness, have a heart condition, are pregnant or have high blood pressure or aneurysms, don’t ride.
- Use the safety equipment: Don’t loosen restraints or other safety devices for comfort or thrill. If the restraints look worn, torn or shaky, get off the ride before it starts.
- Be patient: Keep hands and feet inside the ride at all times. Stay in your seat until the ride comes to a complete stop and the operator instructs passengers to exit the ride.
- Don’t force it: Ensure your children are able to understand safe riding behavior. Never force children onto a ride they don’t want to take, even when it appears harmless.
Check the TDI website to confirm that the vendor providing the ride is approved by TDI and in compliance with the inspection and insurance requirements. Also, confirm that the inspection sticker number and serial number of the ride listed on the website match the actual ride.
To report a ride that is not in compliance, email the TDI at Amusements@tdi.texas.gov or call 512-676-6750. Find a list of amusement ride injury reports here.
