Fair ride operator struck in head by swing ride

After looking at the video a couple of times it appears several things were wrong right off the bat. We see several employees in the control box looking at the PLC, was there a problem with it? If there was they should have never started it with people on it untill it had been cycled a few times. As as been pointed out by several people already the ride envelope looked way too small for that ride. Whoever laid out the lot needs a talking to. You can see a back drop of another attraction butting up against the fence on the right of where the video begins. Very bad practice.

Looking at the PLC hardly indicates a problem. It could just as well be some guy showing off his shiny computer to someone else.

It may not be an indication of a problem, but I would think that the parties investigating this incident will be asking that question upon viewing the video. It's readily apparent that one person was checking the display and resetting the panel in the opening sequence.

OK, fine, but what does that have to do with fences that were too close to the ride? I haven't seen any compelling evidence that there was any kind of mechanical failure here.

I think that's just strange editing. IIRC, in the "original" video attached to the story, the reporter mentioned that they were looking at the panel after the accident, and then decided not to operate the ride any more that day. I don't know why they decided to put that at the opening of the new video.

rollergator said:
^As for "why not move the fences from OUTSIDE the ride area" (pulling them away from the center column instead of going into the restricted area and pushing the fences outward)....no clue on that one.

The guy that got hit was already in the ride area, along with two other guys. The one you see jumping the fence didn't get hit. I would have thought that the operators were supposed to be clear of the area before operating the ride.