Ride Operator Dies
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/08/17/roller.coaster.death.ap/index.html
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Matt Rydzik
http://beyond-repair.net
*** This post was edited by CoasterBGW 8/17/2003 11:15:53 AM ***
- This is not an amusement park, as the article wants people to believe. Rather a travelling carnival. Every AMUSEMENT PARK that I know of requires it's male employees to have hair that does not extend below the shirt collar. Females and the extremely few guys I have seen with long hair working at parks are required to keep it either pulled under a hat or in a pony tail. Travelling carnivals mare much more passive and would allow it.
- The man was working on the attraction while it was operating. Hello?!!!
- IMO a "Super Loop" is not a coaster.
Never-the-less it is another tragedy for the media to milk. I feel badly for the man, his family, his friends and his co-workers. I also feel badly for the people there that witnessed it.
However, the cynic in me also wonders how many other people were killed or injured in the past week on the job... such as factory workers, constuction workers etc. and yet we did not hear anything on a national level such as this. I bet if this had not been a ride-related fatality then it would not have been mentioned. IMO this guy was simply working with a big piece of machinery improperly. No different than, say, if he was running a large die cutter or such.
The perception that rides are just "fun" is inaccurate. Rides are complicated machines that must be treated as such. If a human makes a poor choice, or an un-intended mistake... then the "Machine" isn't going to recognize that and be forgiving. So it is important that all ride ops and riders recognize that they must make wise, safe choices.
In terms of carnivals and fairs... I am not a fan. I will attend those that I feel maintain their rides well and are routinely inspected. However, I don't feel very safe on portable attractions that have been travelling. I agree with those that are pushing for stiffer regulations on fairs and carnivals simply because of the wear and tear the rides go through. Many states do not have stringent laws required stiff inspections and scrutiny of thses types of rides. They should. They should also have strict rules and regulations maintinaing the training and governing of those that operate them.
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Shaggy
That being said
If you oil a running "rollercoaster".......come on.......
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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson
While this unfortunate incident occurred in Canada not the U.S., I'm sure that Canada must have the same basic regs as OSHA in the U.S.:
LOCK OUT, TAGOUT!
It's true in every industry, not just the amusement ride business. You have to lock out engergy sources, before you work on machinery. I don't know how much the fault in this case belongs to the individual and how much it belongs to his employer, but the rule is simple, clear, and essential.
If you want to stay alive and in one piece, you lock out. You don't take someone else's word for it, you put your own lock on and put the key in your pocket. If your boss wants you to work on machinery that isn't locked out, it's time to quit and call OSHA.
*** This post was edited by Jim Fisher 8/17/2003 11:05:01 AM ***
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If given the choice I'd choose a hamburger over a hotdog anyday of the week.
As Peabody mentioned, we ALL do stupid things from time to time....no one EVER *deserves* to die for making a mistake....
That being said....NEVER recklessly disobey safety rules.
Unrelated PS....Congratulations to Shaggy....ACE is fortunate to have you on our side...;)
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"The robot mafia is running numbers?"
"Well, nothing fancy, mostly just ones and zeroes"...;)
http://www.king5.com/topstories/NW_081703WABfairfatalSW.15bef8e3.html
nwcoaster
Amusement rides have no feelings.
Amusement rides do not yell watch out.
Amusement rides do not stop if you get in its path.
Amusement rides will drag you, crush you, and will send you flying like a baseball being hit out of the ball park.
Amusement rides are heavy pieces of machinary and when they are running you stay clear. The biggest offenses that I have seen with ride operators is that sometimes as the ride completes its cycle and begins to slow down,
the ride operator would hitch a ride on the car or train.
http://www.msnbc.com/local/wews/a1745158.asp?vts=81720032240 , also I heard earlier this year at the Chardon Maple festival also in Ohio most the rides didn't even pass the intial inspection and had to be fixed (like I said thats what someone told me so I may be wrong, some people don't get it, they'll ride these carny rides but won't ride most of the best coasters in the world due to fear. All cases of injury and death are sad but in most cases its a stupid error and error that anyone can make people have to be careful around anything, weather it be a bath tub or a piece of heavy machinary. Also everywhere I have ever worked that dealt with moving machines, parts, object required anyone near or operating to have long hair pulled back and or tucked away along with loose clothing and dangly earrings and people cry and moan over why, this is a text book reason why, do you want to live or be severly injured and or maybe die.
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