Amusement and theme park workers have one of the highest injury, illness, and fatality rates in the industry. Get training on the mechanical hazards associated with rides, lockout/tagout, safe ride operation, and hazard recognition and reporting. 

COMMON CAUSES OF AMUSEMENT PARK INJURIES

Some of the most common causes of amusement park injuries include:

• Machinery is not properly maintained and inspected
• Operators are not properly trained
• Failure of brakes, wiring, safety structures, or metal parts
• Lack of adequate instructions to patrons
• Security is inadequate to protect guests from assaults, robberies, or other crimes
• Medical care is not available or provided in the event of an emergency
• Unmarked hazards, such as spills, construction, or potential risks

SAFE WORK ISSUES FOR WORKERS 

• Workers that tried to dodge or board moving rides or ride improperly have suffered injuries and fatalities. To avoid these accidents, get training on the hazards and safe work practices for each piece of equipment that you operate, maintain, test, and repair.
• Be familiar with workplace Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). Know the workplace hazards identified in the IIPP and how to manage them. Be responsible for safety and follow safe work practices. Report and correct unsafe work conditions and acts.
• Know and use the lockout/tagout procedures that cover the hazards and power isolation method for each ride or piece of equipment in the park. Never enter a ride area or access ride mechanical parts, even if they seem “off” or “shut down,” unless the equipment has been locked out/tagged out.
• Cameras and/or mirrors eliminate blind spots. When riding for fun, or to test a ride, sit in the ride properly and keep your hands, legs, feet, and head inside the car. Do not stand on couplings between cars or any other footholds on the outside of cars. 
• Never enter a ride area while it is operating. Warning signs should be placed at all ride area entrances to restrict access. While a ride is operating, stay within the areas marked as safe for ride attendants. These areas should be clearly marked with paint, railings, and/or floor surfacing materials to identify them. Interlock doors, infrared lights and sensors, and pressure-sensitive mats restrict access to a ride area while it is in motion. 
• Minimum age requirements for ride operators ensure that workers have the maturity necessary to run rides in a safe manner. 

ADEQUATE TRAINING FOR WORKERS

Amusement park employees should adhere to all recommended safety practices and notify supervisors of any violations or potential hazards.

TRAINING INCLUDES:

• Unloading, building, dismantling and reloading – For rides that are part of temporary or travelling theme parks and fairs, being able to safely set up and dismantle the equipment is very important. This might mean your teams require further training in manual handling, working at height and electrical safety. Ensuring your team knows how to set up the rides correctly not only protects them from injuring themselves and each other but also means that the risk of danger to visitors from incorrectly assembled equipment is minimised.
• Daily Checks – Your team members need to know which parts of the machine to check, how to carry out the check properly, how to record that the checks have been done, and what to do when a problem is found.
• Rider Safety –Restrictions on height, weight or physical ability can apply, as well as restrictions on visitors who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or if the rider is pregnant. Workers need to be able to identify potential problems, make decisions on who should not be allowed to ride, and deal with the public in a way that does not escalate or lead to violence. 
• Operating the ride – Operation of the ride includes everything from loading passengers correctly, ensuring it is correctly balanced, making sure all restraints are correctly in place and safety features are working, ensuring spectators and queuing visitors are clear of any danger zones while the machine is in motion, operating the ride safely through manual control and dealing with incidents such as passengers who become ill or injured while on the ride.
• Emergency Procedures – Your team should have full training in evacuation and other emergency procedures, and it’s also recommended that they are able to access Health and Safety documentation for reference. 

FINAL WORD

All amusement parks post all ride safety rules and make sure that all ride operators give verbal instructions or guide visitors with recorded announcements. Observe all the posted rules and verbal instructions given to you to stay safe from injury or accident.