Ensure the Thrills. The Importance of Conducting Pre-Start Safety Checks for Operators.
By Russell Jones
Pre Start Safety Checks.
Conducting pre-start safety checks on carnival rides is crucial for ensuring the well-being of riders and preventing accidents. Let’s examine why these checks are essential:
Risk Mitigation:
Identifying Hazards: Pre-start checks allow operators to identify potential hazards before they escalate into accidents or injuries1.
Mitigating Risks: By addressing issues proactively, operators can reduce the risk of malfunctions during ride operation.
Safety Culture:
Adherence to Protocols: Regular checks reinforce adherence to safety protocols and procedures.
Employee Awareness: When operators consistently perform pre-start checks, it fosters a culture of safety consciousness among employees1.
Equipment Reliability:
Early Detection: Detecting issues before rides start ensures that any necessary repairs or adjustments can be made promptly resulting in less down time.
Maximizing Safety: Well-maintained rides are less likely to malfunction, ensuring rider safety and ride reliability.
Legal Compliance:
Regulatory Requirements: Many authorities mandate pre-start checks for amusement rides.
Liability Reduction: Compliance with safety regulations reduces liability for operators and carnival ride or park owners.
Risk Assessment: Pre-start inspections should identify hazards, assess risks, implement controls, and monitor their effectiveness.
5. Potential areas to consider as a start for pre start checks?
Checks should cover items but not limited to like emergency stop buttons, protective guards, fluid levels, tire conditions, and wear and tear. Manufactures will have their own list for specific rides as well as owners for the various environments that they work in.
Checking a ride should be more than ticking the boxes on a form. It should be designed so that the person doing the checks are encouraged to use physical attributes (in a safe manner) in the checks so that they don’t just tick the boxes and hope for the best. This could be entering by air or oil pressures figures daily, physically checking laps bars or safety harness.
Sometimes the most obvious defect is looking right at us but can be overlooked. This can be considered as “seen but not seen”. In crucial areas this is where two people checking may well be encouraged or a check that is designed to be more than just a check box.
Checks should be on a daily basis before the public ride your attractions.
6 Means of Recording:
Paper based.
Apps for phones or tablets. Apps can be purchased from overseas company’s pre designed for the industry. They tend to have a one off purchase cost then monthly fees. Or have an app designed for your specific needs.
Google or Microsoft. Both companies have templates that you can design your own checking system. These are free and have the ability to be altered quickly when required.
A system with good analytics, cloud based, easy to adapt for different attractions and easy to share with various people trained to do the checks is an asset to the company.
In summary, pre-start safety checks are a fundamental aspect of operating carnival rides. They promote safety, prevent accidents, and contribute to a positive experience for riders. Remember, only adequately trained operators should handle these checks, and regular maintenance is essential.