 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
PUBLISHED
FUNWORLD ARTICLES
FUNWORLD
Safety Notes - July 2000 
These days a large number of diverse systems and activities are scheduled to operate simultaneously within our facilities. We are all expected to explore ways of increasing our productivity and controlling cost to ensure our competitive position in the industry. There have been several initiatives in the past few years to improve efficiency while retaining a safe environment. Perhaps one approach could be to enlist all employees to participate in the program for safety fulfillment rather than one small-dedicated group. This would not require an increase in staff, and it certainly would increase the safety awareness of the people who know best where progress can be realized. Studies consistently show that the full range of activities under the broad umbrella of "amusement industry activities" is among the safest types of recreation or entertainment. This reputation is not due to chance. It is a result of management emphasizing safety as a top priority for every employee. Perhaps this brief review will generate some ideas and enthusiasm for your facility in providing safety for employees and guests. Everyone has a role on the team-For your safety program to be effective, all levels of employees must participate. The program must have the support of senior management. Senior management must determine appropriate program-funding levels and provide direction for program development. Managers and supervisors should be required to understand the program significance and encourage participation in the program by all employees. Most important. They must learn to accept suggestions from all employees. Front-line employees must be alert to conditions that can be addressed with their resources. They must also raise issues with management that would require manager support, either for funding or establishment of priorities. An important first step-When effecting total involvement at your facility, you must include some baseline training. Explain the program expectations and implementation strategy so that everyone has the same understanding. Clearly state that all program goals will include awareness of employee safety, customer safety, and facility protection. Emphasize that management alone cannot make the program successful. An attitude of teamwork must be developed around this program, and indications of isolation between groups or departments must be avoided. Be sure to include office staff, as they often are in a position to make some unique observations throughout the facility. No one group of employees has exclusive ownership of all creative and important ideas. Encourage employees to take an extra minute for mopping up a spill and allow them to walk outside their immediate area to latch a gate they notice is open. Be aware that body language or outward appearance sets the tone for program policy quicker than any written rules. Safety is a mindset-A well-planned program will not be successful if it is covered in first-day training and then either overlooked or discouraged by complacency or redirected priorities. Unfortunately it is not as simple as sending everyone for an inoculation to ensure your facility will be immunized from all unexpected conditions. Safety is a result of everyone looking out for his or her own well being as well as those of employees or guests in the area. After an initial concentrated effort to raise the awareness of safety issues in your areas, it should become second nature and the normal way of conducting business every day. A core team-Members of management and frontline employees should be assigned to attend regular scheduled meetings to review achievements and set priorities for the continuation of the program. This team can have rotating membership to encourage a more diverse representation, but should have a core group that can provide continuity of direction. Celebrate accomplishments-Set achievable goals that can be measured. If unattainable goals are established, everyone will soon be discouraged. Set realistic provisional goals and celebrate milestones. This will send the message that someone is monitoring progress, and that the extra effort is appreciated. Celebrations can be simple or elaborate depending upon level of achievement, program resources, or size of organization. When you involve a greater number of employees in a safety program, it automatically improves the level of awareness throughout your staff. The level of accomplishment will amaze you when you encourage everyone on the team to feel responsibility for themselves, fellow employees, your guests, and facility assets. When you involve a greater number of employees in a safety program, it automatically improves the level of awareness throughout your staff. The level of accomplishment will amaze you when you encourage everyone on the team to feel responsibility for themselves, fellow employees, your guests, and facility assets. A sincere
effort guided by clear direction can produce gratifying results.
FUNWORLD
Safety Notes - February 2000 When I recently asked our financial manager for his concept of "safe," he looked at me over his glasses and said, "Safe is a box in which you place assets and other valuables." After a brief laugh, I realized that he was right. Safety really is like a safe box or, in a broader context, a safe location. Safety can also be thought of as the assets you put in a secure place. These assets might be employees, customers, or shareholders. There are some people who remain uncertain whether investing in safety is worthwhile, because they have never experienced a major incident at their facility. They may purchase insurance because specific regulations or laws demand it. However, they are not convinced that prudent investing of valuable assets is the best business move to protect against things that "never" happen. In our industry we know the valuable return we receive when assets of time and money are invested in programs that protect our employees or create a safer environment for our guests, who ultimately produce improved shareholder equity. Everybody produces something. Everybody adds value to the product that we are selling. In the simplest terms, it is guest satisfaction that we produce. If we experience lost time from even one employee, we lose the value that he or she normally contributes to our products. This causes a reduction in the amount of product or service we are providing. Let's say that a short-order cook can transform a fixed amount of raw product (meat) into five times that value by producing hamburgers. If you oversee an operation that produces 500 hamburgers a day, you will be directly impacted if the short-order cook cuts himself or herself with a kitchen knife while preparing the finished product. Perhaps this reduction in productivity could have been avoided with an investment such as a $20 metallic glove. Even this simple investment would have provided a margin of safety against loosing several hundred dollars in sales. We must be willing to put $20 in our safe box to protect against the "unlucky" demon reaping a far greater impact on our organization. A minimal investment in helmets, goggles, gloves, overalls, special boots, special rigging and climbing harnesses, or diving equipment required for underwater inspection and repair could mean the difference between 1,000 passengers per hour enjoying a ride and the ride being non-operational while methods of repair are devised. A simple $10 sign that states "2 FEET DEEP: DO NOT DIVE" could make the difference between a perfect operational day or a day filled with crisis management decisions and arrangements for public trust recovery caused by an unexpected incident. Safety does not always require the purchase of a tool, protective piece of equipment, or sign. Perhaps an employee safety training seminar, a Standard Operating Procedure development program, or funding and commitment for an Employee Safety Committee are necessary. In the amusement industry it is imperative that we pay attention to all details. It takes more than having insurance, safety equipment, signs, well-trained employees, and rides in the best possible operating condition. We must consider all issues collectively, not individually, where safety presents a concern to our guests. It is not enough that the rides look like new and are in perfect running condition. Every single aspect has to demonstrate a genuine commitment to safety from all employees. Sometimes minor failures occur on a ride or attraction. Imagine for a moment that in this situation, the guests standing in the queue see a maintenance technician in a very soiled and greasy uniform checking out the problem. His uniform is torn with a wrench protruding from the pocket. He is wearing a backward baseball cap and an untied shoe. He chews tobacco and kicks the control panel while he grumbles at the machine. This is not an image that we would like our guests to be exposed to. It would place doubt as to the level of competency our technician possesses and the level of competency our company requires from employees. We take every step necessary to make our visitors comfortable. Often we must make an extra investment to ensure that our facility is in a condition that makes guests feel comfortable. Employees performing their duties in a safe manner, clean restrooms and restaurants, and well maintained walking surfaces are just a few things that can add to a guests perception of safety when they visit our facilities. With this in mind we actually can say to the financial directors, "Safety is the millions of smiles that we make every year, thanks to the assets and personal commitment that each of our employees invests in a safe place." The "safe box" may not be black with a combination lock on the front, but rather the boundaries of our total facility.
FUNWORLD
Safety Notes - November 1999
The amusement industry is in the business of providing fun for our guests. From the smallest entertainment center to the largest theme park, we create carefree environments for people to relax and enjoy themselves. It is also fun environment for park staff and managers to work in; though that enjoyment is tempered with the awareness that the safety of their guests and colleagues must be foremost on their minds. The role of lAAPA's manufacturer and supplier members in creating this environment equals that of operators. These companies constantly expand facilities' potential to entertain with innovative games, rides, and diversions that surprise and delight guests. And as they design, construct, and test these rides and devices; they do so with the awareness that safety is their first consideration and their final mandate. And while the industry and popular press cover technological strides that increase entertainment value, it is worth noting here that comparable developments in safety have been made at a similarly ambitious pace. Computers today allow for calculations during design that not only improve the product, but reduce the probability of error. Achievements in ride safety design have benefited as well from advances in other industries that similarly strive to marry speed and safety. The high-speed environments of the motor sports industry, for instance, have spurred the development of materials that combine light-weight, flexibility, strength, and durability. Such materials have played a large role in improving the capabilities and safety of amusement rides and devices. Linear induction technology was likewise borrowed from the transportation industry. The
Safety Payoff Assuming each guest takes only three rides (a very conservative estimate since most amusement parks experience an average of six to eight rides per guest) then a total of 900 million rides were taken in the United States last year. The odds of being injured seriously enough to require hospitalization is therefore 1 in 25 million and the odds of being fatally injured are1 in 450 million. To give these figures some context; more people are injured each year using such items as televisions (37,401), first aid equipment (31,373), and garden hoses (12,577) than are injured on or in amusement rides of all types. Such statistical perspective can be gathered from other sources as well. According to figures released in August 1999 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 141 people have been killed by inflatable air bags in cars since 1990; that is more than seven times the number of fatalities on fixed amusement rides during the same period. The fact is that chances are much greater that a guest will be injured while traveling to and from an amusement facility than during his or her visit. Moreover, analysis of public documents and other relevant data consistently shows that a substantial majority of ride-related injuries are due to horseplay or other patron negligence rather than the condition or operation of a ride. Clearly visible and understandable ride warning signs are an important part of every safety program. Increasing the guest understanding of the experience they are about to encounter along with their personal requirement for capabilities and limitations is meaningful for positive guest service. Getting the Message Across Despite the degree of safety these figures illustrate, a string of accidents in the amusement industry in the late summer has raised questions - by members of the media and government - as to how such incidents can occur. While all of the statistics demonstrate that amusement parks are very safe, the industry is seriously concerned whenever a guest is hurt on any ride. Besides being trained to deal professionally and efficiently with every incident, operators work tirelessly to further improve and document their safety procedures. They believe that the responsibility of providing a safe environment rests first and foremost with them. The front line operator is in the best position to have the greatest significance on a positive guest experience for any park visit. Through programs relating to maintenance, operations, and personnel training, facilities are actively and constantly engaged in promoting and improving ride safety. Parks perform, their safety inspection programs in daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly activities. They follow detailed manufacturer guidelines to produce Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for inspection and safety. Many parks use third party specialty companies to periodically inspect or reinspect rides. Like the airline industry, ride device manufacturers identify critical components for examination each year with the use of high tech X-ray and magnetic particle procedures. Also as in the airline industry, maintenance and inspection procedures are based upon the number of hours a ride or device is operated, rather than by number of guests carried. Parks are also subject to various governmental codes and requirements. State and/or local public officials perform a range of ride inspection tests, and often assist park personnel with accident prevention programs. Furthermore, facilities must pass rigorous "risk control" inspections carried out by regulatory agencies or insurance companies who work closely with a park's own operational and maintenance professionals in developing and implementing the newest safety procedures. Ride manufacturers also host and sponsor industry-wide safety seminars on a regular basis that allows the forum for designers, manufacturers, operators, inspectors, as well as insurance and legal experts to come together for a time of formal classroom seminars, informal networking, and sharing of firsthand experiences. Safety as a Community Concern Because safety is a principal concern of the entire industry, a great deal of effort is dedicated to the broad circulation of relevant expertise and data. IAAPA plays a crucial role in this process and serves as a central information clearinghouse. IAAPA also sponsors safety workshops where the latest advances, standards, and techniques are shared and discussed. This outreach and education is well attended internationally by ride throughout the industry. In addition, IAAPA has produced a series of informative and easy-to-use safety training aides including videotapes that are widely used in the industry. IAAPA has also provided leadership in the development of exacting amusement ride safety standards through its work with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The IAAPA Safety and Maintenance Committee participants work closely with the activities of the ASTM Committee F-24 on Amusement Rides and Devices along with other international standards being developed or altered. IAAPA member representatives from producers, operators, and general interest segments have been active to establish a number of important industry-wide safety standards. American Society For Testing and Materials (ASTM) is the standards generating body for thousands of products and industries in the United States to ensure consistent quality with a wide variety of products reaching between bicycle helmets, aircraft parts, PVC pipe, and plastic bottles regardless of the manufacturer. ASTM was founded in 1898 and is a developer and publisher of technical information designed to promote the understanding and advancement of technology and to ensure the quality of commodities and services. Regardless of the manufacturer of any specific product, such as an amusement ride or device, the quality can be assured through the established and published standards. The ASTM F-24 Committee on Amusement Rides and Deuces was established in 1978 and has generated standards on Design and Manufacture, Testing Performance, Operation, Maintenance, Inspection, Classification of Related Injuries, and Quality Assurance. These standards are widely accepted in the industry and have been adopted by many states and other governmental jurisdictions in whole or selected portions as part of their "Ride Safety Regulations." Conclusion
FUNWORLD
Safety Notes - October 1999
As we prepare for the next century, let us forget for a moment what safety means as the concept we presently know. We must look back to the times when humanity only used basic instinct against a world of dangerous animals, weather, and, of course, a certain number of unpredictable humans getting in trouble by themselves walking around without safety codes and standards, warning signs, maintenance programs, or 21st century technology. In those days everything was dangerous. Leaving the cave was synonymous with getting lost, using fire meant you could get burned, water meant you were subject to drowning, mountain cliffs presented the danger of falling, snow presented a danger of hypothermia, and animals presented the danger of being eaten. If none of these things killed us, perhaps the neighbor's tribe would start a war. With the passing of approximately a million years and the gain of some intelligence, the night provided stars for navigation, fire became an important element of civilization, water was integral to transportation, and useful animals were domesticated while the more dangerous kind were driven off or at least held at bay. We banded together for mutual protection; tribes became kingdoms, kingdoms became nations, and nations joined alliances. The underlying drive behind these communities has been to band together for mutual protection. And over time-as villages have grown into nations-we have enhanced the quality and duration of life with practices and measures that ensure our well-being. The result of all these measures has been to create an extraordinary degree of safety. And safety today is no longer something we strive for, but rather something we expect. Something we even take for granted. Risk has become so uncommon that, for a monthly fee, we can have other parties assume most of it for us, as with insurance. And yet, with personal safety at its highest level in the history of civilization, there remains in each of us to some degree a primal longing for risk. People drive race cars at speeds of 160 miles per hour, they climb cliffs without ropes, and leap off of bridges with elastic cords tied around their ankles. Others, with more caution, watch such stunts from the stands and from their televisions for the vicarious thrill of witnessing high levels of risk. They are drawn to the thrill even as the risk prevents them from participating. Elsewhere on this continuum of thrill seekers are those who seek the firsthand thrill without the danger. They seek simulated risks, always pursuing more realistic simulations, but in controlled environments where thrills come without the corresponding danger. Such people, perhaps the largest of the three groups, are the ones that seek out roller coasters and other such thrill rides. They go to amusement parks for the best of both worlds, experiential thrills without the dangers of actual risk. This has always been one of the core features of amusement parks and remains a large element of their attractiveness. But no environment is 100 percent safe. Highway and home accident figures lend ample evidence to this reality. There always exists at least a minimal amount of risk. It is a battle between control and chaos. This is when safety truly becomes a feeling. Safety is not a series of rules, check lists, and cleverly devised programs. It is a feeling. If someone has the feeling that something is not good, no matter how many reasons you give him, he will not take that plane, boat, train, elevator, or amusement ride. How relative can safety be? The feeling is a mix somewhere between trust and comfort. At the present time amusement rides offer a unique paradox. They must provide an impression of risk, while providing the perception of a completely safe experience. "That is the intrigue of our business. This is all about the amount of perceived risk we offer without placing guests in a position where they could be injured even slightly. As designers, producers, and park operators we have produced an endless amount of procedures, politics, rules, and standards that furnish one important achievement: to create and preserve a safe environment. This implies that the total guest experience within a park must be safe. This is not a question of how to defend our actions in court, or how many rules and regulations we can come up with. Safety becomes an impression of the level of trust and comfort we feel with our actions to keep the amusement rides working while creating an illusion for the customer; making them believe that they are willing to take a risk even when they are surrounded by a minimal risk environment. Go ahead and make the magic. Create some stimulants in the experiences our customers will encounter. Put some fire, water, darkness, steep descents, and animated animals in the path of the guests and allow them the impression that risk was present as it was for our ancestors in accounts of ancient times. And as you do this, remember that there is no other industry in the world that has so successfully woven together thrill and safety. That is why we are successful.
FUNWORLD
Safety Notes - September 1999
We have enjoyed the opportunity to travel and meet many IAAPA members face-to-face this summer while presenting On-Site Safety Workshops. One question is raised with most every occasion for open discussion. With all of the safety standards in the world today and considering the international nature of our business how can we be assured that the ride we want to purchase will be built to an acceptable standard for our specific region? Your Safety/Maintenance Committee, in conjunction with the IAAPA World Council, have taken a look at some measures to be considered that will assist during the preparation of contracts that will increase the chance for success of your project. In fact, as a result of an IAAPA Joint Task Group Meeting last year an Amusement Ride Purchase Contract Guideline has been written. This document is available through the IAAPA office to assist those members that perhaps do not have an extensive legal or engineering. The material presented in this article as well as the guideline itself should not under any circumstances be used as a substitute for a properly written contract. The points mentioned were prepared by IAAPA members solely to provide informal information relating to ride procurement. Neither IAAPA nor the writers of this document are authorized to provide legal advice, business advice, or services to individual members. Many IAAPA members representing several interests in our amusement industry have contributed in the formation of this material with the goal that it will preserve the safety issues that are of utmost importance to all members. Competent legal and financial counsel should always be used when making critical business decisions or purchasing, selling, or leasing anything in the nature of a ride. TITLE: A simple heading identifying the document as a purchase agreement or contract for a specific piece of equipment should be included. Spell out the buyer's rights concerning the use of the ride's name. If the buyer expects to have a unique ride, it must be spelled out that he owns the design of the ride or that no other identical ride will be sold within a described area for a certain period of time. Make certain that sponsorship rights, if any, are not interfered with in any way by the agreement. CONTRACTING PARTIES: Define the "buyer" and "seller" by their legal names and provide complete addresses. If the seller is an agent for another party, this fact should be stated. Be certain that all persons who are assigned responsibilities under the agreement and are considered parties are listed on the signature page and sign the document. Make sure that each signatory to the contract is authorized to do so. PURCHASE PRICE, DELIVERY SCHEDULE, PAYMENT PROCESS: List the purchase price and in general terms what it includes; i.e., equipment, spare parts, freight, etc. Set forth all delivery dates and requirements for documents as to place, manner of delivery etc. A payment schedule that equates with a deliverable schedule for each payment should be defined in an attached exhibit. Indicate the payment process. PACKING,
TRANSPORTATION, AND INSURANCE: INFORMATION
NEEDED AND SUPPLIED: RIGHTS
TO INSPECT AND RECEIVE PROGRESS REPORTS: GOVERNING
LAW:
FUNWORLD
Safety Notes - July 1999
As we are aware, our industry enjoys a phenomenal safety record. In this fact we should all take pride and realize that we must continue to seek out training opportunities to improve our knowledge as products and experiences expand at great speed. What we knew a few years ago only provides a good foundation with the new legislation and standards that continue to influence our industry. Today we accelerate our customers at velocities that were unheard of only a few years ago. We drop them 300 feet and safely stop the vehicle with the use of simple magnets. The safety record we enjoy is a tribute to design engineers, manufacturers, operators, maintenance personnel, and especially those suppliers who develop the new technology. We must also thank our customers who drive the industry to search for new methods of increasing the thrill without compromising safety. This month we will take a look at amusement industry safety related seminars. Over the past few years IAAPA members have been requesting information on seminars available in locations close to their facilities. The purpose for providing this information is not to advertise or endorse any one program, but to provide information by which individuals can choose their best options. Each year our industry starts out with the AIMS International Safety Seminar traditionally held in January. This is one of the largest such seminars and is attended by a unique cross section of professionals from our industry. It is the one week of the year where amusement industry press, attorneys, corporate park employees, design engineers, industry consultants, insurance representatives, maintenance technicians, manufacturers, mobile industry personnel, regulatory inspectors, and ride operators and owners share experiences for the advance and education of all. More than 60 classes are offered, often more than once during this seminar. Tracks have been specifically developed for ride and park maintenance, ride and park operations, family entertainment centers, and inspectors. It is a special week where students share unique experiences with dedicated professionals who conduct the classroom sessions and with other students. This summer I personally had the pleasure of participating in four international seminar opportunities. During the third week of May the Australian Amusement Leisure and Recreation Association (AALARA) held their annual convention in the Gold Coast region of Australia. During this four-day event several formal workshops were conducted, including some dealing with maintenance, safet3ç and signage issues. On June 3-4 the Association of Latin American Attractions and Parks (ALAP) held a conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina that was attended by representatives from several facilities in the region. While this is a young organization, they were well represented by professionals with a desire to learn about programs that have been successful within other areas of our industry. Later in June the Euro Parks group hosted two IAAPA Safety Seminars in one week. The first was at Duinrell Park in The Netherlands and the second in Madrid, Spain. This seminar dealt primarily with safety awareness at member amusement facilities and the final CEN Draft for the new European Common Market Countries Amusement Ride and Device Standard. In July IAAPA in conjunction with the Asian Expo in Singapore will conduct three days of workshop seminars that will include a safety element. From firsthand experience with these workshops, I can report that the delegates been very enthusiastic and have raised many interesting questions. It is a great opportunity for training at a more local or regional site without the long travel many members must endure to attend the annual convention workshops. Many other seminar/workshops are conducted by qualified professionals and meet needs of local facilities. The Pennsylvania Ride Safety Seminar is a three-day workshop with topics ranging from inspection techniques to the importance of employee training and documentation in fixed parks and water parks. Senior management within the Pennsylvania Association assists with the instructional duties to show the support of member facilities. The OABA annual meeting in Gibbstown, Fla., included workshops concerning rider responsibility and similar issues that the outdoor industry can benefit from. And the World Water Park Association also has several prestigious workshops at its annual convention. Other closely related industries have similar seminars and cover subjects paralleling amusement park issues. Seminars held by the ski industry provide first class training on wire rope issues and difficult evacuation opportunities. They often cover issues that are regulated by ASTM F-24 and issues of guest service. After our on-site training seminar in Europe, I was approached by a gentleman who said he had received similar training a few years ago in a workshop sponsored by the Snow Ski Association. Making safety training seminars available at several locations around the world is a goal of the IAAPA organization. We expect that in the near future a safety training opportunity will be available in a location that is convenient for you.
FUNWORLD
Safety Notes - April 1999
An annual goal for the Safety/Maintenance Committee is to raise awareness for safety programs within our industry. We can all be proud of the safety record our industry possesses but we must never become complacent. For the past several years the IAAPA Annual Safety Awareness Award program has encouraged member facilities to share with the rest of the industry any program that has worked particularly well for them. Awards have been presented to international amusement parks, large corporate parks, and FECs. In early summer of each year the president and CEO of IAAPA sends a letter to each member classified with the association as an amusement facility. Members return their completed suggestions before the end of September. The submissions selected for recognition are announced at the annual November convention. Since interest in this program has grown, it is felt some guidelines should be published to assist each facility in determining programs suitable for submission. While our industry is diverse, in many aspects there are certain common core values that become part of each organization's business plan. These primary values become the basis for individual safety and maintenance programs. It is remarkable that almost any program can be taken from a facility, large or small, and custom-tailored to fit the required size of another facility halfway around the world. Often a philosophy developed at a seasonal facility or FEC can be adapted to meet the prerequisites of a much larger operation. Therefore, an additional benefit of this annual program is that all suggestions are catalogued, reproduced, and made available to attendees of the annual convention Safety/Maintenance Workshop. These reproduced suggestion submittals are distributed in addition to the outlines from the workshop speaker's presentations. We welcome all facilities to start preparing the program that they will implement this season. If you are particularly successful with a program, we will be awaiting your submission at the appropriate time during 1999. Programs must be original concepts or special adaptations of safety programs to meet a particular requirement at your facility. The program should be designed to manage risk of incidences for customers, employees, or facility assets. The goals of the program that were considered when it was developed must be stated along with the observed or measurable results. Any quantifiable savings should be stated to demonstrate the success of your program. Savings do not have to be financial but can be stated in the amount of employee involvement that was generated as a direct result of the program. The success of a program is not measured by the amount of savings generated to the "bottom line" of the corporation (although this is not an inappropriate objective). A previously submitted program did not result in profit increases to the corporation but rather resulted in incentives to employees through profit sharing, the savings of reduced insurance premiums due to employee efforts to reduce incidences. A safety awareness and risk management program will work best when it has the support of everyone at your facility. This includes top management, supervision, seasonal employees, and especially your customers. When the patrons are made aware that safety is a priority at your facility they will act in a more responsible manner, as they know your expectations. In jurisdictions where Rider Responsibility has been approved there should be signage soliciting patron support. Many times a good safety record generates apathy within an organization. When a renewed emphasis is placed on the importance of providing a safe environment for your employees and guests and to protect your facility assets your program can be taken to new levels of achievement. If for any reason you are learning about the Safety Suggestion Award program for the first time through this article and you would like to submit a program, please contact the IAAPA Safety/Maintenance Committee office. They will ensure you are included on the mailing list of invitations for submissions this year. Often the requests for submissions are not distributed to the interested personnel within an organization. We feel this program provides at least two opportunities. The first is for your safety suggestion to be recognized for an award at the annual convention. The second is for your suggestion to be published in the packet of suggestions distributed at the Annual Convention Safety/Maintenance Workshop. In addition, there is the opportunity to pick up a copy of the suggestion packet for your own facility's use. The Safety/Maintenance Committee's goal is to sustain the impressive safety achievements within our industry. If your facility might benefit from a program proven to be successful in another location, the program might perhaps be implemented at a reduced risk. When any one facility is successful in producing a safe amusement industry environment, our whole industry receives the benefit through a deserved elevated safety reputation. We will be awaiting the submission of your Safety Suggestion Award submittal in September of each year.
FUNWORLD
Safety Notes - January 1999
In this, the debut of Safety Notes, we will start with a brief explanation of the functions the IAAPA Safety/Maintenance Committee administers in the course of their year. We will also look at the demographics of this committee as it endeavors to be representative of the IAAPA general membership. One goal for our committee is to raise the awareness of safety for each member whether an amusement park or attraction worldwide, concessionaire, individual, or supplier. Our committee members actively participate in the business matters of our industry and the 1998 Annual Safety/Maintenance Workshop was presented entirely by these industry professional. Our members actively participate in additional organizations that promote safety matters for our industry worldwide. Like most other IAAPA Committees, one duty each year is to prepare for and present meaningful topics to the diverse members at convention workshops. When searching for potential topics, we bear in mind that the vast majority of attendees in our workshops have been employed in our industry less than six years. Our committee mission is to "Serve to educate the industry on safety matters and participate in the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) project." This refers specifically to ASTM committee F-24 that are the regulations specifically for Amusement Rides and Devices. As our IAAPA membership demographics change, our committee attempts to select members that are active in worldwide safety regulatory organizations. The committee has members from large corporate amusement parks, family entertainment centers, seasonal amusement parks, amusement industry professionals, and international members. We are very proud that last fall the IAAPA Executive Committee honored two of our recent past members for outstanding contributions made to this committee and our industry. Dick Fussner with 25 continuous years before his recent retirement and IAAPA past president (1972) Stan Nelson have both been actively involved with ASTM and IAAPA Safety Committee since their inception. The Safety/Maintenance Committee attempts to keep abreast of the issues that will effect safety or maintenance with all IAAPA facility organizations. An annual program sponsored by this Committee is the Safety Suggestion Award. Each year IAAPA member facilities from around the world are encouraged to explain on an entry form a change they have made to a program that has produced measurable positive results. Shared ideas from large and small facilities alike benefit other member facilities that have experienced a like problem. There will be a later issue of this column devoted to this beneficial program. Our committee meets twice a year, during February in Tampa, Fla., and during October in a rotating western U.S. city. The meetings coincide with the bi-annual American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F-24 Amusement Rides and Devices meetings. The winter meeting generally coincides with the International Independent Showman's and Outdoor Amusement Business Association's annual meetings and trade show located in Gibsonton, Fla. This is to control overall committee costs and time away from the primary jobs for committee members. All U.S. members of this committee are also active members of ASTM. In addition to actively participating in the regulation development for ASTM F-24 this committee also vigorously follows development of ride safety standards being used around the world. While we may not always have an active member participating in every case of standard development, we do keep current with progress to ensure awareness. In other areas, our industry has expressed concern for some guidance for an approach to safety and information signage. While the vast majority of organizations use an underlying theme for all signs there is an evident lack of consistency in the information we present. The snow ski industry, which has developed a method for communicating through the use of selected symbols, can tell a patron what to expect as they are at the decision point for experiencing any particular trail. This decision can be made as early as at home while planning for your ski vacation or as late as a trail choice on the way down the mountain. The IAAPA Safety Committee, under the guidance of Boyd Jensen II, has reviewed the current joint IAAPA/WWA Signage recommendations. To ensure timeliness for today's marketplace there is presently in draft a recommendation to use three or four levels of intensity to rate the amusement rides or attractions at your facility. In addition to the distinctive symbols being proposed there is a rating matrix that is quite easy to apply to the rides at your facility. We hope this gives everyone a brief overview of your Safety/Maintenance Committee. We should be very proud today that our Amusement Industry demonstrates an impressive responsibility toward safety issues. Through this column we will attempt to provide stimulating topics concerning members from around the world on these subjects.
An Amusement Industry Professional actively involved promoting Global Standards for safe practice within our unique business. |
Copyright © 2001-2002 Amusement Industry Consulting, LLC. All rights reserved.