Firm News

State of Tennessee to Inspect Amusement Park Rides


Posted on Mar 11, 2009

Inspectors for the State of Tennessee will conduct random inspections at amusement parks, fairs and carnivals this summer to insure the safety of the riders.

The random inspections will be conducted twice yearly at stationary parks such as Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN.  The inspections will be totally random and unannounced for traveling carnivals and fairs such as the Tennessee State Fair in Nashville and the Wilson County Fair held in Lebanon each year.

If one of the inspectors considers a ride unsafe, it will be shut down until repairs are made.

Hundreds of amusement park ride accidents are reported across the country.

Thirty-eight riders were stranded atop the 65 foot Timber Tower ride at Dollywood in 2007.  Luckily, there were no injuries from this incident which was due to the malfunction of a safety system.  However, it took six hours to evacuate all 65 of the terrified riders.

Also in the summer of 2007, a 13 year old girl had both feet severed when a gondola cable snapped while she was riding the 177 feet high Superman Tower at Six Flags in Louisville, KY.

This new law went into effect January 1, 2009.  Lawmakers hope to prevent injuries and death for these unsafe amusement rides.  The new state law also requires the owners of the rides to keep the rides insured, to obtain an annual permit for operation, and to certify that their operators have been properly trained.

These mandatory inspections do not cover wave pools, go-karts tracks, skateboard ramps and bungee cord rides not associated with a carnival, fair or amusement park.

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