Australia - 4 people dead on Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids ride, Gold Coast, 2016

[Bohemian]

"Corporate Psychopaths"
Good book on the subject: "Snakes In Suits" By Robert Hare

https://www.amazon.com/Snakes-Suits-When-Psychopaths-Work/dp/0061147893

personally, I think 4% is lowball figure.

I haven't read 'Snakes in Suits' but I'll check it out. I am a fan of Robert Hare's though.

That's the percentage I read in a Forbes article but this link quotes between 3-21%:

'Queensland forensic psychologist Nathan Brookes has studied the traits of corporate leaders, and has found between 3 and 21 per cent of them display psychopathic traits.

"We've looked at around 1,000 people, and the supply chain management study — which involved 261 corporate professionals — was the most interesting," he said.

"We found one in five [people were] found to have clinically elevated levels of psychopathy."​

Mr Brookes says that figure "shared similarities to what we would find in a prison population".'

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-13/tool-to-screen-for-psychopaths/7839854

 

[Bohemian]

"About 200 staffers have returned to work at Dreamworld less than a week after four people were killed in a raft ride accident at the Gold Coast theme park.

Dreamworld chief executive Craig Davidson admitted the park could not say when it would re-open but staff were being paid during the closure period.

Mr Davidson said they had started a 'cautious and staged approach' allowing staff to return to work and that around 200 workers were at Dreamworld on Monday."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rn-work-no-decision-reopen.html#ixzz4Oda68vKF

The ride must never reopen.

I agree. 'The Ghost Train Fire' at Luna Park cost the lives of seven people - 6 children and 1 adult were incinerated. It was never reopened but a memorial garden and monument placed where it stood. Nearly 40 years ago now.

http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/tragedy/display/93915-luna-park-ghost-train-fire

Same problem - low staffing levels plus lack of adequate firefighting equipment. It was a tinderbox. An accident waiting to happen and, it seems, no lessons learnt.

 

[symbah]

\

\I have never heard that expression and I like it.

What is truly repulsive is the back and forth this manufacturer says this, that agency said that bla bal

you killed people own it plead guilty cause you all are

Yes yes yes, thats what they need to do - OWN IT. Admit then correct.
All else coming from them now is dodgy, self serving and an insult.

 

[symbah]

I agree. 'The Ghost Train Fire' at Luna Park cost the lives of seven people - 6 children and 1 adult were incinerated. It was never reopened but a memorial garden and monument placed where it stood. Nearly 40 years ago now.

http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/tragedy/display/93915-luna-park-ghost-train-fire

Same problem - low staffing levels plus lack of adequate firefighting equipment. It was a tinderbox. An accident waiting to happen and, it seems, no lessons learnt.

And imho, Luna Park has never been the same after that terrible fire with all those lives lost.

 

[Bohemian]

And imho, Luna Park has never been the same after that terrible fire with all those lives lost.

Mine too. The 'ghost' of that terrible day remains.

 

[symbah]

So now Ardent Leisure are Main Event.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/3304946...o-families-in-preparation-for-funerals/#page1
The theme park’s embattled parent company Ardent Leisure, which late last week voted to change their name to Main Event, also announced the appointment of a decorated recovery expert to help lead a much-needed healing process.

 

[symbah]

I hope they won't be the redacted versions.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/3304946...o-families-in-preparation-for-funerals/#page1
The CEO also confirmed that safety audits have begun on all rides at the theme park and said the results of the audits will be made public.

 

[symbah]

Bill Shorten's former chief of staff, who has had strong factional support from the Australian Workers Union, has emerged as the lobbyist for Ardent Leisure as it faces allegations of safety breaches from the same union over the deaths of four people at Dreamworld last week.
Ardent Leisure has engaged Next Level Strategic Services as its lobbyist since December 23 last year, according to the Queensland government's lobbyist register.
Next Level's key lobbyists include Mr Shorten's former chief of staff, Cameron Milner, who joined the firm after unexpectedly quitting after the election in July, and Stephen Beckett, a former deputy chief of staff to former Queensland premier Anna Bligh.
The link will draw attention to how Ardent has and will handle the AWU after the union's strong public comments on the Dreamworld crisis. The union has accused the Dreamworld management of being alerted to safety problems for two years but doing nothing.


Read more: http://www.afr.com/news/dreamworld-...n-crisis-expert-20161030-gsdxc2#ixzz4OedIcxEz
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[symbah]

'Safe, comfortable environment'

Ardent said it had called in Mr McKay on Thursday evening after the AGM where Ms Thomas took a public bashing for being awarded an $850,000 bonus and a delay in contacting the family of the victims.
Inspector McKay told the media on Sunday he accepted the company's offer "in a heartbeat" and will be deploying his expertise in dealing with the 2011 Queensland floods to manage the crisis to come up with a long-term plan for the theme park.


"It's no different to a natural disaster. It is a death of a soul and what we need to do is ensure something like this doesn't happen again to the best of our ability," Mr McKay said.



Read more: http://www.afr.com/news/dreamworld-...n-crisis-expert-20161030-gsdxc2#ixzz4OedmpCFv
Follow us: @FinancialReview on Twitter | financialreview on Facebook

BBM: I beg to differ.

 

[CARIIS]

'Safe, comfortable environment'

Ardent said it had called in Mr McKay on Thursday evening after the AGM where Ms Thomas took a public bashing for being awarded an $850,000 bonus and a delay in contacting the family of the victims.
Inspector McKay told the media on Sunday he accepted the company's offer "in a heartbeat" and will be deploying his expertise in dealing with the 2011 Queensland floods to manage the crisis to come up with a long-term plan for the theme park.


"It's no different to a natural disaster. It is a death of a soul and what we need to do is ensure something like this doesn't happen again to the best of our ability," Mr McKay said.



Read more: http://www.afr.com/news/dreamworld-...n-crisis-expert-20161030-gsdxc2#ixzz4OedmpCFv
Follow us: @FinancialReview on Twitter | financialreview on Facebook

BBM: I beg to differ.

I shall be begging right there with you, they have it backwards, we can not do anything about mother nature , but we certainly could have replaced the pump, and all the other machines when safety officials said X AND X They dont need a PR person , they need to open some checkbooks and be online shopping for new safe rides, while taking care of those they murdered.

 

[CARIIS]

I hope they won't be the redacted versions.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/3304946...o-families-in-preparation-for-funerals/#page1
The CEO also confirmed that safety audits have begun on all rides at the theme park and said the results of the audits will be made public.

This stuff had narratives redacted :

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-2...y-qwhs/7969940

I think it's a ploy - the "will be released to public"--they will be released in like 18 months and make an article on page 18 of a thrity second news report -- we'll see.

 

[CARIIS]

So now Ardent Leisure are Main Event.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/3304946...o-families-in-preparation-for-funerals/#page1
The theme park’s embattled parent company Ardent Leisure, which late last week voted to change their name to Main Event, also announced the appointment of a decorated recovery expert to help lead a much-needed healing process.

Gets dumber and dumber from this link regarding the natural disaster guy:

former Queensland police investigator will help those affected open up-

there are folks highly trained at rapport development, know as clinicians. I guy who makes sure bottled water arrives at a devasted area are ,IMO ,a different skill set!

As far as the staff goes, one clearly helpful group activity would be to allow staff to vent at management.

Another helpful activity would "ask" (beg better word) for staffs authentic input into staffing levels, and "hear" how hard working there has been, to give voice to their feeling that they were just a replaceable entity and want their help in making things better.

Since there are no visitors - out of each 8 hour work day, they should provide 75 minute group sessions facilitated by clinicians

Listen to your staff, they know so much more than management number crunchers - but they have to be truly able to "hear" what they sharing, and have it be an "engagement "not a power control activity just mo

 

[CARIIS]

"About 200 staffers have returned to work at Dreamworld less than a week after four people were killed in a raft ride accident at the Gold Coast theme park.

Dreamworld chief executive Craig Davidson admitted the park could not say when it would re-open but staff were being paid during the closure period.

Mr Davidson said they had started a 'cautious and staged approach' allowing staff to return to work and that around 200 workers were at Dreamworld on Monday."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rn-work-no-decision-reopen.html#ixzz4Oda68vKF

The ride must never reopen.

RE: Last Friday from Dreamworld's senior staff members concerned about the understaffing of rides at the theme park were handed over to police.The two emails provided by the Australian Workers Union were written in 2015 and address concerns about rides being run by 'sole operators', The Brisbane Times reported.

Mr Swann said on Friday he gave the two emails to police, showing the company was running the Cyclone Rollercoaster with only one operator despite the manufacturers guidelines of two, 'preferably three staff.'


These are the people that made the roller coaster .


http://www.greatcoasters.com/








Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rn-work-no-decision-reopen.html#ixzz4OfRa2Rju
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

[Hatfield]

Gets dumber and dumber from this link regarding the natural disaster guy:

former Queensland police investigator will help those affected open up-

there are folks highly trained at rapport development, know as clinicians. I guy who makes sure bottled water arrives at a devasted area are ,IMO ,a different skill set!

As far as the staff goes, one clearly helpful group activity would be to allow staff to vent at management.

Another helpful activity would "ask" (beg better word) for staffs authentic input into staffing levels, and "hear" how hard working there has been, to give voice to their feeling that they were just a replaceable entity and want their help in making things better.

Since there are no visitors - out of each 8 hour work day, they should provide 75 minute group sessions facilitated by clinicians

Listen to your staff, they know so much more than management number crunchers - but they have to be truly able to "hear" what they sharing, and have it be an "engagement "not a power control activity just mo

This sounds too much like a "feel good" approach to make (fool) the staff into thinking their voices are going to be listened to this time. What the staff needs is assurances from the management that their input will be acted on and not just thrown in the trash.

We already have heard from others that the management obviously has had numerous complaints and nothing meaningful was ever done about them.

Actions from management for committed improvements is what is needed here. Safety improvements and safeguards need to be instituted.

What they dont need is a fake "feel good" activity where people get to throw plates at a wall and nothing ever changes.

 

[CARIIS]

Never thought about a "manual" for a ride before. Picked a random one



Load the ride, directing guests to their seats making sure that proper load balance is maintained. PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION to guests with special needs. • Help the guest lock all SAFETY BARS, BELTS, CHAINS, STRAPS, etc. Make an ACTUAL SAFETY CHECK, before starting the ride.

It is the responsibility of all ride operators and attendants to insure an efficient ride operation by enforcing all regulations as well as those operating procedures dealing with the safe, efficient operation of the rides and/or attractions you are trained on. The only difference between a ride operator and an attendant is a ride attendant may NOT OPERATE THE CONTROLS of a ride. Other then this difference, the responsibilities will be the same and will include, but may not be limited to the following. •

Operate the ride according to the instructions given during your orientation period and those given in your operating manual. Do not over speed your ride or increase the ride time. (Note: Ride attendants are there to assist in loading, unloading and ushering guests. They are NOT ALLOWED TO OPERATE THE RIDE.) • Keep a watchful eye on the ride while it is in motion, never turning your back to the ride, never leaving your position or talking to passing friends while operating the ride

Should this happen on your ride, immediately notify your RIDE SUPERVISOR ONLY. The supervisor will inform you as to what procedure you should follow. The ride should be closed until the problem can be rectified. If, at any time, you hear any unusual NOISE or the ride does not appear to OPERATE PROPERLY, CALMLY, UNLOAD THE RIDE, and notify your supervisor IMMEDIATELY. Notify the guests waiting in line that the ride will be closing temporarily and will hopefully open again shortly. If you and your Supervisor anticipate a lengthy wait, please advise guests to return later in the day



Injury to Guest/Employee or Damage to Equipment - Another unusual situation that may occur on your ride is an injury to a guest or employee, or damage to ride equipment. No matter how hard we try to prevent them, these incidents do occur. DO NOT TAKE THESE INCIDENTS LIGHTLY; SPEAK ONLY TO YOUR SUPERVISOR ABOUT THE INCEDENT, AND NO ONE ELSE. Remember to handle these situations PROFESSIONALLY and in a CONFIDENTIAL manner. REMAIN CALM, and follow these 6 steps: • Contact your Ride Supervisor. • Give your name and exact location. • Describe extent and nature of any injuries. • Assist injured persons until FIRST AID arrives. • Keep all spectators away from the scene. • DO NOT MAKE ANY STATEMENTS OR COMMENTS to ANYONE,

Always keep as many cars on the rides as needed in striving for safety and capacity, bearing in mind that proper load balances must be maintained. 11. Pay attention to all gauges on your ride for correct reading. Never run your ride faster than design speed. If a discrepancy occurs, close the ride and contact your Supervisor. 12. While your ride is in motion, if a strange noise develops, shut the ride down immediately, unload, and contact your Supervisor. 13. Do not alter the pre-set audio levels. 14. Do not overload your ride at anytime. For example, when cars are designed for two people, never put a third person in.

Learn the sound and feel of the machine. 3. Learn what to do if there is a change in its so



Fatigue - Operating a ride is work. It is tiring. It takes specialized skills. A person must be in good physical, mental, and emotional condition to be a good operator. Many safety experts believe that an operator’s mental and emotional state has something to do with almost every incident.

http://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Prote.../Documents/Operator and Attendants Manual.pdf

Manufacturer’s guidance on safe operations for individual rides and attractions

Hand Signals:

Hand Signals Ride Stop (Two Arms, Closed Fist Put Together, Knuckle to Knuckle at Chest Height) This signal indicates that the ride should be stopped. This sign is directed at the Operator.

Cross Stationary Train/Boat/Car (Cross Arms Held Above Head) This indicates that the attendant/operator wishes to cross over the train/boat/car from either the load/unload platform to the other. The operator/attendant needs to wait for the operator to show the same signal back before crossing the stationary train/boat/car.

Unlock Harnesses (Open Fist) This indicates that the harnesses require unlocking by the Ride Operator. This signal should be held until the harnesses have unlocked.

Dispatch (Thumbs Up) This signal indicates that the train may be dispatched. The signal is directed at the ride operator and held until the train has left the station.

http://www.iaapa.org/docs/handout-archive---ops/standard-operations-procedures.pdf?sfvrsn=0

 

[Hatfield]

RE: Last Friday from Dreamworld's senior staff members concerned about the understaffing of rides at the theme park were handed over to police.The two emails provided by the Australian Workers Union were written in 2015 and address concerns about rides being run by 'sole operators', The Brisbane Times reported.

Mr Swann said on Friday he gave the two emails to police, showing the company was running the Cyclone Rollercoaster with only one operator despite the manufacturers guidelines of two, 'preferably three staff.'


These are the people that made the roller coaster .


http://www.greatcoasters.com/








Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rn-work-no-decision-reopen.html#ixzz4OfRa2Rju
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Having two people seems to be so important and i will be on the lookout for that at any amusement park I ever go to in the future.

It seems common sense that one person is needed just to watch for any safety type issues or things going wrong with the ride or to assist people with anything while the other person would be the main gatekeeper and loader.

If for no other reason than to allow someone to go to the restroom there seems a definite need to have at least two people running any large type ride.

If a place is not going to be considerate to their employees to allow for a possible bathroom break when nature calls then that may be a good sign that the ride may be poorly managed.

 

[CARIIS]

Many modern river rapids rides feature a much narrower river channel as well as smaller boats (6 seats as opposed to 12 seats). Some are heavily themed, while others may present a natural setting for added realism. Multiple manufacturers have introduced new elements to the rapids ride concept: a vertical lift system, shoot the chute-style drops, and a whirlpool feature.


River rapids rides feature circular rafts with two main components: the fiberglass body in which passengers are seated and the rubber ring upon which the body is secured. The rubber ring provides buoyancy as well as shock absorption for when rafts collide with an obstacle during the course of the ride or with each other.

Riders face toward center of the boat and are usually secured by a lap belt. Some rafts feature a circular metal bar in the middle of the raft; this gives passengers a place to grip or brace their feet.

Generally, the station starts at the highest point on the ride, with the river channel having a slight gradient to it for the remainder of the ride. A lift hill then brings the boats back up to station level at the end of the ride. This is usually also the point where the ride's main pumps are housed, bringing the water up from the low point and back up to the high point.

The gradient on the river channel provides the water with its flow and pace. This also has the interesting side effect such that when the ride's pumps are switched off at the end of operation or in an emergency, the water naturally flows back to the end of the ride where it collects, leaving the majority of the ride's river channel empty and drained until the pumps are turned back on.

All Intamin permanent (and most other) river rapids rides feature a connected lake of some sort at the end of the ride before the lift hill. This is sometimes used to store broken boats. Its main purpose, however, is to help store the large amounts of water that collect at the end of the ride (before the lift hill) once the ride's main pumps are turned off.

This is the water that would have been circulating around the ride when it is in operation. When observed, you can usually see the height difference in the water level in this lake from when the rides pumps are turned on, to when they are turned off. This effect is usually less noticeable if an already existing larger lake is used for the ride's water storage.

. Depending on the size and length of the river rapids ride, it can take up to 15 minutes to fill the ride's channel up from empty once the pumps have been switched on.

generally two types of river rapids ride stations: those with conveyor belts and those with turntables. Those with conveyor belts are able to lift the raft completely out of the stream of water (usually as an extension of the lift hill at the end of the ride) and advance it to various points in the station to allow passengers to enter and exit via raised straight platforms on either side of the conveyors. Stations that utilize a turntable allow the raft to stay in the stream of water as the turntable continuously revolves, with the rafts wedged between the turntable and a curved surface so that the rafts move at the same speed as the turntable (and not at the same speed as the water). When they reach a certain point around the turntable, the rafts become un-wedged and are released in relatively even intervals to traverse the course.

Usually rapids are made by the amusement park having large cylinder tubes underneath the water. The bigger the tube, the bigger the rapids.

The pic used in the article is the one at the park.

there may be pressurized water jets. An automated system may spray streams of water through a nozzle directed toward a passing raft, or on other rides, large amounts of water may shoot from a jet or cannon, often pointed upward so that the falling water will douse riders. Some parks (for instance, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay), have coin-operated water jets and cannons so that passersby can pay to attempt to soak riders.

The biggies in making these rides

• Fabbri Group
• Hopkins Rides
• Intamin
• Preston & Barbieri

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_River_Rapids_Ride

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_rapids_ride

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busch_Gardens_Tampa

 

[CARIIS]

Riders enter a long indoor queue with several switchbacks. The queue then bridges across part of the ride's water storage area before reaching the circular station. This station originally featured a rotating platform which allowed riders to mount and dismount the boats without the need for the boats to stop. This has since been decommissioned due to safety concerns.

previous link added casue I did not want to go over limit last post!

 

[Hatfield]

Riders enter a long indoor queue with several switchbacks. The queue then bridges across part of the ride's water storage area before reaching the circular station. This station originally featured a rotating platform which allowed riders to mount and dismount the boats without the need for the boats to stop. This has since been decommissioned due to safety concerns.

previous link added casue I did not want to go over limit last post!

My goodness. It almost sounds like years ago people had to board while the boat was slowly moving along to get maximum rider participation. Imagine that. Its like the operator would wait till everyone got off and then told people to jump on while raft slowly moving along. Incredible.

I probably have this pictured all wrong but at least they improved that rotating platform "thingy".

 

[CARIIS]

You see more injuries on inflatables than almost any other amusement ride you can think of - more than roller coasters."- Jim Barber, spokesman for the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials




http://www.rideaccidents.com/rapids.html

Have had difficulty finding the manufacturer of this thing anyone?

It is interesting - just an example below - its just like aviation - manufacturers release safety bulletins and stuff untington Train Smoke Stack Heat Protection Bulletin
regarding their Zero Gravity rides dated 9-12-2013 can be downloaded here.
SR-5R-1309-01SR-5R-1309-02SR-5R-1309-02A

The Safety Bulletin regarding the Cliffhanger Drag Link Adjustment can be downloaded HERE!!!!!!!

The Safety Bulletin regarding the Cliffhanger Bearing Base Ear Reinforcement Plates dated 9 November 2010 can be downloadedHERE!!!!!!!

The Safety Bulletin regarding the recent Cliffhanger Incident dated 13 September 2010 can be downloadedHERE!!!!!!!

A letter from Dartron regarding the recent Cliffhanger Incident can be downloaded HERE!!!!!

Dartron has issued a bulletin regarding the bearing base plate inspection on the Cliffhanger. This bulletin will clarify the current requirements for the ride.
You can download it here!! Cliffhanger Bearing Plate Inspection 9-12-2008

Dartron has issued a bulletin regarding car bolt replacement on the Hurricane ride that must be completed by May 1, 2008. Check it out Here!!

Check out this Announcement from Dartron Rides regarding the Cliffhanger and Zero Gravity Rides!!! Dartron Announcement of ConsolidationAdded 24 October 2007

Product Improvement Bulletin Cliff Hanger Car Beds dated January 7, 2007.

Mandatory Service Bulletin Cliff Hanger Bearing Block Cracks dated January 7, 2007.

Safety Bulletin Zero Gravity Strobe Light Covers datedJanuary 7, 2007.

Safety Bulletin Zero Gravity Hat Hardware 9-20-06 dated September 20, 2006

Product Improvement Bulletin PIB-5K-004 Cliff Hanger Spherical Bushing Retainer dated May 16, 2006

Product Improvement Bulletin PIB-5K-005 Hanger Block Bushing and Safety Bolt Replacement dated May 12, 2006


http://www.naarso.com/BULLETINS.html