Tragedy at Ohio state fair, 1 dead, 5 critical on fire ball ride, 26 July 2017

[nerosleuth]

Former Amusements of America worker sheds light on company after fatal fair accident


WSYX-TV in Columbus is reporting that a former Amusements of America worker, who didn’t want to be identified for fear of retaliation, contacted WSYX to shed light on the company’s practices involving the Fire Ball ride.

The former worker who worked for nearly a decade with Amusements of America, said that the company was a disaster waiting to happen and that there were safety issues with the Fire Ball ride in the past.

The former worker had seen the Fire Ball ride rock in the past and said that the company didn’t follow through inspections with the ride like they should.

The former worker also explained that the Fire Ball ride was balanced on wooden blocks and that the ride’s fill legs were water weighted to keep the ride from tipping over.


Source:

http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/former-amusements-of-america-worker-sheds-light-on-company

 

[nerosleuth]

The Columbus Dispatch newspaper published on July 28 that prior to the Fire Ball ride tragedy last Wednesday, there have been other mishaps involving rides at the Ohio State Fair that have occurred over the years.

Incidents over the years

In 2004, children were injured in separate mishaps on the Roc’n Rapids water flume ride. One mishap involved a 5 year old child that suffered a concussion on that ride.

In 2002, two separate mishaps occurred that year.

In the first mishap, a metal weld breaks on a spinning ride called the Re-Mix, injuring two men who were hurled to the pavement.

In the second mishap, two riders were stranded 100 feet in the air for 20 minutes when a cable broke on the Big Sling ride. No one is injured.

In 1995, three children were injured when cars derailed on the Go Gator, a ride for young children which cars move on a circular track. The mishap was blamed on an untrained ride operator who tried using wooden blocks to fix the ride.

In 1991, an accident on the Ferris Wheel strands riders for about 40 minutes after a car comes loose on the Ferris Wheel. No serious injuries result.

In 1984, eight people were injured when a pole on a ride slips loose, dropping four cars to the ground.

In 1982, a 4 year old girl is knocked unconscious and hospitalized for three weeks after being thrown by a moving disc in the fun house.

In 1981, a 21 year old man died of head injuries after being thrown off the Flying Coaster when a steel support strut snaps. The coaster’s eight cars ride on a single rail around a circular track that dips and lifts.

In 1971, a 41 year old father on the Sky Ride falls 35 feet to his death. It was undetermined if the father had suffered a medical problem before slipping under the safety bar and the death is ruled accidental.


Source:

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170727/fire-ball-rides-shut-down-after-ohio-state-fair-tragedy


Another article published in the Columbus Dispatch on July 30 revealed that a double tragedy had occurred had occurred at the Ohio State Fair in 1899.


State Fair Had Double Tragedy 118 Years Ago

In the Columbus Dispatch newspaper archives from September 7, 1899, two people were killed during a show at the state fair grandstands during the nightly recreation of “The Battle of San Juan”.

The show involved a fireworks display and 300 soldiers from the Ohio National Guard who had served in the Spanish-American War.

On that particular night in front of the grandstands, the company that supplied the ammunition for the show had accidentally mixed live indoor target shells with the blank cartridges that were normally used.

An 18 year old Ohio National Guard private and a 7 year old boy were killed. Another spectator was wounded but survived. The remainder of the shows at the fairgrounds were cancelled.

Source:

http://www.dispatch.com/news/201707...-deadliest-tragedy-was-actually-118-years-ago

 

[bainalive]

Former Amusements of America worker sheds light on company after fatal fair accident


WSYX-TV in Columbus is reporting that a former Amusements of America worker, who didn’t want to be identified for fear of retaliation, contacted WSYX to shed light on the company’s practices involving the Fire Ball ride.

The former worker who worked for nearly a decade with Amusements of America, said that the company was a disaster waiting to happen and that there were safety issues with the Fire Ball ride in the past.

The former worker had seen the Fire Ball ride rock in the past and said that the company didn’t follow through inspections with the ride like they should.

The former worker also explained that the Fire Ball ride was balanced on wooden blocks and that the ride’s fill legs were water weighted to keep the ride from tipping over.


Source:

http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/former-amusements-of-america-worker-sheds-light-on-company

sounds like a disgruntled employee who was probably fired, and is using this as a way for "retaliation"....i would take these comments with a grain of salt....didn't even want to give their name, go figure

 

[Jax49]

Disgruntled ex-employee or whistleblower? Hard to know for sure, but considering the circumstances I think he's telling the truth. moo

ETA: Does this thread read just like the one for the child who died on the water slide?

 

[Elainera]

Former Amusements of America worker sheds light on company after fatal fair accident


WSYX-TV in Columbus is reporting that a former Amusements of America worker, who didn’t want to be identified for fear of retaliation, contacted WSYX to shed light on the company’s practices involving the Fire Ball ride.

The former worker who worked for nearly a decade with Amusements of America, said that the company was a disaster waiting to happen and that there were safety issues with the Fire Ball ride in the past.

The former worker had seen the Fire Ball ride rock in the past and said that the company didn’t follow through inspections with the ride like they should.

The former worker also explained that the Fire Ball ride was balanced on wooden blocks and that the ride’s fill legs were water weighted to keep the ride from tipping over.


Source:

http://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/former-amusements-of-america-worker-sheds-light-on-company

bbm Did he notify anyone of these issues?

 

[bainalive]

bbm Did he notify anyone of these issues?

exactly, never said anything until an accident happened, hhhhmmm

 

[gregjrichards]

COLUMBUS, Ohio - All Ohio State Fair rides have passed re-inspection and are operating, after the fatality on the Fire Ball last week.

Meantime, the state has released the contract it has with New-Jersey-based Amusements of America, which owns and operates the rides.

The company was required to pay for an independent ride inspector and buy an insurance policy for "claims of injury, death, damage, loss, costs, including attorney fees, or any other loss arising or claimed to have arisen from Licensee's operations..." the contract states.

The policy had to be at least $10 million, including up to $2 million per occurrence of injury or death.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2017/07/post_66.html

 

[Elainera]

exactly, never said anything until an accident happened, hhhhmmm

We don't know whether he did tell someone or not. He might have and was brushed off.

 

[Spellbound]

exactly, never said anything until an accident happened, hhhhmmm

You seem determined to stick up for the amusement park rides, so you have made me curious. Can you tell us if you have worked around such rides, or perhaps done inspections? You seem to be quick to stick up for the ride maker/owner when it comes to responsibilities. My apology if I am reading you wrong ... but I truly am clueless as to why you have not shown empathy for the injured.

I am not intending to be argumentative, so please take this with a grain of salt and a curious nature on my part. I truly am curious as to why you are so strongly backing the parks or rides. Or so it seems.

thanks, if you choose to respond. :discuss: if not, that's quite all right, too.

 

[Tssiemer]

You seem determined to stick up for the amusement park rides, so you have made me curious. Can you tell us if you have worked around such rides, or perhaps done inspections? You seem to be quick to stick up for the ride maker/owner when it comes to responsibilities. My apology if I am reading you wrong ... but I truly am clueless as to why you have not shown empathy for the injured.

I am not intending to be argumentative, so please take this with a grain of salt and a curious nature on my part. I truly am curious as to why you are so strongly backing the parks or rides. Or so it seems.

thanks, if you choose to respond. :discuss: if not, that's quite all right, too.

I mean I guess it's easy to see the company as the big mean monster killing people for profit but in reality it was an accident. And it sucks. It's easy to place blame on them. 2 million is not enough for the life that was lost but what can we do?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Spellbound]

Yes, It most definitely was an accident. The big question is, "could it have been prevented?"

Were all inspections done properly? I believe operator error has been ruled out. It does not appear any riders were doing anything wrong to cause the ride to fall apart. Where was the failure? Most likely, structural wear that possibly could not be seen with the naked eye -- could it have been detected in any other reasonable fashion? Should rides be retired after a set number of years?

 

[Satch]

Yes, It most definitely was an accident. The big question is, "could it have been prevented?"

Were all inspections done properly? I believe operator error has been ruled out. It does not appear any riders were doing anything wrong to cause the ride to fall apart. Where was the failure? Most likely, structural wear that possibly could not be seen with the naked eye -- could it have been detected in any other reasonable fashion? Should rides be retired after a set number of years?

The structural crack that they were talking about in one of the mechanisms should NOT have been overlooked. Yet it was. I could not see it, but several trained personnel did. That oversight I believe is negligence.

Satch

 

[Spellbound]

The structural crack that they were talking about in one of the mechanisms should NOT have been overlooked. Yet it was. I could not see it, but several trained personnel did. That oversight I believe is negligence.

Satch

thanks for the reply. I am still unclear as to whether it could be seen before the accident occurred, though. from watching the videos and reading reports, it appeared they could tell it had a crack because the side was a straight line crack and then became jagged as it ripped off. that straight line crack was the defect. that is, if I understood correctly. Which would indicate they only knew of the crack AFTER the accident.

Do you understand it the same way as I?

Photo from http://www.dispatch.com/news/201707...crack-on-rides-arm-grew-to-catastrophic-break

 

[Satch]

thanks for the reply. I am still unclear as to whether it could be seen before the accident occurred, though. from watching the videos and reading reports, it appeared they could tell it had a crack because the side was a straight line crack and then became jagged as it ripped off. that straight line crack was the defect. that is, if I understood correctly. Which would indicate they only knew of the crack AFTER the accident.

Do you understand it the same way as I?

Photo from http://www.dispatch.com/news/201707...crack-on-rides-arm-grew-to-catastrophic-break

Unsure,

In order to be sure, we would have to have a photo of that same part of the mechanism before the accident. It would be interesting to see if this was a Six Flags or Disney ride, what would their safety personal have done that the Ohio inspectors for whatever reasons could not check? Or failed to check?

Satch

 

[Spellbound]

Unsure,

In order to be sure, we would have to have a photo of that same part of the mechanism before the accident. It would be interesting to see if this was a Six Flags or Disney ride, what would their safety personal have done that the Ohio inspectors for whatever reasons could not check? Or failed to check?

Satch

Absolutely..... how would they differ, or would they?

 

[bainalive]

Absolutely..... how would they differ, or would they?

not likely any difference,

the crack could not even be seen by the naked eye,

you cant expect inspectors to look over every inch of a ride with a magnifying glass every day, thats just absurd

 

[Elainera]

not likely any difference,

the crack could not even be seen by the naked eye,

you cant expect inspectors to look over every inch of a ride with a magnifying glass every day, thats just absurd

I agree but I think it is known after how many years of usage this kind of invisible fatigue cracks in this kind of material are likely to appear, is it not? Shouldn't parts be replaced, or even a whole ride be retired, well before their time is up?

 

[bainalive]

I agree but I think it is known after how many years of usage this kind of invisible fatigue cracks in this kind of material are likely to appear, is it not? Shouldn't parts be replaced, or even a whole ride be retired, well before their time is up?

when would that time be?

demolish every ride after every 2, 5, 10, 15, years?.....where do you draw the line?

should we stop driving a car after it is 5, 10 or 15 years old?

we don't inspect critical parts of our vehicles every single day, what if the brakes give out? what if there is a stress fracture in the front lower control arm, if that gives out you lose total control of the steering/vehicle and will cause a serious accident,

what if? what if? what if?

there are amusement park rides that are over 50 years old in service, should we just destroy them all?

it would be nice to live in a perfect world with sunshine and lolipops everyday....however reality is nothing will ever be fool proof

 

[Elainera]

when would that time be?

demolish every ride after every 2, 5, 10, 15, years?.....where do you draw the line?

should we stop driving a car after it is 5, 10 or 15 years old?

we don't inspect critical parts of our vehicles every single day, what if the brakes give out? what if there is a stress fracture in the front lower control arm, if that gives out you lose total control of the steering/vehicle and will cause a serious accident,

what if? what if? what if?

there are amusement park rides that are over 50 years old in service, should we just destroy them all?

it would be nice to live in a perfect world with sunshine and lolipops everyday....however reality is nothing will ever be fool proof

Not fool proof, but that doesn't mean things can't be improved right?

Crucial parts can be tested and a time frame can be established for when they are likely to develop fatigue fractures. Yes and I would be strongly in favor of either replacing those crucial parts then, or retire the whole ride after a certain number of years.

 

[Satch]

Not fool proof, but that doesn't mean things can't be improved right?

Crucial parts can be tested and a time frame can be established for when they are likely to develop fatigue fractures. Yes and I would be strongly in favor of either replacing those crucial parts then, or retire the whole ride after a certain number of years.

I would establish a general guideline that would require stricter inspection for older amusement park rides that might be wearing out after say ten years, because of the aging mechanical technologies. That does not mean stop using rides that are more than a decade old, it just means that those rides may require a second look, maybe third, and fourth examination, because of their age.

We cannot totally eliminate the accident risk. That is not realistic. However, we can take steps to reduce accidental risk. That in its own way, can be a big help in improving amusement park ride safety.

Satch