Tyler's Law and how Ohio parents can check amusement park ride safety
Cassandra NistCANTON – Summer festivals and fairs are in full swing across Ohio after a COVID-19 blackout for many communities last season.
Since then, the Ohio Department of Agriculture has increased amusement ride safety measures, stemming from passage of Tyler's Law.
Documentation regarding an amusement ride's ownership and inspection reports for corrosion and fatigue must be maintained in a database for the duration of the ride's life, just one of the new requirements under Tyler's Law.
Cautious about jumping on a ride? Wondering how you can determine if it has been inspected and certified?
The state's Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs says riders can look for permit decals on rides and also file public record requests for inspection and compliance certification.
By way of example, The Canton Repository sought out the inspection reports and compliance certificates for two rides at the recent Jackson Township Community Celebration.
They show one of the rides failed two inspections leading up to the event, prompting repairs. Inspectors then gave their go-ahead after certifying the state-ordered repair work on the festival's first day.
What is Tyler's Law?
The law, signed on Nov. 6 and in full effect on April 1, adopts new American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.
The increased safety measures focus on the review of ride fatigue and corrosion, out-of-state storage, operation and inspection frequency.
Amusement ride operators must provide documentation on the visual inspection and findings to the state agriculture department, maintain the documentation throughout the duration of the ride's life and transfer it to any new owner.
Operators also must keep a list of all locations and dates where portable rides were stored over 30 days or operated out of state. This provides manufacturers, engineers and inspectors information regarding the environmental conditions where the ride was stored. As many rides are made from metal, proximity to areas by saltwater increases the likelihood of corrosion.
How are Ohio amusement rides inspected?
The state inspects more than 4,000 rides throughout Ohio. That includes places like Cedar Point and portable rides seen locally at community events.
"ODA’s inspectors inspect all amusement rides to ensure compliance with Ohio’s laws and rules. This includes ensuring that the ride is well-maintained and conforming to the manufacturer’s specifications," David Miran, chief of the Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs.
Ohio has eight amusement ride inspectors, four less than previous years after the pandemic prompted layoffs. Miran said eight workers are enough to handle inspection demand.
Inspectors conduct all initial ride inspections, supplemental and mid-season operational inspections. Rides are broken into three categories and are evaluated on everything from structural integrity, safety systems and signage to general operations.
Low-intensity rides are required to be inspected once annually by one inspector, and a second time annually during a supplement inspection, which can happen any time throughout the year.
Intermediate intensity rides are inspected twice annually by two inspectors and undergo one supplemental inspection as well.
Large amusement rides like towers and roller coasters operate under the same inspection requirements as intermediate rides.
"Additionally, each day that the ride is in operation, the ride owner is responsible for performing a pre-operation inspection of the ride themselves" Miran added.
Ride permits and inspection documentation
Amusement rides that pass inspections are issued an annual ride permit and permit decal.
Ride permits are maintained in a state database. Permit decals can be located on the amusement ride itself, similar to vehicle registration stickers.
"Ride operators are not required to keep a copy of an inspection report on-site," Miran said.
"That being said, due to Tyler’s Law, all operators must maintain documentation of a visual inspection for the life of the ride and transfer to any subsequent owners," Miran added.
Amusement ride operators like Bates Bros Amusements, who recently operated at the Jackson Township Community Celebration June 23 through June 27, not only have rides inspected annually, but also weekly by local fire departments, according to the company's website.
"The type of rides that are at a festival or fair determines the number of inspectors who will go to the event for the inspection," Miran told the Repository.
Checking the inspection process
The Repository visited the Jackson Township Community Celebration festival and identified two rides, the Cliff Hanger and Zipper, to review inspection and compliance certification reports.
The Zipper passed all aspects of its May 11 annual inspection and supplemental inspection on June 14.
The Cliff Hanger failed its May 11 annual inspection with four compliance issues, including restraint bars and restraint releases on multiple units.
Bates Brothers was notified that the ride failed its inspection and needed to make necessary repairs with a compliance due date of May 26.
The repairs were certified prior to the deadline, ODA records show.
The Cliff Hanger failed its supplemental inspection on June 8.
According to records obtained by the Repository, inspectors were "unable to test stop buttons and run ride at time of inspection."
Additionally, harness cable lifting issues were indicated on three of the cars. Other harness issues were noted in the report.
The compliance order issued by ODA inspectors stated the Cliff Hanger's repairs were to be certified by June 23.
Failure to certify compliance may have resulted in the revocation of the operator's permit and fines up to $5,000, the compliance order stated.
Records show the Cliff Hanger's repairs were certified on the day of the deadline, June 23, coinciding with the first day the ride was in use at the Jackson Township Celebration.
Jackson Township confirmed all rides were inspected prior to the event.
"...Park Superintendent (David Ruwadi) has seen that each ride at the 2021 Jackson Township Community Celebration has the proper permit decal as required by the Ohio Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs," said Michael B. Vaccaro, Administrator and Law Director of Jackson Township said.
Bates Bros. could not be reached for comment regarding ride inspections.
According to the company's website, Bates Brothers performs safety checks of each ride, daily, using a safety inspection checklist.
The ODA Division of Amusement Ride Safety and Fairs does not track incidents or injuries but maintains accident documentation. According to public records, there were three accidents in Ohio in 2019 and three accidents 2020.
Concerned about ride safety?
Anyone with questions regarding amusement rides can contact the Division of Amusement Ride Safety at Ride.Safety@agri.ohio.gov or by calling 614-728-6280.
You can also submit a complaint about a ride at an amusement park or fair in the state of Ohio by downloading and submitting a complaint form to the Division of Ride Safety and Fairs.
The ODA Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs does not track incidents or injuries but maintains accident documentation.
According to public records, there were three accidents in Ohio in 2019 and three accidents 2020.
Reach Cassandra Nist at cnist@gannett.com; Twitter @Cassienist