FEATURE Are y u KeeNAARSOping Safe Are you Keeping Safe
During an Amusement Ride Evacuation?
During an Amusement Ride acuation?
While we would all like to avoid evacuating guests from an amusement ride, it is bound to happen at one point or another. Having an evacuation plan for each amusement ride or device is not only the best practice to have but may be a requirement from your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and is in ASTM F770-23. Under ASTM F770 section 6.2.1, the standard lists out
what the owner/operator shall consider and to the extent it should include in the evacuation plan. One of these is “actions required prior to evacuation to prevent inadvertent motion of the amusement ride or device, vehicle(s), carrier(s) and From an indoor dark ride to an outdoor thrill ride or a roller coaster, we want to ensure that the amusement ride and the equipment we are using do not move without intention and especially not when guests or team members are inside the ride area.
One of the best practices to reduce the chance of motion is
by removing the ability to start the amusement ride or reset the emergency stop button. This can be accomplished by having the means to place a hasp and individual locks onto a button to prevent it from being used until the team member removes their own lock. While like Lock-Out / Tag-Out, this does not necessarily isolate it from its energy source(s) or prevent the release of potentially hazardous energy.
When creating the policy and procedures around this practice keep in mind the following:
1. How is each amusement ride locked out during evacuation? Does it require button covers or does it already include them.
2. Where are the locks and hasps stored? Does each team member receive their own or is there a bank of locks.
3. bel, numbering system, or an ID placed on the lock’s shackle.
4. What happens when personnel outside of the normal responding team members need to enter the ride area, such as emergency services? How is the ride area cleared of people prior to restarting the amusement ride.
5. What happens when a team member leaves their lock on by mistake and has left the area? What is the process to contact them or remove the lock by other means.
Examples of a padlock station and a locked out amusement ride start button
Two key factors in successfully implementing this is to
ensure team members are properly trained and it is being followed during each evacuation. Without strict adherence to the procedures, team members may cause hazardous scenarios to form. Review with the team within your organization and discuss additional areas of motion that need to be considered. A safer amusement ride evacuation is a better day for both team members and guests!
10 OABA ShowTime Magazine • MAY 2024
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