We regard health and safety as the most important aspect of our operations. Whilst in common with any industry, the funfair business has some very good operators, as well as some cowboys, we implement any changes in health and safety guidelines even before they become legal requirements.
When supplying attractions for an event, we supply a full brochure, containing not only a risk assessment and fire risk assessment for the event, but individual assessments for each item of equipment. At larger events where noise becomes an issue, we check volume levels on a regular basis using calibrated decibel meters. We have our own pool of fire fighting apparatus to complement the extinguishers that are carried by each individual operator that is working with us.
All of our catering operations comply with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) requirements, with each unit carrying a complete pack containing all of the inspection and health procedures that we adhere to.
By the 3rd quarter of 2007, all of our key personnel will have been first aid trained, additionally we are currently training members of staff as fire marshals to enable us to implement a complete fire safety and evacuation plan at larger events. We are the only funfair operators that have a formal, structured system of training for all members of staff. This takes in not only customer service, but also fire safety and safe operating of funfair attractions. At some point in the future funfair operators dealing with children will be required to undergo CRB checks. We won’t wait for this to become law, but will have the personnel on our children’s rides, checked and certified well before.
Ride Safety
Despite the image presented by the tabloid press, a modern funfair has the best safety record of any passenger carrying industry in the U.K. An official health and safety review states that “A pessimistic estimate of being killed or seriously injured on a fairground is 1 in 83 million!”
You are 12 times more likely to be killed or injured on the way to the fair, than you are once you arrive.
Statistically the chance of being killed on a fairground is similar to that of being killed by a bolt of lightening.
Don’t take our word for it, http://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/pdf/revrep.pdf, contains the full H&SE report.
To give you an idea of the standards we have to meet, the following is typical of a new ride purchased for use on the fairground;
Design review;
The construction plans for the ride must be thoroughly examined by a specialist engineer to assess the stresses and strains placed on the structure, and to assess the overall safety of the design.
Conformity to design;
Once the design review has been completed, an independent inspector must then test the ride, against the specifications of the design to ensure that the correct standard of material has been used, the correct type and grade of bolts etc.
Initial Ride Test;
If the ride has managed to pass so far, it is then subject to its initial safety test. Here the rides emergency stop system, electrical and mechanical safety and passenger constraints are tested to ensure they are safe. it is only after passing this stage that a ride is issued with a DOC document (declaration of conformity). Without this document the ride cannot be operated on a U.K. fairground.
Daily Inspection;
Each ride will have its own daily inspection book. This contains a list of al the safety related items that must be checked each day to ensure the rides continued safety. The results of these daily checks are recorded in this book, along with any repairs that have been made.
Annual Test;
Each ride must undergo an annual safety inspection by an independent engineer, much like the initial series of test the ride was subject to. Electrical and mechanical safety tests are performed, along with NDT tests (a form of examining steel for microscopic cracks) for certain components. If any of these tests are failed, the ride will not receive the required DOC and it will have to be repaired and made safe before it is re tested and allowed to operate.
We have identified one weakness with the comprehensive safety testing schemes that fairground operators have to adhere to. Namely that of electrical supply cables, which do NOT have to be tested under current regulations. To rectify this shortcoming we have all of our cables PAT tested. Additionally we have members of staff currently undergoing PAT test training and once accredited they will be responsible for checking all of our cables and portable equipment on a 3 monthly cycle.
