2ndgencarnie
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 1:51:39 PM
I don't think the kid running the ride had anything to do with that cable snapping, but the law makers see it otherwise...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/..._on_re_us/thrill_rides_1 
Bowler Roller
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 3:45:28 PM
I don't see how this makes anyone safer, or why they think the age of the operator made any difference in the noted case.

Who was responsible for inspecting the cables on that ride?
Every crowd has a silver lining - PT Barnum
carnivalgirl
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 5:20:52 PM
would that law be for parks also may have been in the article but i mighta missed it.
Jackpotter
Thursday, April 3, 2008 3:33:35 AM
The kid didn't have anything to do with the cable snapping. This all stems from the fact that the kid running the ride wasn't paying attention. The cable came loose on the way UP...and the girl and her friends were trying to get the operators attention but could not because he was having a conversation with one of the other workers.

What the legislature is saying is that people under 18 years of age are not able to pay attention to run a ride. Now, let's face it, how many times have you guys seen your ride ops look away to talk with someone in line, borrow a lighter for a cigarette or any other small distraction? I think we all know accidents happen in the blink of an eye so I'm not sure the age limit makes sense from that standpoint.

However, from a parents standpoint, I feel a little more confident with my 13 year old on a ride that is being operated by an adult, rather than someone only a couple of years older than she is. Just because you can drive a car does not mean you are capable of running an amusement ride. Running a ride in my mind is a lot more than just pushing the start and stop button and if that were all it took parks/owners could train monkeys to do it and save a lot of money.
JustJeff
Thursday, April 3, 2008 5:14:07 AM
This is a true story,couldn't make this stuff up.Had this kid running a kid ride,I think his name was Dominick.16 or 17 years old.Ted Knew his mother so he used to work with us whenever we were around Schenectady.N.Y.
Mother puts her kid on ride,asks Dominick if she can stand behind him and hold him.The mother obviously thought the platform and all moved. Burnout said sure, started the ride,sat down with his back to the ride and lit a cigarrette.I did not see it but the story going around the lot for several days was that the lady kept up for a few times around and was ready to drop when Ted ran(hard to picture Ted running) up and killed the ride,Cuffed Dominick upside the head,and life went on.Got to keep an eye on the kids .This was around 80 or 81.......jeff
2ndgencarnie
Thursday, April 3, 2008 5:27:32 AM
I think it's just part of the progresion that our industry is going through. Unfortunately the old days are over, I say unfortunately because myself and alot of other people truly enjoyed the way things were when this business was just a little more simple. I remember being 11 years old and running our Frolic, my dad never thought twice about it. But the younger generation doesn't have the same responsibility and/or work ethics of those who have came before them.

My dad had an entire crew for his show the was loyal to him for many years and was Proud to be a part of his show and the amusement industry as a whole. Nowadays that is hard to find. Im not saying that there is no one out there who is proud of being in this business, im just saying the number of those who are is shrinking.

But back the the subject at hand, my only question is, If the kid was 18 years old instead of 16 years old, would the same distraction not have caused him to be looking away? I think it's a rather simple answer to that, but maybe the law makers know something I don't.
pedro
  •  pedro
  • 50.02% (Neutral)
  • Green Help
Thursday, April 3, 2008 8:31:34 AM
When I used to own rides, i remember constantly having to be on my workers behind, pay attention to the riders and the equipment. I'm not sure if your 16 or 35 if you have no attention span, your gonna stink at running a ride. If that kid in KY would have been watching the ride like he was supposed to be, he could have reacted quicker, maybe the outcome wouldn't have been so severe.
spudwrench
Thursday, April 3, 2008 9:15:40 AM
It's hard to gauge the maturity level of a 16 year old, but i've seen some adults thatare less compentant than my 8 year old grandson
Jackpotter
Thursday, April 3, 2008 9:28:17 AM
Quote:

quote:


Originally posted by 2ndgencarnie

But the younger generation doesn't have the same responsibility and/or work ethics of those who have came before them.



There..perfectly said. You have hit the nail on the head. I work with college kids every day and it gets worse every year when the new ones come in there is a lower work ethic with each group.
flamo
  •  flamo
  • 87.94% (Honored)
  • Operations Foreman
Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:20:47 AM
Age doesn't matter, common sense and lack of complacancy does. Training helps but a good operator will hear or see something when no one else does and then reacts without thinking He knows what to do with out being told
I'm there, Old, Tired, Broke and Henpecked
2ndgencarnie
Thursday, April 3, 2008 1:18:06 PM
Quote:

quote:


Originally posted by flamo

Age doesn't matter, common sense and lack of complacancy does. Training helps but a good operator will hear or see something when no one else does and then reacts without thinking He knows what to do with out being told



I definitely agree with you on that, I'm willing to go a step further and say that running a ride comes natural for some people. I will always say I feel and have always felt safer when I was running a ride as compared to someone else regardless of their age.
violater_1968
Friday, April 4, 2008 5:16:05 AM
Doesn't osha standards require someone to be 18 to operate a piece of heavy equiptment? and does amusement rides fall under heavy equiptment? I had walked away from rides operated by young people, just didn't feel like they payed attention close enough. I know training can be extensive, but when you have teenagers running rides, they have a tendency for their hormones (male and female) to take over. Leave the games and food to under 18 and let the over 18 to run the equiptment.
Tom-E-Boy
Friday, April 4, 2008 9:52:39 PM
Many states have child labor laws that do not allow minors to operate most mechanical equipment. Not sure if OSHA actually goes that deep.
cizarny
Saturday, April 5, 2008 12:12:50 AM
When the s*** fly`s it always roll`s down hill. The blame had to go in some direction why not the 16 year-old ride operater....
Cody Wright
Users browsing this topic