From March to October, many amusement devices/rides will receive a periodic inspection from our safety officers. To ensure this inspection goes as smoothly and effectively as possible, our safety officers have pulled together the following list of what they look for when inspecting rides during amusement season.
 

Amusement Ride Operating Permit Periodic Safety Inspection List

  • Check amusement ride owner/contractor has an active amusement devices contractor’s license.
  • Confirm the ride has an active operating permit.
  • Review the ride's last inspection report, and confirm that any previous non-compliances have been completed by the owner/contractor.
  • Check to see if the ride has any service or safety bulletins issued against it.
  • Check the physical location of the ride set up i.e., is it too close to other rides, powerlines, buildings, etc., is the ground able to support the weight of the ride, has the ride’s perimeter fencing been installed correctly and at the correct distance from the ride.
  • Complete a visual and tactile inspection of the ride components. Depending on the type of  amusement ride (size and complexity of the ride) this can take anywhere from 20 minutes to many hours.
  • Check that warning and instruction signs are posted and clearly visible, including any rider height or size restrictions.
  • Observe and record a running/operation test. During this test the safety officer is checking for the rides speed in revolutions per minute (RPM); feet per minute (FPM); meters per second (M/S); and that the ride is turning in the correct direction clockwise/counter clockwise. Some rides may have three speeds and rotation directions to check.
  • Ensure all stop buttons are operating correctly and that the stopping time or distance is correct. There may be other safety systems or switches that will be tested.
  • Evaluate emergency evacuation procedures. The safety officer may ask that these procedures be demonstrated to them.
  • Review the rides daily and assembly check sheets to ensure they are being filled out correctly. The safety officer will also review the ride maintenance records.

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Once the above list has been completed the safety officer will issue a Certificate of Inspection to the amusement ride owner/contractor. This inspection report will list any non-compliance the safety officer may have found during their inspection, and a timeframe of when the non-compliance must be corrected. 

The Amusement Devices Safety Program at Technical Safety BC is responsible for overseeing the safety of amusement device installation and operation throughout British Columbia in accordance with the Safety Standards Act and the Elevating Devices Safety Regulation.