Amusement Ride Safety
Attorney
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The death of Elizabeth Mohl in July 2007 prompted Wisconsin officials to revisit amusement park ride safety regulations. There is a multi-part story about ride safety done by the Wisconsin State Journal.
In Iowa users and parents of children who ride these amusement rides, should themselves consider the safety issues. Of course it's never easy to do so, but looking around at the ride and the operator is the first step. Second, consider contacting the Iowa Division of Labor.
Currently the person is Jim Borwey, Manager-Elevator, Boiler & Amusement Rides 515-281-3647 or his secretary Elizabeth VanGundy, 515-281-5415. If you contact them suggest the State of Iowa create an easy way to check on violations by a ride company such as the on-line database search in Wisconsin. Which is a third avenue for users and parents to search for past violations in other states.
"If you're a parent of a small child and you're trusting this industry to protect your kid, you're wrong," Fackler said.
But similar information about the risks of amusement rides, especially for kids, generally isn't available from state or federal governments or from the industry, she said.
Other states, including at least Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin, allowed Ross to operate his swing rides. In Iowa, which requires a state inspection before a ride can operate for a season, both Giant Swings owned by Ross were inspected early in the summer of 2007.After Mohl's death in July, Ross' insurer suspended his coverage. Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin canceled Air Glory's ride registration, and Illinois issued a stop-operation order, public records show. Mohl's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit last month against Ross and the organizers of the Oshkosh festival.
While traveling rides fall under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the federal agency generally limits itself to investigating accidents, collecting accident information and issuing safety bulletins about rides.
In hopes of creating a national tracking system, the Council for Amusement and Recreational Equipment Safety has started a way to search for information on individual rides. Only four states participate in the program. Wisconsin does not. Officials can also receive safety alerts from other states through CARES.
Amusement rides in Iowa are inspected by the Division of Labor.
The Division of Labor inspects amusement rides and concessions at least once annually to assure compliance with state rules. In 2006, the Division of Labor issued 142 permits and conducted 1,360 inspections. An operator must obtain a permit from the labor commissioner before operating any amusement device or ride, concession both or any related electrical equipment in Iowa.