A FUNFAIR ride operator from Walsall was fined last week after admitting fault when a girl suffered a head wound when she was thrown from a moving car at a Birmingham park.
Robert Wilkinson, of Lime Lane, Pelsall, Walsall, pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety rules at the Health and Safety Executive prosecution at Birmingham Magistrates' Court with the HSE investigation finding the lap belts in the ride cars were "poorly maintained" and most had been so badly damaged they were "unusable".
He was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £2,708 costs. The 11-year-old victim was on the DJ Jump ride at the funfair in Pype Hayes Park, Erdington in April 2009 when its lap bar failed and its secondary safety measure, a lap belt, was unusable causing her to be jettisoned from the vehicle. She required 10 stitches to a five centimetre head wound and numerous cuts and bruises.
HSE inspector Gareth Langston said: "This was a preventable incident that resulted in a serious injury to a child who had been enjoying herself on a family day out.
"Fairground operators must make sure not only that the main system to keep passengers safely in the ride is properly serviced, but also that back-up can be used for long enough to stop the ride safely if the main system fails.
"Back-up safety systems, such as lap belts, must be maintained adequately at all times. Mr Wilkinson failed to do this."
The HSE said free guidance on safe practice at fairgrounds and amusement parks is available from them. "It's vital that all operators follow this carefully to ensure they don't put members of the public – often children –at risk," Mr Langston said.
source: thisiswalsallonline.co.uk
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