HARRISBURG – To make sure bumper cars only bump and haunted houses just chill, Pennsylvania is helping to train more than 250 ride inspectors from 10 states during a three-day safety training course this week in the Harrisburg area.
“Pennsylvania is a leader in ride safety and training workshops like this are our way of keeping operators and patrons safe throughout the ride season,” Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff said of Pennsylvania’s nationally recognized amusement ride safety program. “The commonwealth recorded its safest season for amusement rides in 2006 and we look forward to an equally safe season in 2007.”
Professional Amusement Ride Training Series, or PARTS, organized the seminar with the help of Pennsylvania’s amusement ride safety program. The program, overseen by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards, inspects and registers more than 7,400 rides and attractions at the state’s 670 community fairs, carnivals and amusement parks, more than any other state or foreign country.
The Department of Agriculture has inspected and registered amusement rides under the Amusement Ride Safety Act since 1984, and it regularly participates in education and outreach seminars that include classes and hands-on demonstrations. The department uses the sessions to train and license nearly 1,300 private industry inspectors.
Participants learn about all types of rides, including water rides, bumper cars and boats, climbing walls, inflatable bounce rides, go karts, haunted houses and roller coasters. In addition to rides, participants learn sanitation procedures, how to effectively communicate with guests, and how to deal with accidents.
This year’s seminar will also highlight fire safety. Participants in the effort, which is sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg Area Community College and the Pennsylvania Fire Academy, will have the opportunity to learn about potential fire hazards in haunted houses and other indoor attractions. The 16-hour training will take place over a two-day period and it will feature information on fire suppression systems, flame retardant methods and fire resistant materials, as well as a hands-on emergency evacuation drill at HACC.
For more information about ride safety or the Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards, call 717-787-6772 or visit www.agriculture.state.pa.us and click on ‘Bureaus.’
