![]() Markey initially began his crusade to close the loophole in 1999, and has been looking to close it since. (now Sen.) Edward Markey of Massachusetts called for oversight to be restored to the CPSC. ![]() ![]() The so-called “Roller-Coaster Loophole” did not sit well with some lawmakers. In the early 1980s, Congress determined that the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission was only responsible for traveling rides. “(The) industry pushed back for many years on federal oversight on fixed amusement rides,” Lewiston said. But the industry balked at the oversight. “It was always the agricultural institutions that were in charge of these sorts of events and that led to a modern-day regulatory structure where – in most states – some branch of the state department of agriculture has oversight over fixed rides,” he said.Īs the size of the amusement park industry ballooned in the last century, some elements came under federal supervision. Unclear if weight played role in teen amusement park death That’s because parks began as traveling businesses that would turn up at US agricultural fairs – farmers would show up with a prized pumpkin or cow and then a showman brought the rides, Lewison said. What’s the history behind the regulation system?Ī state’s department of agriculture normally regulates amusement parks or at least fixed (or immovable) rides, according to Martin Lewison, an associate professor at Farmingdale University in New York who was dubbed by The New York Times as “Professor Roller Coaster.” The IAAPA releases a safety report annually for parks and holds expos and training for member organizations. The ASTM committee handling amusement parks meets twice a year, according to the organization’s website. When it comes to standardization of safety at parks, the industry relies on ASTM International, an organization that develops and publishes standards for a number of industries including amusement parks, he said.Īdditionally, “almost everyone in the amusement industry” belongs to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), a trade group representing amusement parks, according to King. Teen who fell to his death at Florida amusement park was turned away from two other rides, his cousin says Typically, state agencies have oversight, according to Randy King, a safety consultant based in Houston, Texas, who has over 30 years of experience in the safety and amusement park industry.Ī teenager died after falling from a drop tower at Orlando-area's ICON Park. In an effort to gain a better understanding of the larger issue of regulation in the amusement park industry, CNN examined safety reports and spoke with experts about park operations and why they don’t have federal oversight. His death is being investigated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services along with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and ICON Park. ![]() So, he’s a big guy,” said Tyre’s father, Yarnell Sampson. The FreeFall manufacturer’s guideline puts a rider’s weight limit at 250 pounds. One of the ride’s seats had been loosened, adjusted and tightened for a restraint that was 4 inches more than the normal opening range, the report said. Geraldine Thompson based on a report produced by Quest Engineering & Failure Analysis, Inc., a forensic engineering firm hired to investigate the incident. Two seats on the FreeFall were manually adjusted “presumably, to allow for larger riders,” according to an April 18 statement by state Rep. Tyre Sampson fell from the Orlando FreeFall drop tower, which takes riders up and then drops them nearly 400 feet at speeds that reach more than 75 mph, according to ICON Park, where the incident happened. So when a 14-year-old boy fell to his death on March 24 on an amusement park ride in Orlando, Florida, there were questions about who should be held responsible and how the incident happened in the first place. ![]() Questions always arise when tragedy strikes. ![]()
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