Rides safety: go back to the roots.

“A rollercoaster train cannot derail”. “A guest cannot be ejected from its rollercoaster seat”. “Multiple and concurrent freefall tower cables snaps is something not possible”. “Freefall tower gondola crash to ground is not reasonable”. “Two rollercoaster trains cannot collide along the same track, this is far from reality”.

All these quotes have become reality during recent years. Amusement rides carry millions of guests per year. Despite all efforts in place to reduce potential hazardous situations accidents are still possible. As a series of random events, with casualties or event fatalities, sometimes it is difficult to understand their causes. Certain cases are truly consequence of a complex series of circumstances, but these cannot be argued as a valid excuse.

During the latest three years I had the chance to read and hear reports where the following sentence was popping out with extreme ease: “a combination of factors has led to such critical situation”. So, what is creepy here? The combination of factors. There should be no combination of multiple factors that leads to fatalities. This is not acceptable anymore today, or at least the handling of multiple events sequence should be extended.

We all know accidents must be prevented. As manufacturers or operators we are all concerned about this topic. I am sure everyone here puts effort into this. Moreover, tradeshows conferences and roundtables menu always offer this subject. Is this enough?

There are always margins of improvement through proper collective efforts. Sure, all efforts have relevant impact in terms of time and money. Let’s go back to the industry roots where solid continuous communication between manufacturer, suppliers, operator and notified inspection body was a rigorous handled circle of information seldom affected by tight demanding schedules. The information exchange flow should be regular and continuous while managing pressure.

I can imagine, above comments does not provide you anything new. The truth is that fast paced communication flows (“email firing”) do not let everyone thinking about all aspects jointly, at the same time. While reading the following subjects, please try to identify which is the cross functional level (loop) of your processes.

Design. Engineering. Product development. Risk analysis. Customer and notified inspection body participation. Manufacturing. Quality process. Assembly. Installation. Testing. Data recording. Operations. Training. Inspection. Maintenance. Four eyes principle.

Is there enough dialogue between internal departments, suppliers, customer, and notified body? Is it a defined/structured dialogue in a systematic loop that produces frequent reactions to actions and feedbacks or does it simply follow the incoming needs in a total apnea and too rigorous individualism?

Please make sure the rigorous, complex, and precise creative processes of your valued company do not stop in front of distinct achievements, but instead take into account and integrate methods, routes and practices of all other external participants. A bigger effort for a mutual goal: to preserve and defend our beloved amusement industry.

Have fun, always.

Bruno Lancetti