Theme Parks, Amusement Parks, Fairgrounds… whatever we call them, many millions of people worldwide love and enjoy such attractions and not just children. We all assume that in amusement parks Safe and Safety is the number one priority of the Fairground, Leisure and Entertainment industry.
Amusement and Theme Parks offer one of the safest forms of recreation for the millions of people who use rides and devices every year.
The likelihood of being seriously injured on a permanently located amusement park in the United States, which has the highest rate of attendance in the world with 375 million guests annually, is 1 in 16 million (IAPPA, 2016). That said, in the period 1988 to 2003 fifty-five fatalities occurred on amusement park rides in the US alone and over two-thirds occured on ‘fixed-site’ rides in theme parks. Sadly there have been injuries and fatalities too in other parts of the world including the Middle East.
Despite this the Middle Eastern region and in particular in the United Arab Emirates the Fairground, Leisure and Entertainment industry is going through a period of strong growth, with approximately 90% of new developments in Dubai. Billions of US dollars is being invested in attracting people to the Middle East with Dubai leading the way. There is also strong growth in this sector in Qatar too, whilst opportunities and new investments are being witnessed in Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq respectively.
The fast growth in this sector and the introduction of bigger & more complex rides
& devices would require more thorough anddetailed safety measures. Applus+ VELOSI’s
HSE Department, with its Regional Office in Doha, Qatar, is well placed to provide its diverse range of services to this fast growing industry.
What can we do
Our core services of Inspection and
NDT supplement our skills and knowledge in
Health and Safety have allowed us to develop a new service line for our Middle East business. We are utilizing our skills and combining that with the knowledge of strategic partners to offer the services of amusement and theme park ride inspections.
Our partner JGLeisure was instrumental in writing the code of practice “Fairgrounds and Amusement Parks; Guidance on Safe Practice” (HSG 175). Representatives of JG Leisure are members of The Fairgrounds and Amusement Parks Joint Advisory Committee (FJAC) whom have worked for over 25 years to continually improve standards and the exchange ofinformation. They worked to initiate BS EN 13814:2004, the standard for Fairground and Amusement Park Machinery and Structures.
Applus+ VELOSI Amusement and Theme Park services include but is not limited to:
- Amusement and Theme Park General Inspections
- Ride and Device Inspections (Basic/ThoroughInspection)
- Design Review
- Assessment of Conformity to Design
- Initial Testing
- Non-Destructive Testing
- Functional Testing of Devices
- Training for Ride Operators and Maintenance Staff
- Verification of Device Repairs
- Technical Support for Clients
- Ride Procurement
- Assessment of Documentation and Procedures
- Assistance in the preparation of NDT and Maintenance Schedules
- Fire, Health, Safety, and Security Audits
- Producing Safe Operating Manuals; and Certificate of inspection
Applus+ VELOSI HSE Regional Office in Qatar has implemented an integrated approach to amusement and theme park ride and device inspections by incorporating health and safety services together with the inspection of rides and devices. Our experience in the Middle East region so far includes inspections on behalf of the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) annual inspection of water parks, amusement and theme parks, inspection of mobile fairgrounds, and the development of inspection procedures and local standards for QTA.