New ISO 17842 Series – Amusement Ride Safety

There’s a new ISO 17842 series out now, covering the full range of requirements for developing, manufacturing, inspecting and operating amusement rides safely.  It’s a 3-part series designed to cover rides like swings, boats, Ferris wheels, roller coasters, chutes, grandstands, stages, sides shows and the like.  With summer here, many of us will be taking our kids to theme parks and the like.  Just the time when we want to know that the rides they love so much are safe!

Let’s review each of the new documents one at a time:

ISO 17842-1, 1st Edition, “Safety of amusement rides and amusement devices – Part 1: Design and manufacture”

This new standard refers to amusement rides, etc., as amusement devices.  So you can also think of it for rides that carry passengers.  The Part 1 is lengthy (165 pages in all).  After the usual scope, referenced documents, and definitions sections, it moves right into the requirements for design analysis and examination.  This covers design documents including design risk assessment, selecting materials, design loads, structural analysis, stability, anchorages, strength and construction.  Section 5 is an in-dept review of the requirements for both the design and the manufacture of these types of rides and structures.  Then 9 Annexes provide you with information on fatigue analysis, electrical equipment and control systems, passenger containment, device logs, hazard lists, guest behaviors, accessibility, and what’s called the safety envelope for passengers.  A 23-item bibliography completes the standard.

FYI: A couple of things to note.  The document is intended to be applicable for rides manufactured after the date of publication.  And existing national rules on such things as worker safety are not addressed in the document.

ISO 17842-2, 1st Edition, “Safety of amusement rides and amusement devices – Part 2: Operation and use”

This part of the ISO 17842 is concerned with such things as the installation, assembly and dis-assembly, operation, dismantling, maintaining, repairing, modifying and inspecting amusement rides and other similar devices.  It’s intended to be used by controllers, operators, attendants and inspection bodies or by those who train them.   Here’s you’ll review the basics like the need to provide staff with manuals, device logs, and other operational documentation.   There’s a complete run-down of what you’ll need to do to select and train staff who will be working with these types of equipment.

Also covered in Part 2 are the basic requirements for those who are installing the various rides covered by this standard.  This includes where to place the ride, how to assemble the ride on site, and the safety requirements needed during this phase of the operation.  Further, there is coverage of what’s necessary in order to maintain the equipment once it’s been installed including trial operations and other checks.

You’ll also be getting information on working with the public and other operational aspects beyond the issues surrounding the actual equipment itself.  And the duties of the actual operator and attendants are also reviewed.  Special case situations are also included, like annual maintenance reviews and fire safety and training.  Annex A is a table with information on the training, qualification and experience expected of staff who handle various roles.  An 8-item bibliography completes the standard.

ISO 17842-3, 1st Edition, “Safety of amusement rides and amusement devices – Part 3: Requirements for inspection during design, manufacture, operation and use”

This is the shortest of the three parts (12 pages).  It is a requirements standard, with specific procedures and tests for both the initial approval stage and for in-service inspection.  It defines the specific aspects of both installation and operation that need to be confirmed.  This includes the expected schedule and reporting.

When I think of the benefits of standardization, health and safety are always at the top of my list.  In many ways, safety for leisure activities is right up there.  We want to be assured that when we are having fun, we are safe and secure and will be protected from tragedy.  So I’m always appreciative when standards committees develop documents like the ISO 17842 series.

If this is your field, you’ll need copies of these ISO standards.  Since they’re copyright documents, you’ll want to be sure to use an authorized distributor like Document Center Inc.  Head to our webstore at www.document-center.com and order your copies in paper format or for pdf download.  Here’s direct links to order pages for ISO 17842-1, for ISO 17842-2, and for ISO 17842-3.

And if you like you can get multi-user access with our Standards Online subscription service. Contact our staff for more information — you can reach them by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com).  Remember, when you see sites selling ISO standards for cheap, they are actually selling pirated copies of these publications.  Don’t be fooled.  Use Document Center Inc. – Your Standards Experts!

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Claudia Bach

Claudia Bach is the President of Document Center Inc. and a world-wide recognized expert on Standards and Standards Distribution. You can connect with her on Google+

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