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Yet the laws that accompany Health and Safety regulation has put the fear of god into discerning companies and schools whose responsibility it is to make sure that nobody leaves their premises with so much as a graze.

White water rafting

Adventure holidays are not at your own risk, but at the risk of whoever organises the trip 

For example, unions often discourage companies and schools against adventure holidays for fear that injury may occur.

Look back through any news archive and you will see ridiculous regulations dictating that culture has to mould itself to intrusive policies, and that companies can now be held accountable for the stupidity of the great unwashed.

This is a hard predicament to adequately explain, so here are a few examples.

We have been told recently how exposure to the sun can be dangerous. Therefore, it is our responsibility to take necessary precautions. Yet, for fear of being sued, the Blusetone construction company has banned its builders from taking their tops off so that they can avoid sunburn.

Ironically, elsewhere, a school banned the application of sun cream. Somehow, said school felt it would be held accountable for any students’ allergic reactions that they could have had.

Infact, schools really are really doing their part to make sure their students have no sense of what is and is not a danger by wrapping them in cotton wool and making sure they’re not exposed to any of the horrors the awaiting real world will present to them.

This disproportionate stupidity is as applicable to theme parks as it is to the workplace and school.

The Health and Safety Executive website introduces their legislation by citing an accident at a London fair in 2000, where two people died. It also makes mention of the infamous incident on Brighton Pier where sloppy operation meant that Turbo, a single-looping roller coaster ran – and narrowly avoided serious injury – when a section of track was left out.

These two incidents “demonstrate the need for effective enforcement” according to the Health and Safety Executive.

Turbo in trouble

Turbo stuck mid course. Another incident has been cited by HSE in their introduction to ride safety 

This is true, if misleading.

What these two events actually show is what happens when fundamental laws that safeguard peoples’ safety are broken. What it also shows is – without belittling the death of two people – how safe our industry is, and how effective theme parks’ self-moderation actually is.

Statistically, you’re more likely to be struck by lightening or win the lottery than to be seriously injured on a theme park attraction. While to many theme parks project a sense of danger and misadventure, if you are injured at a theme park, it is likely to be your fault.

Another example was the accident on Hydro, where a young girl, Hayley Williams died. This freak occurrence was an absolute one off, and the ride spent an entire year closed, and could only reopen when the entire boat had been fitted with overhead restraints.

While of course the death was tragic – and apparently avoidable – it is amazing to think that such steps are made following just a single death. I cannot for the life of me think of any other industry where a single death would have such vast ramifications. Continues...


Coaster Kingdom Magazine
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Issue 10: Sep 2005

Issue 10
This Way Up
HSE regulation - just right or OTT?
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