New park operating procedures

[Sue]

For those that have visited parks since the Texas Giant incident, have you noticed any different operating procedures at the parks?

 

Lake Compounce is now doing the visual scan like Six Flags Great Adventure does, but it's worse. All the employees on the Boulder Dash platform now do the visual scan separate of each other (i.e. back attendant does scan, front attendant does scan, then operator does scan). It seems to be a bit much and definitely has an impact on dispatch times.

[Innumerical]

Went to SFGAm on Tuesday and I didnt notice a drastic increase in dispatch times.

 

Nor did it seem like the were being obsessive with the restraints.

[Moose]

While it is unfortunate that dispatch times have increased, it is an understandable reaction to the accident on NTAG.

[XYZ]

I went to CGA two days ago and the park has no effect from the NTAG accident.

[BigBomer]

At SFOT the day after ride operators were pushing down as hard as they could AND triple checking.

[robbalvey]

For those that have visited parks since the Texas Giant incident, have you noticed any different operating procedures at the parks?

 

Lake Compounce is now doing the visual scan like Six Flags Great Adventure does, but it's worse. All the employees on the Boulder Dash platform now do the visual scan separate of each other (i.e. back attendant does scan, front attendant does scan, then operator does scan). It seems to be a bit much and definitely has an impact on dispatch times.

I feel like this is a reactionary procedure put into place, not a proactive measure that would actually prevent an accident from happening. Really frustrates me when parks do things like this.

 

Here's an idea - instead of making your employees do silly things on a ride platform to give an illusion of being safer, how about just ensuring they do their jobs really well...the same job ride operators have been doing for DECADES that have kept hundreds of millions of riders alive.

 

--Robb

[PalmTree55]

For those that have visited parks since the Texas Giant incident, have you noticed any different operating procedures at the parks?

 

Lake Compounce is now doing the visual scan like Six Flags Great Adventure does, but it's worse. All the employees on the Boulder Dash platform now do the visual scan separate of each other (i.e. back attendant does scan, front attendant does scan, then operator does scan). It seems to be a bit much and definitely has an impact on dispatch times.

I feel like this is a reactionary procedure put into place, not a proactive measure that would actually prevent an accident from happening. Really frustrates me when parks do things like this.

 

Here's an idea - instead of making your employees do silly things on a ride platform to give an illusion of being safer, how about just ensuring they do their jobs really well...the same job ride operators have been doing for DECADES that have kept hundreds of millions of riders alive.

 

--Robb

 

On Thunder Road at Carowinds, they have been doing the mulitple visual scans since the beginning of the season.

[Meteornotes]

The visual scan is among the dumbest things ever. It doesn't really do anything, other than provide another "cover your ass" move in case there's a lawsuit over anything.

 

Instead, if parks made sure their employees were well trained, not overworked, and had management that would 100% back them up in any situation, they would have a much safer environment than making employees look around before a dispatch.

 

dt

[TPDave]

^Yup!

 

And I don't want to speak before all the info is in but I'm pretty sure the NTAG incident wouldn't have been prevented by a visual scan. In the great sprit of ass covering though I'm sure it's a very useful process to have!

[singemfrc]

The visual scan is among the dumbest things ever. It doesn't really do anything, other than provide another "cover your A$$" move in case there's a lawsuit over anything.

 

Instead, if parks made sure their employees were well trained, not overworked, and had management that would 100% back them up in any situation, they would have a much safer environment than making employees look around before a dispatch.

 

dt

I wouldnt go as far as saying that the visual scan does nothing, as it is good to make sure there arent any employees or guests that have wandered into a dangerous area before dispatching a train that could hurt them or the riders...however I do think it's overkill to have the seperate scans, it should suffice to have everyone scan and give thumbs up like they've been doing for years.

[CPmillenia94]

I was at sfa riding superman and I asked the person checking the restraint not to press it down (had it up like 3 inches above my thighs) and she asked the other guy and he was like "it's fine we had a guy do that all morning" and she didn't even touch my restraint before we dispatched. That was a great ride..

[Devins3]

I was at Knoebels for a few days and they were making extra sure to tell us not to snap the flyers every time we got on. The operator said they were being extra careful because of the incidents over the weekend. Also they were checking to make sure everybody had their seatbelt on at the bumper cars, when I went a few weeks ago they didn't do that.

[Sue]

Has anyone been to Kennywood in the past few days? Curious if this visual scan is just a Lake Compounce thing or a corporate thing?

[JJLehto]

For those that have visited parks since the Texas Giant incident, have you noticed any different operating procedures at the parks?

 

Lake Compounce is now doing the visual scan like Six Flags Great Adventure does, but it's worse. All the employees on the Boulder Dash platform now do the visual scan separate of each other (i.e. back attendant does scan, front attendant does scan, then operator does scan). It seems to be a bit much and definitely has an impact on dispatch times.

I feel like this is a reactionary procedure put into place, not a proactive measure that would actually prevent an accident from happening. Really frustrates me when parks do things like this.

 

Here's an idea - instead of making your employees do silly things on a ride platform to give an illusion of being safer, how about just ensuring they do their jobs really well...the same job ride operators have been doing for DECADES that have kept hundreds of millions of riders alive.

 

--Robb

 

Pffft too logical Robb, people would go balistic that "nothing is being done" thus the illusion of actually doing something goes on

[biker7766]

At Skull Mountain, the lapbar must now touch both riders!

So now if a parent and a child want to ride, the bar must be touching both of them! Almost impossible!

[ajfelice]

Waldameer Park has been business as usual in terms of operations. We used the Texas Giant incident as a reminder to reinforce taking extra care to make sure all guests are secured properly, and that they meet the safety requirements for boarding each ride. In response to the Shoot the Rapids accident, we re-demonstrated to our operators the proper steps to be taken when a ride malfunctions, particularly our Thunder River log flume. As always, we constantly are combing over our operational procedures in order to re-evaluate their effectiveness, and we periodically make changes if/when needed. Overall, no rules have been modified or added with these particular accidents as of yet, but we are using these tragic accidents as a serious reminder to always keep safety as our top priority.

[Aceattack52]

For those that have visited parks since the Texas Giant incident, have you noticed any different operating procedures at the parks?

 

Lake Compounce is now doing the visual scan like Six Flags Great Adventure does, but it's worse. All the employees on the Boulder Dash platform now do the visual scan separate of each other (i.e. back attendant does scan, front attendant does scan, then operator does scan). It seems to be a bit much and definitely has an impact on dispatch times.

I feel like this is a reactionary procedure put into place, not a proactive measure that would actually prevent an accident from happening. Really frustrates me when parks do things like this.

 

Here's an idea - instead of making your employees do silly things on a ride platform to give an illusion of being safer, how about just ensuring they do their jobs really well...the same job ride operators have been doing for DECADES that have kept hundreds of millions of riders alive.

 

--Robb

 

On Thunder Road at Carowinds, they have been doing the multiple visual scans since the beginning of the season.

I talked about it on the Carowinds discussion thread and I'll talk about it again, SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH THUNDER ROAD. Back in April, they had both stations open and they would race both trains every once in a while. There were like 3 or 4 supervisors in the station all day when they were having them race and the 4 of them would stand at the back of that station and watch both trains go up the lift. Then, if there was anyone breaking any kind of rule while they were going up the lift (turning around, pulling out a cell phone, touching the railings, ect.), they would come over the the offender(s) when their train got back to the station and bring the full force of hell down on them. One of the supervisors double checked one of the trains before they let it go, too.

[arby]

^I've been on Thunder Road a few times this year and it hasn't been any different than previous years.

 

Carowinds has always been strict on the use of electronics on rides. I've seen a few people escorted from the park by security. I'm willing to bet, if you pull your phone our on Intimidator and they see you, security will be at the exit gate waiting for you. I waited on the final brake run once for 3-4 minutes while they held both trains waiting for security to make it there. The train in front of me had one guy taken away by security.

 

All you were probably seeing was an elevated response to reports or sightings of people not following the rules that they post.

[PalmTree55]

^I've been on Thunder Road a few times this year and it hasn't been any different than previous years.

 

Carowinds has always been strict on the use of electronics on rides. I've seen a few people escorted from the park by security. I'm willing to bet, if you pull your phone our on Intimidator and they see you, security will be at the exit gate waiting for you. I waited on the final brake run once for 3-4 minutes while they held both trains waiting for security to make it there. The train in front of me had one guy taken away by security.

 

All you were probably seeing was an elevated response to reports or sightings of people not following the rules that they post.

 

I've been stopped on the lift hill because someone had their phone out.

[Hercules]

Any new procedures? Yeah. Making sure nobody falls out of a roller coaster.

[Philrad71]

Waldameer Park has been business as usual in terms of operations. We used the Texas Giant incident as a reminder to reinforce taking extra care to make sure all guests are secured properly, and that they meet the safety requirements for boarding each ride. In response to the Shoot the Rapids accident, we re-demonstrated to our operators the proper steps to be taken when a ride malfunctions, particularly our Thunder River log flume. As always, we constantly are combing over our operational procedures in order to re-evaluate their effectiveness, and we periodically make changes if/when needed. Overall, no rules have been modified or added with these particular accidents as of yet, but we are using these tragic accidents as a serious reminder to always keep safety as our top priority.

 

And this is the way it should be....great post!

[Aceattack52]

Any new procedures? Yeah. Making sure nobody falls out of a roller coaster.

Nothing new there.

[GayCoasterGuy]

The year after the death on Superman (now Bizarro) at SFNEngland, they were pushing the bars down further than they could go. Or perhaps it was just the overzeaolous ride op that was checking my seat.

 

The shoved it down, putting all her weight into it. I gave her a surprised "it down as far as it will go" then she came at me and shoved some more, never looking at me. I made a loud noise and said "you're hurting me now!" as the train left the station. It hurt; not just a little discomfort.

 

I got off the ride, and talked to the ride supervisor. She told my aunt and I to go to first aid, where I was inspected (rubber gloves and all) for bruising (yes, on those...). They offered to call an ambulance. It was obnoxious, painful and a good hour of ours wasted.

 

So someone dies - it's a ride ops fault - then they hurt other people to make up for it? Stupid. A few months later, I got a standard issue apology letter, and they spelled my last name wrong.

[Aceattack52]

^ Something similiar happened to me at SFOG, but I tightened the restraint WAY to much and it was my fault. The return spring on just this one restraint on Goliath was broken or missing, so when the restraints were released, the restraint had to be pushed to the open position, rather than the usual slow return to the open position. I didn't know this when I sat down, though. I usually grab the corner of the restrain and give it a good hard pull and let go of it, and that will usually get it within a few notches of my waste and I can tighten it the rest of the way slowly. Since this didn't have the return spring, there was nothing slowing the restraint as it came down, and it came down HARD. LOL

[Moose]

At.Lake Compounce they were doing and announcing a visual check before each ride. It looked ridiculous basically them just turning their head back and forth checking areas that could have no impact to ride safety. That being said it didn't impact dispatch times too badly. I'm going again next week; I'm wondering if they are continuing the practice.