AALARA highlights Australian theme parks' ongoing safety commitments

AALARA highlights Australian theme parks’ ongoing safety commitments

February 24, 2020

Attractions / Government / Safety / Ticketing / Waterparks /

In the wake of today’s release of the Coroner’s report into the fatalities of four guests riding Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids Ride tragedy in October 2016, the Australian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association Inc. (AALARA) has expressed that its “sympathies are with the families and first responders involved in this tragedy”.

The Association has advised that it will address recommendations from the Coronial report and is working to establish a code of practice with the industry and Queensland Government to ensure the highest level of safety is achieved.

Following the 2016 deaths, AALARA briefed the international attractions industry and has worked proactively with the Queensland Government following a Best Practice Review into Workplace Health and Safety to develop legislative changes.

This includes:

• Strengthening instructions and training requirements for ride operators.
• Ensuring mandatory major amusement ride inspections every 10 years, as an addition to annual inspections and registration.
• Overseeing the introduction of a safety case and licensing regime for theme parks, to ensure comprehensive risk assessment processes are integrated into daily operations.

It advised “AALARA and the attractions industry is committed to a continuous process of improvement, while advocating for the global harmonisation of amusement ride safety standards.

“The safety and wellbeing of patrons is of the utmost importance to AALARA and the amusement industry.”

AALARA President, Shane McGrath highlighted that this is part of the sector’s continuous and ongoing efforts to achieve world leading safety management within Australia’s attractions industry.

24th February 2020 - Coroner’s report on Dreamworld fatalities exposes Ardent Leisure to prosecution for multiple safety breaches

31st December 2019 - AALARA looks back on 2019 and forward to the New Year

28th August 2019 - AALARA refutes reports of ride safety concerns at the Royal Adelaide Show

9th August 2019 - Ekka prioritises amusement ride safety

28th June 2019 - Ardent Leisure facing potential $80 million liability in wake of Dreamworld inquest

28th June 2019 - NT WorkSafe issues amusement ride safety alert following country show accident

22nd May 2019 - Shane McGrath takes on AALARA Presidency at successful conference

17th May 2019 - New safety rules for Queensland theme parks and attractions now in force

4th March 2019 - Queensland Goverment reveals tougher safety regulations for amusement rides and theme parks

16th August 2018 - Queensland Government regulators left inspections of fatal ride up to Dreamworld

19th June 2018 - Dreamworld inquest hears that ride staff were told not to ‘worry about’ emergency stop button

29th March 2018 - Standards, safety and incident management the focus at AALARA 2018 conference

24th August 2017 - AALARA supports new Queensland safety legislation but asks for improved consultation on changes

23rd August 2017 - Queensland to implement new safety laws following Dreamworld tragedy report

27th August 2017 - Dreamworld tragedy highlights legal duty of care for theme park guests

16th April 2017 - Consulting engineer rebuts Australian Women’s Weekly ride safety ‘investigation’

14th March 2017 - Village Roadshow Theme Parks highlights safety and maintenance systems

14th December 2016 - Non-Compliance in attractions and entertainment has its costs

29th October 2016 - Queensland Government to undertake ‘safety blitz’ on theme parks

25th October 2015 - Weekend incidents put focus on fairground ride safety

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