Operator charged for 2019 amusement ride crash - 20.5.21

NT WorkSafe has charged a Darwin amusement ride operator over an incident that injured two people on a sideshow alley ride at the Freds Pass Show in 2019.

The injured people were passengers on The Octopus Ride, supplied and operated by the defendant, when one of the tension arms broke, causing the sweep arm to buckle and the attached gondola to crash to the ground.

Investigations by NT WorkSafe found several defects on the sweep arms and tension rods that compromised the structural integrity of the ride. The brakes were found to be faulty due to a lack of maintenance and repair.

Supplying and operating the ride with the defects uncovered put the workers, passengers and other people near the ride in danger and at risk of severe injury or death, NT WorkSafe will allege, breaching four sections of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011.

The matter is listed for mention in the Darwin Local Court on 24 June 2021. If found guilty of all charges, the accused faces a combined maximum penalty of $1,200,000.

Source – OHS Daily News by SafetyCulture Plus