Safety Consultant Weighs In On Fatal Six Flags Accident
Operator Error Likely To Blame, He Says
POSTED: 5:16 p.m. CDT July 11, 2003
UPDATED: 5:34 p.m. CDT July 11, 2003
NEW ORLEANS -- An amusement park safety expert weighed in Friday on the accident that killed a 52-year-old woman at Six Flags in New Orleans East.
The expert, Ken Martin, head of KRM Consulting Group, said since parks are self-regulated, little may be done to change park policy.
Rosa Donaldson was strapping in her 4-year-old grandson on the Joker's Jukebox ride Wednesday, when the ride started up and struck her.
Many ride operators are in their late teens and usually have minimal training to operate the rides, said Martin, who has 30 years of experience in the field. Martin said there may have been several contributing factors to the accident, but points to operator error as the likely main cause.
He said there are no federal regulations governing theme parks, and most state laws deal either with traveling carnivals or with the mechanics of a particular ride. Martin said little has been done to standardize the operator training at the nation's large amusement parks.
Martin said the ride operator should have known Donaldson was in the ride area.
"The last thing that ride operator should do before he or she presses the button to make it go is to visually and physically check the perimeter of the ride and the interior to make sure everyone is seated and restrained," Martin said.
Martin said parks aren't ignoring safety, but he said there is always more that can be done.
He adds that safety is a state of mind, and that park patrons have a responsibility to follow the rules and make sure the ride operator is paying attention.
The expert, Ken Martin, head of KRM Consulting Group, said since parks are self-regulated, little may be done to change park policy.
Rosa Donaldson was strapping in her 4-year-old grandson on the Joker's Jukebox ride Wednesday, when the ride started up and struck her.
Many ride operators are in their late teens and usually have minimal training to operate the rides, said Martin, who has 30 years of experience in the field. Martin said there may have been several contributing factors to the accident, but points to operator error as the likely main cause.
He said there are no federal regulations governing theme parks, and most state laws deal either with traveling carnivals or with the mechanics of a particular ride. Martin said little has been done to standardize the operator training at the nation's large amusement parks.
Martin said the ride operator should have known Donaldson was in the ride area.
"The last thing that ride operator should do before he or she presses the button to make it go is to visually and physically check the perimeter of the ride and the interior to make sure everyone is seated and restrained," Martin said.
Martin said parks aren't ignoring safety, but he said there is always more that can be done.
He adds that safety is a state of mind, and that park patrons have a responsibility to follow the rules and make sure the ride operator is paying attention.
Previous Stories:
- July 11, 2003: Woman Killed In Accident At Six Flags
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