Crews are assembling, testing and inspecting around 70 amusement rides for the Ohio State Fair before it opens on Wednesday, July 29. Ron Dean, who leads the ride safety division at the Ohio Department of Agriculture, said the work now moves through several inspection stages before fairgoers get on a ride.
Dean said the process starts with a static inspection as rides are being set up, then continues through multiple checks. The final step is an operational check, when inspectors run the rides and test safety features.
Ron Dean on ride checks
“There are multiple stages that we do our inspection. We'll have a static inspection as they're being set up and then we go through multiple checks after that one. One of the final components is operational checks where we're going to run the rides and check safety features,” Dean said.
He said the inspection team wears fall arrest gear and climbs ride towers to examine connection points. Bigger rides, including ferris wheels and rollercoasters, take longer because of their complexity and height.
Tyler's Law and Ohio
The fair is opening while inspectors are working under stricter rules created after a 2017 death at the Ohio State Fair, when an 18-year-old was thrown from the fire ball ride because of a ride malfunction. Tyler's Law became effective in Ohio in 2019, and Dean said one of the biggest takeaways was a focus on fatiguing corrosion review.
“The other layer to that is our requirements as far as how we do the inspections. A lot of the larger rides now require at least two inspectors to do those, and that's again just putting extra eyes on there to make sure that everything's in place,” Dean said.
Taylor Talley and operators
Taylor Talley of Talley amusement rides said operators go through safety inspection and training every season before they are assigned to a specific ride. Talley said many of the operators have been with the company for years, giving them years of experience with the rides they handle.
“Every season they go through that safety inspection themselves, so they know what they're doing with the specific ride they're assigned to. Also, a lot of our guys have been with us for years now and so it really just takes years of experience to really be as knowledgeable as they are,” Talley said.
Dean said ride inspectors and operators will remain on site throughout the fair, so the checks do not stop once opening day arrives. For fairgoers, the immediate question is which rides are being inspected now and whether any problems turn up before the gates open.
