AALARA reaffirms commitment to industry safety

Safety was the focus of much of the content at the Australian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association (AALARA) 2022 Conference and Trade Show held at the Sea World Resort Conference Centre last week.

Looking to generate new enthusiasm in the sector, AALARA General Manager Kristy Ahrens stated the “conference content was focussed on the Association’s and industry’s commitment to safety.

“From the safety systems we’re trialling, the new technology we’re exploring, the DMF (Discretionary Mutual Fund) we’re looking to establish and the safety subcommittees we have formed, our industry’s number one priority is on the continuation of improved safety.”

The first day of the conference (16th May) featured two sessions on inflatable safety, introducing the newly formed AALARA Operation of Inflatables Sub Committee while also giving operators in the sector the opportunity to share ideas, review the current regulatory environment and discuss best practice.

Providing an update on the DMF, AALARA President, Shane McGrath said establishing a DMF “provides an opportunity to set a new benchmark with regard to safety and risk management.”

Going on to say that members that operate amusement devices are subject to regular audits by the regulator who applies a National Audit Tool which ensure a comprehensive and consistent inspection of amusement devices across Australia, McGrath added “a key aspect of these audits is a review of the ride logbook which records all these details.”

The AALARA conference also heard about how amusement ride operators at a number of regional shows across NSW and Queensland had stopped operating their rides over a 15-minute period as part of an protest and the rising cost of public liability insurance.

The ride stoppages, which commenced at the Hawkesbury Show, Australia's largest regional show, were instigated by AALARA and the Showmen's Guild of Australasia following the Federal Government’s refusal to fund the creation of a DMF to insure industry operators - a solution recommended by the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman.

Image courtesy of Big Bounce.