Safety first for rides at 2014 Perth Royal Show

Echoing the emphasis on safety at the Royal Melbourne Show, organisers of the 2014 Perth Royal Show, which commenced on Saturday (27th September), have also been ensuring extensive safety testing of carnival rides.

With three new carnival rides making their debut at Show, the Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia (RASWA) have engaged engineers to test ride safety.

Commenting on the safety regime to WA Today, ride inspector and mechanical engineer Ian Thompson stated "we do checkups on these rides more often than you or I would get a medical check up – it's pretty serious stuff."

"The thing about most of the rides here is that they've had many years of use and very experienced operators so if there was a weakness in the ride, we'd almost certainly know about it."

"There is a risk with new rides, and there are a few new rides here this year, you just have to be extra thorough and diligent."

Thompson advised of three tiers of checks – Western Australian Government checks undertaken by WorkSafe staff, Thompson's own checks as an independent engineer, and the operators' own checks.

Thompson told WA Today that Western Australia's safety standards were not yet in line with other states, but that his checks went above and beyond those required.

He explained that all rides had to be able to operate under winds to 72 kilometres an hour, adding that most operators would "well and truly shut down before then."

Again boosted by the Western Australian Government's initiative to provide free entry to children, the 2014 Perth Royal Show has welcomed three new rides this year: Freak Out (a giant spinning ride), Speed 2 and the Star Flyer.

The Western Australian Government's $2 million initiative to allow free entry to the Perth Royal Show and affiliated regional agricultural shows for children aims to encourage youngsters to learn about the agricultural industry from a young age.

Last year, more than 450,000 people attended the IGA Perth Royal Show, the second highest attendance on record.

The IGA Perth Royal Show runs until Saturday 4th October 2014.

For more information go to www.perthroyalshow.com.au

Perth Royal Show ride image included for illustrative purposes.

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