To: Directors of Environmental Health/ Chief Environmental Health Officers of London, Metropolitan, District and Unitary Authorities and Chief Executives of County Councils.

For the attention of: Environmental Services / Trading Standards / Fire Authorities / Other

This circular gives advice to local authority enforcement officers

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COIN OPERATED KIDDIE RIDES: A SAFETY GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

1 This circular describes a revised booklet produced by the British Amusement Catering Trades Association (BACTA) which represents owners of coin operated kiddie fairground rides, also known as coin operated children's rides.

BACKGROUND

2 A coin operated kiddie ride, as defined by BACTA, is a slow moving appliance fitted on a stationary base, operated by coins or tokens and designed for the use of one or two children.

STATUS OF THE GUIDANCE

3 The BACTA guidance is an industry produced document which helps to explain the requirements of the main HSE guidance document for fairgrounds, HSG175. BACTA is a member association of the Fairgrounds Joint Advisory Committee. This document indicates how the committee's general agreement on what are reasonably practicable ways of managing ride safety will apply in the special circumstances of coin operated kiddie rides.

THE BACTA GUIDANCE

4 Provides detailed information intended to enable coin operated kiddie ride controllers to comply with HSG175 Fairgrounds and Amusement Parks: Guidance on Safe Practice. It covers the design, manufacture, supply, operation and use of these rides.

5 Sets out requirements for testing and inspection of rides. These equate to the requirements of the Amusement Devices Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS) for coin-operated rides. For more information about ADIPS see HSE Entertainment Sheet No. 8 attached to this LAC. The following tests/ inspections are specified:

1. Initial test - the initial test is designed to provide both a check on the suitability of the design of the kiddie ride and to check that the device works in accordance with the design. The initial test report should be retained throughout the working life of the ride.
2. Annual inspection (thorough examination) - This report will now be entered on a standard form called a Declaration of Operational Compliance (DOC) recommended by ADIPS. This inspection should be carried out by an appointed person/ inspection body registered with BACTA - who must be competent but need not be independent.
3. 6 This reduced requirement is a notable difference from the main ADIPS scheme applied to adult fairground rides and reflects the lower risk of injury associated with kiddie rides. Annual inspections of kiddie rides may also be carried out by inspection bodies registered under the main ADIPS scheme.

DISTRIBUTION

7 Copies of the booklet can be obtained from BACTA Kings Cross House, 211 Kings Cross Road, London WC1X 9DN, telephone 0207 713 7144, price £10. A discount of 20% has been negotiated for local authorities.

ENFORCEMENT APPROACH

8 Many of the coin operated kiddie rides are located in premises such as shopping arcades or outside retail premises. In such cases enforcement responsibility rests with Local Authorities under the revised Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998. Rides found at fairground sites will be inspected by HSE inspectors. The BACTA guide provides a useful resource to HSE or LA inspectors who may encounter coin operated kiddie rides as part of their work.

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