Fairground ride operator fined after worker injured

Date:

27 April 2012

Release No:

NE/006/12

A fairground ride operator has been fined after a worker was thrown from a ride during the 2010 May Bank Holiday fair in Barnard Castle.

On 31 May 2010, Martin Brown, 17, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire was working for Elliot Crow, of ride owners Alan Crow Amusements, as a ride attendant on the Crazy Frog Ride.

Darlington Magistrates' Court heard the ride was one of several set up at the Morrisons store car park in Galgate, Barnard Castle for the May Bank Holiday Fair.

Mr Brown occupied one of the cars in order to balance the ride. However, shortly after the ride started he was thrown from the ride and suffered serious injuries including a fractured skull, wrists, jaw and eye socket.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Mr Crow failed to check Mr Brown was seated in the ride properly or was adequately restrained, leading to his colleague being thrown from the car once the ride had started.

HSE Inspector Andrew Mulligan said:

"Fairground rides are designed to be safe and fun but operators have a duty to ensure all passengers are seated correctly and are using any restraints provided. Unfortunately for Mr Brown this was not the case.

"It should have been clear to the defendant that Mr Brown was not properly seated or secured, particularly due to the number of times the car passed the control cabin prior to him being flung from the ride.

"If Mr Crow had supervised the ride properly he would have noticed this and could then have either not started the ride, or stopped it before the incident happened, thus saving Mr Brown the great physical and emotional harm he suffered."

Elliot Samuel Crow, 20, of Fairfield, High Street, Northallerton was yesterday (Thursday 26 April 2012) found guilty of breaching Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £520. He was also ordered to pay £500 costs and a £15 Victim Surcharge, the proceeds of which will be spent on services for victims and witnesses.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employee while at work to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work."
3. Inspector Andrew Mulligan is available for media interviews.

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by the Regional News Network