(a) Emergency
Brakes and Devices.
Ride conveyance vehicles shall be provided with emergency
brakes or other equally effective emergency stopping controls, if upon failure
of normal stopping controls, collision may reasonably be expected to occur and
result in patron injury or equipment damage. Low speed vehicles designed for
controlled collisions, such as bumper cars, do not require emergency stopping
controls.
(b) Anti-Rollback
Controls.
Each permanent amusement ride with a passenger conveyance
vehicle that traverses an inclined track shall be provided with automatic
anti-rollback controls, unless such controls would conflict with manufacturer
recommendations.
(c) Speed
Limiting Devices and Systems.
(1) Each
permanent amusement ride capable of exceeding its maximum design operating
speed shall be provided with a speed-limiting device or system to ensure that
the ride cannot exceed that speed at any time while patrons are on
board.
(2) Mechanical Governors.
(A) If a mechanical governor with an
adjustable setting is used as a speed-limiting device, the adjusting mechanism
shall be sealed so that the speed setting cannot be changed without breaking
the seal.
(B) If the seal is
broken, the ride shall not be operated with patrons on board and the speed
setting shall be readjusted and resealed per manufacturer specifications prior
to reopening the ride to patrons.
(3) Other Speed Limiting Devices or Systems.
If a speed limiting device or system other than a
mechanical governor is used to control the maximum speed of a permanent
amusement ride, the device or system shall include safeguards to prevent the
ride operator from being able to alter the maximum speed
setting.
(d)
Signal Systems.
(1) Signal systems shall be
used and shall be adequate to do the following:
(A) Control the dispatching of rides as
necessary to prevent collision due to any failure of the ride or ride unit to
clear a stopping point.
(B) Control
the operation of the ride so that neither starting nor stopping the ride
results in an unsafe condition. In the case of starting the ride, the signal
system shall require that, before the start signal is given, there is
confirmation that all patrons are safely secured within the ride and all other
persons are a safe distance from the ride.
EXCEPTION: A signal system is not required if the ride is
controlled by a single operator who can clearly observe all phases of operation
of the ride.
(2)
All signal systems shall be tested at least once each day prior to the initial
operation of the ride with patrons on board. No ride shall be operated with
patrons on board if the signal system is not functioning properly.
(3) A written explanation of the use and
testing of the signal system for each ride having a signal system shall be
available at the operator's or signaler's stations.
(e) Protection of Patrons from Hazardous
Surfaces and Moving Parts.
(1) Surfaces of
permanent amusement rides with which a patron may come in contact shall be free
from sharp, rough, or splintered surfaces, edges and corners, and from
unguarded or unprotected protruding studs, bolts, screws, and other
projections. Surfaces that a patron may forcibly contact while in motion shall
be adequately padded or otherwise designed and maintained to protect against
injury.
(2) All moving parts with
which patrons may come into contact shall be sufficiently guarded to protect
against injury.
(f)
Patron Retention, Restraint, and Support.
(1)
All tubs, cars, chairs, seats, gondolas, and other carriers shall be equipped
as necessary to provide protection against injury with devices that retain,
restrain, or support the patron during all phases of ride movement. All
fastenings shall be of a type that cannot be released inadvertently by the
patron or by other accidental means.
(2) All belts, bars, fastenings, anchorages,
footrests, and other equipment or devices intended for the protection of
patrons while they are on permanent amusement rides shall be of adequate design
for and be maintained to perform their intended function.
(g) Accessing and Exiting Permanent Amusement
Rides. All steps, ramps and walkways inside the site of the permanent amusement
ride used by patrons for accessing and exiting the ride shall be of adequate
design for and maintained to perform their intended function.
(h) Operation and Control of the Ride.
(1) All rides shall be operated and
controlled only by authorized persons. All authorized persons designated to
control the operation of the ride while it is moving shall, during the period
of movement, be within immediate reach of the operating controls, even if
automatic devices are used to control the time cycle of the ride.
(2) All rides shall have a stop switch within
immediate reach of the authorized person or persons designated to operate or
control the ride at all times while the ride is in operation.
(3) In addition to the stop switch required
by subsection (h)(2), each electrically driven permanent amusement ride shall
have a disconnect switch within reach of the authorized person for use in case
of emergency. In lieu of this disconnect switch, a stopping device that must be
manually reset may be used.
(4) No
permanent amusement ride stopped with a device required by (h)(2) or (h)(3)
shall be capable of starting immediately upon reset of that device.
(5) Equipment rooms, machinery rooms, and all
other areas unsafe for access by patrons or other unauthorized persons shall be
posted to forbid unauthorized access and locked, fenced, barricaded, or
otherwise secured to prevent unauthorized access. Fences installed or replaced
after July 12, 2003 shall be in conformance with the specifications of ASTM F
1159-02.
(6) Electrically energized
overhead screens used to power bumper car type rides shall be free of holes
that are not part of the design.
(i) Electrical Wiring Affecting Permanent
Amusement Rides.
The installation of all new electrical wiring for
permanent amusement rides shall conform to the applicable requirements of the
California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 3, California Electrical Code,
1998.