The midway at the Maryland State Fair in Timonium is strangely quiet the morning before Ridemania officially begins. Checklists are reviewed by ride operators. In close proximity to hydraulic arms and axles, mechanics crouch. In the midst of all that grease and steel, a safety consultant by the name of Danny Abner is most likely following a path he has traveled dozens of times before. This isn’t because it’s routine, but rather because he is aware of what happens when someone skips a step.
For over 20 years, Abner has been a ride safety consultant for Deggeller Attractions at events in various states, including the Maryland State Fair. He has firsthand knowledge of the industry. He is aware of the states that hold operators responsible and those that turn a blind eye. That’s likely why there’s a tone of almost genuine respect in his voice when he discusses Maryland’s inspection program. “They’re probably one of the top five in the United States,” he stated. That’s not a casual compliment from someone looking to grab attention. It’s the kind of evaluation that can only be made after comparing them to everything else.
Operating under Title 3 of the Business Regulation Article, Maryland’s Amusement Safety Inspection Program was established in 1976. The Commissioner of Labor and Industry must register, inspect, and issue a certificate before any ride can operate. There are no costs associated with inspections. There are no short cuts. Carnival and fair ride certificates are only good for 30 days, so inspectors must return. The fact that this arrangement is ongoing is more important than it may first appear.
There were legitimate concerns during the summer of 2016. In Kansas City, a waterslide claimed the life of a 10-year-old boy. In Tennessee, three girls fell from a ferris wheel. In Pennsylvania, a three-year-old fell off a roller coaster. These were more reminders that the difference between an exciting ride and a disastrous one can be smaller than any parent would like to consider than freak flukes. Fair officials in Maryland were under pressure to speak up. They claimed that the rides are safe and that the inspections supporting that assertion are thorough.
The distinction between states that view oversight of amusement rides as a bureaucratic checkbox and those that view it as true public protection is difficult to ignore. With a committed staff of ride safety inspectors who arrive before the crowds, Maryland seems to fall into the latter category. An additional layer is added by Abner’s team, who conduct internal daily inspection programs prior to the arrival of state inspectors. They contact the manufacturer if they have any questions. They don’t speculate.
All of this gives the impression that the repetition is exactly the point. The same safety speeches every year. The same inspections are conducted prior to opening day each year. From the outside, it might seem tiresome. However, tedium is actually the goal for those whose job it is to stand between mechanical failure and a throng of families with young children. Someone is likely to start missing things when the process begins to feel automatic.
Abner has been in this business long enough to be aware of that. Because he has witnessed what occurs in places where safety isn’t the top priority, he probably still means it when he says that.
