An independent engineering firm has released a damning report into the cause of an amusement ride accident at the Calgary Stampede last year.
An arm on the Scorpion ride gave way sending people crashing to the ground on July 16, 2010.
Ten people were hurt in the mishap.
The report identified a litany of errors including a faulty repair that the owner did not inspect. It caused fatigue cracks that grew undetected to the point of joint failure.
The owner of the ride is North American Midway.
The report says the accident could have been prevented if the owner had followed the manufacturer's recommended inspection criteria. It goes on to say a visual inspection would have detected the cracks.
The provincial government has implemented new rules to enhance amusement ride safety as a result of the report.
They have initiated five actions:
- Owners must retain on-site inspection reports from all jurisdictions in which an amusement ride has operated for five years
- Owners must complete an owner and Alberta Safety Codes Officer checklist for each ride
- Once a ride deficiency is detected, owners must confirm the ride manufacturer has evaluated the information and reported findings to the owner and Safety Codes Officer
- If metal fatigue is detected on a ride, independent non-destructive testing will be conducted on the entire ride and repairs made to any defects
- Older rides would be considered for additional comprehensive non-destructive testing
To view the complete Scorpion Ride Engineering Assessment click on the link.
