Tyler’s Law seeks to improve safety of amusement rides in Ohio

During the first full fair and festival season since the passage of Tyler’s Law, the Ohio Department of Agriculture is reminding Ohioans about the increased amusement ride safety measures that are now in effect in Ohio.

The law, named for Tyler Jarrell who died in 2017 after being thrown from a ride at the Ohio State Fair, went into effect on Nov. 6, 2020, and made several changes to the ride-inspection process.

“Nothing is more important than the health and safety of Ohioans,” said ODA Director Dorothy Pelanda during a press conference today in Reynoldsburg to highlight the new safety changes. “At the Ohio Department of Agriculture, our duties don’t just include safe and wholesome food, meat, milk and the protection of Ohio’’s livestock, crops and plants; they also extend into the safety of Ohio’s amusement rides.”

During the press event, ODA Chief of Amusement Rides & Safety David Miran, ODA Ride Inspector Ron Dean, and Albanese Amusement & Entertainment Rentals Owner Michael Albanese joined Pelanda to discuss the new regulations and how they will better protect those who enjoy rides at carnivals, fairs, festivals, and amusement parks.

“Ohio is setting the standard for amusement rides rules and regulations,” said Miran. “These rules have ride owners keeping strict records for each piece of equipment they own, while also ensuring each ride receives a thorough inspection, giving everyone, from the owners to the riders, a safer experience.”

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Tyler’s mother, Amber Duffield, attended today’s presentation.

“I’m getting a firsthand look to see in person what we worked so hard to accomplish on paper,” said Duffield.

The rules adopt new American Society for Testing and Materials standards. Owners of intermediate rides, towers, and roller coasters are also required to complete the following:

• Ensure all rides meet the manufacturer’s minimum requirements for inspection and testing.
  Annually perform a complete visual inspection of a ride’s structure including removing access panels where possible to do so. Special attention will be given to structural members and their connections for signs of fatigue or corrosion.
  • If fatigue or corrosion are found, the owner will discuss the findings with the ride’s manufacturer and implement mitigation strategies.
  • For orphaned amusement rides, the owner must consult a registered professional engineer. If fatigue or corrosion are found, the owner will discuss the findings and implement mitigation strategies as recommended by the registered professional engineer.
• Provide documentation of the visual inspection and the findings to ODA for review.
• Maintain the documentation for the life of the ride and transfer to any subsequent owners.
• Submit a list of all locations and dates where any portable ride was stored for a period longer than 30 days or operated outside the state of Ohio.

The rules also establish the minimum number of times a ride must be inspected each year, as well as the number of inspectors that must perform that inspection.

You can read more about Tyler’s Law here.

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