Types of Amusement devices
ADIPS is designed to help dutyholders meet their obligations under Health and Safety legislation.
The Health and Safety At Work etc. Act 1974 and subsequent regulations require any fairground equipment defined as “any fairground ride or similar plant designed to be in motion for entertainment purposes with members of the public on or inside it or any plant which is designed to be used by members of the public for entertainment purposes either as a slide or for bouncing upon, and includes swings, dodgems and other plant which is designed to be in motion wholly or partly under the control of, or to be put in motion by a member of the public” to be tested at regular intervals by a competent person.
Amusement device is a broader term and includes fairground rides, transportable structures entered by the public (e.g. haunted houses, arcades, tents and booths) and shooting galleries where hazardous projectiles are fired.
Types of attractions not normally covered by ADIPS include:
- Sports and Recreational Facilities
- Leisure Equipment
- Children’s Playground Equipment
The following are typical types of amusement devices
Arcade
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes(a)
Initial test?
Yes(a)
In-service annual inspection?
Yes(a)
Other important safety issues and comments
(a) Non-permanent structures only. For fire precautions see Appendix 6. Check electrical equipment at least annually.
Boats / Pedalos
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
Local authority enforced when used outside fairgrounds and amusement parks.
Cableway & Monorails
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
The Cableway Installations Regulations 20041 do not apply to cableway installations (on site or mobile) in fairgrounds or amusement parks that are designed for leisure purposes and not as a means of transport. They do however contain advice which may be useful.
Mobile climbing wall
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
Inspection should cover all parts of the equipment including ropes, harnesses and connections. Local-authority-enforced when used outside fairgrounds and amusement parks.
Coin-operated Amusement Device
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes(b)
Initial test?
Yes(a)
In-service annual inspection?
Yes(a)
Other important safety issues and comments
(b) Devices outside the definition given in the Glossary require the full range of pre-use and in-service inspections. Local-authority-enforced when used outside fairgrounds and amusement parks.
Funhouse – with moving floors and slides etc.
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
May be ‘tented structure’ (see Appendix 6).
Hoopla or similar stall
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
No
Initial test?
No
In-service annual inspection?
No(c)
Other important safety issues and comments
(c) Periodic inspection of electrical equipment.
Hot dog or candy floss stall
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
No
Initial test?
No
In-service annual inspection?
No(d)
Other important safety issues and comments
(d)Periodic inspection of electrical equipment. Food safety legislation applies. See Appendix 6 for advice on gas safety.
Inflatable (bouncy)
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
No (should conform to BS EN 14960)
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
Supervision. Local-authority-enforced when used outside fairgrounds and amusement parks.
Miniature railway
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes(e)
Other important safety issues and comments
(e) other legislation applying to rail bound transport systems may apply. Factors such as gauge, location of track etc determine Enforcement Authority of miniature railways which falls to HSE or ORR.
Other inflatable (not used for bouncing or sliding)
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Advised for safety-critical components
Initial test?
See design review if applicable
In-service annual inspection?
See design review if applicable
Other important safety issues and comments
Supervision.
Pneumatic or air-supported structure
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
For fire precautions see Appendix 6.
Ride, adult or juvenile
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
–
Road train
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
Driving licence recommended, may be compulsory on road. Training and supervision.
Rodeo bulls
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
Local-authority-enforced when used outside fairgrounds and amusement parks.
Safety-critical parts of ride theming (may be part of an attraction or general site theming)
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes(g)
Initial test?
Yes(f)
In-service annual inspection?
Yes(f)
Other important safety issues and comments
(f) A high degree of care should be applied to the safety-critical parts of any theming which could cause serious personal injury if they failed.
Self-drive,
e.g. model cars, dodgems, karts
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
–
Shooting gallery (hazardous projectiles)
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
No
In-service annual inspection?
No(g)
Other important safety issues and comments
Firearms legislation may apply. (g) Periodic inspection of electrical equipment.
Shooting gallery (non-hazardous projectiles)
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
No
Initial test?
No
In-service annual inspection?
No(h)
Other important safety issues and comments
(h) Periodic inspection of electrical equipment.
Simulator.
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
–
Slide e.g. helter skelter, astroslide
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
Supervision.
Walk-through, e.g. haunted house, horror maze, mirror maze
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
May be ‘tented structure’ (see Appendix 6). (j) Will be a ride If containing moving floors or sides
Wall of death/
Globe of death
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Yes
Initial test?
Yes
In-service annual inspection?
Yes
Other important safety issues and comments
Important to maintain structural integrity.
Water walkers
Design review and assessment of conformity to design?
Advised for safety-critical components
Initial test?
See design review if applicable
In-service annual inspection?
See design review if applicable
Other important safety issues and comments
Supervision.