Overview
To help the ride owner understand the amusement ride inspection and licensing process, TSASK is summarizing those requirements. As this list is not exhaustive nor specific for each ride, owners and operators are expected to be familiar with The Amusement Ride Safety Act, Regulations, adopted codes, standards and manufacturer instructions related to their amusement rides.
Amusement rides include itinerant (travelling), fixed location, concession go-karts, and inflatable amusement rides. All rides must be licensed and inspected before they open to the public (or annually for fixed location continuous operation rides).
Pre-Inspection
As per the Regulations and adopted codes, all ride owners and operators shall have records related to the maintenance, inspection, repair, and operation of their rides. These records must be available at the time of inspection or by request in advance of an inspection. Ride owners and operators should have this information prepared in advance to ensure the ride inspection can be completed as a required step to operate. At a minimum, this information includes:
- The manufacturer’s instructions for the erection or assembly of the ride;
- Records of training or qualification for all persons involved in the erection or assembly of the ride;
- The manufacturer’s maintenance and inspection manuals;
- Any major modifications, safety or testing bulletins published by the manufacturer after the amusement ride was manufactured;
- The inspection, maintenance and repair logs, including daily, weekly, monthly or annual inspection documentation as required;
- Additional ride repair documentation to support log entries detailing specific work as well as the qualifications or training of persons carrying out that work;
- Operational and non-destructive testing requirements and results;
- The manufacturer’s operating instructions;
- The ride specific evacuation plan and procedures; and
- Records of training or qualification for all attendants or persons involved in the operation and/or
evacuation procedures of the ride.
Itinerant Ride Itineraries
A detailed itinerary shall be submitted at least 30 days prior to arriving in the province. The itinerary must provide the location, arrival date of trailers, dates of operation, and a ride listing for all planned Saskatchewan venues. The itinerary should also include locations where trailer inspections may be performed prior to arriving in Saskatchewan if insufficient time is available to complete the required inspections described below. As venues and dates change, an updated itinerary must be submitted to TSASK.
Inspection Requirements
Fixed Location, Concession Go-Kart and Inflatable Amusement Rides
All inflatable amusement rides shall be inspected at the set-up stage. All fixed location rides shall be inspected at both set-up and while operational. All concession go-karts and tracks shall be inspected with the frame and safety equipment accessible and while operational.
Itinerant Rides
All itinerant amusement rides shall be inspected on the trailer prior to set-up, after set-up, and while operational.
Trailer inspections enable TSASK to inspect components that cannot be verified once the ride is assembled. Previously trailer inspections were completed on as many rides as possible during the arrival time before or during set-up. These trailer inspections are now mandatory for all rides prior to their initial set-up in the province. Contact TSASK to arrange sufficient time on arrival or to arrange trailer inspections prior to arriving in Saskatchewan.
Employees shall be trained and authorized by the ride owner or operator to erect or dismantle each ride or attraction. Training documents for these activities must be on file, maintained and available for review by TSASK.
Inspection Orders
All orders issued by TSASK following an inspection shall be corrected prior to the ride operation unless a specific time frame is provided to complete corrective actions addressing the orders. The amusement ride owner or operator shall document and log all corrective actions completed. TSASK may conduct follow-up ride inspections to verify that all or a portion of the orders were addressed and request documentation indicating the corrective actions were completed.
Licensing
All amusement rides are required to have a valid licence prior to operation. Licensing requirements include carrying liability insurance subject to the amounts required in the Regulations and having passed an inspection. Only after an inflatable or itinerant amusement ride has been inspected and licensed can it be moved to different locations within the province.