NewsParcs is an online trade publication dedicated to theme park industry professionals worldwide.
Since 1998, we work in direct contact with manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, owners and operators to publish only reliable and relevant information.
NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
Follow us on Twitter (@NewsParcs) from November 19 to 22 with the hashtag #IAAPA
Jim Seay, president of attractions supplier Premier Rides and chairman of global safety standards group ASTM Committee F24, delivered the kick-off presentation at the 2012 International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Safety Institute during the annual Asian Attractions Expo last week. The trade conference, held this year at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, attracted over 5,000 registrants from around the world.
Seay’s presentation was part of an all day IAAPA educational program that brings experienced professionals from around the world to various global locations to deliver a concentrated program on many aspects of safety in the amusement industry. Before an audience of several hundred conference attendees, Seay highlighted independent third-party data that strongly demonstrates the industry’s impressive record of safety; at the same time he noted that the dramatic growth in new markets, combined with the innovative nature of the amusement industry, requires further vigilance and detailed attention to the safety process.
Seay discussed the most recent TEA/AECOM Global Attractions Attendance Report, which noted the Asia region is poised to surpass the North American market to be the world leader in theme park attendance. Seay emphasized several Asia-based examples, including the global debut of Transformers: The Ride, located at Universal Studios Singapore, which showcases the latest innovations in the attractions industry. He noted that going forward, Asia will likely be a leader in the creative development of new attractions, each with their own unique safety implications.
Seay presented a model that allows manufacturers and operators of all sizes the opportunity to emulate the Gold Standard formulas for safe and successful ride development used by large destination resort entities like Universal and Disney. The model relies on transparent communication between the ride manufacturer and the operator; emphasizes a conservative, multiphase design approach that is backed by globally accepted safety standards like those of ASTM F24 and EuroNorm; and incorporates a very independent third-party review of both the design and manufacturing phases.
The current environment for safety standards use in Asia was reviewed; Seay discussed the disparate nature of the region: some locations, such as Hong Kong and Singapore, have globally-respected regulatory efforts mandating conformance to ASTM standards; other countries in the region have either non-consensus standards or very limited to no oversight. Seay strongly recommended that in order to enhance safety in the amusement attractions industry, all countries within the region should emulate Hong Kong and Singapore’s strong emphasis on safety in their regulatory language. Seay remarked, “With ASTM F24 standards meeting the WTO guidelines that define international standards acceptable for global use, the ASTM process is one that any country in the world can use to expeditiously include globally-recognized standards in their code. Additionally, the very low cost of entry, at virtually no cost for developing nations, makes the model very appealing.” ASTM’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) program, which was developed to support the WTO’s Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement, aiming to remove financial and institutional barriers in order to promote standards development activities in developing countries, was explained to attendees.
Seay illustrated that participation in the standards development process and access to established safety standards are essential to the wellbeing of both consumers and the attractions industry alike. He concluded his presentation by demonstrating the rapid safety standard development process that ASTM has established to react efficiently to innovative products that are being quickly introduced to consumers, such as zip lines and trampoline courts. A key facilitator to this collaborative global effort is ASTM’s WebEx technology, which allows web-based stakeholder participation from around the world at virtually no cost. Seay’s final words were a rallying cry to participate in the safety effort and to be passionate about the process.
For more information, please visit Premier Rides' website or check out our newsfeed (see below)
NewsParcs' Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a review of the latest news and releases of companies supplying the theme park industry worldwide. This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, ...
NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 in Orlando to have a look at the latest trends and developments of the global theme park industry.
Seay’s presentation was part of an all day IAAPA educational program that brings experienced professionals from around the world to various global locations to deliver a concentrated program on many aspects of safety in the amusement industry. Before an audience of several hundred conference attendees, Seay highlighted independent third-party data that strongly demonstrates the industry’s impressive record of safety; at the same time he noted that the dramatic growth in new markets, combined with the innovative nature of the amusement industry, requires further vigilance and detailed attention to the safety process. 
