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Jim Seay, president of Premier Rides, Inc., has been re-elected as Chairman of ASTM Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices. The 500-member committee is responsible for global safety standards that cover design, manufacturing, maintenance, inspection, and operations for traditional amusement rides, water-related rides and devices, and special rides and attractions.
A third-time chairman of F24, Seay has been an ASTM International member since 1989. He is an active contributing member of Committee F24 and serves on several subcommittees. “I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to lead the F24 committee as we advance the development of a globally-accepted set of safety standards,” said Seay.
“I have been incredibly fortunate to be part of a passionate committee that volunteers literally thousands of hours year-round to develop and refine F24 standards to ensure the amusement industry has the most comprehensive standards available that can easily be adopted anywhere in the world and, in many cases, at virtually no cost,” Seay continued. “F24 standards are now accessible in French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese as a result of translation initiatives. This past year has seen ASTM standards expanding from one end of the globe to the other in places like Australia and Colombia.”
Seay’s term will run for two years. “One of the key focuses over the next two years will be to raise communication amongst those that are passionate about safety to the highest level. ASTM already provides advanced online tools such as online collaboration and balloting to make the committee environment a 365-days-a-year experience. The plan is to enhance member communication with social media updates, allowing real-time input on member activities. Doing so allows ASTM to focus on areas of the globe where the adoption of safety standards can have the biggest impact ".
Len Morrissey, director of ASTM committee operations, expounded, “A highlight of the past year’s global efforts has certainly been the development of a highly portable standards model. Canada, working with many volunteers in the harmonization subcommittee, was the first to implement a country-specific standards model. Going forward, this model can be applied to any country in the world since it allows for both the adoption of F24 and the recognition of country-specific requirements.”
Seay, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, began his career as a project engineer at Hughes Aircraft. He joined the staff at Six Flags Theme Parks in 1988 as corporate engineering manager, focusing specifically on guest safety. He joined Baltimore-based Premier Rides, Inc. in 1995 as Executive Vice President of Engineering. The following year he became the sole owner and president of Premier. A designer and manufacturer of roller coasters and other amusement rides and attractions, Premier Rides, Inc. has worked with some of the largest theme park companies around the world, including Universal Studios and Disney.
In addition to ASTM International, Seay serves as board member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA); Amusement Industry Manufacturers and Suppliers International (AIMS); the Living Classrooms Foundation, the Mario Do-Right Foundation, and the National Aquarium.
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CORPORATE | NewsParcs - Published on January 28, 2014
Our Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a round-up of the latest news relative to companies supplying the theme park industry around the world. This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, financial ...
The NewsParcs' Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a round-up of the latest news relative to companies supplying the theme park industry around the world. This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, ...
Our Industry Roundup is a summary of the latest major news related to the theme park industry worldwide. We report news specifically on operators, owners, trade associations and related organizations, including trends, attendance...