Syracuse,
NY – August 2014 / Newsmaker Alert / The New York State Departments
of Labor and the State Agriculture
and Markets today reminded those attending the 2014
Great New York State Fair to be safe as they explore the more than
60 exciting rides this year at the new Wade Shows Midway.
“With our new partner Wade
Shows, this year’s fair promises a wide range of entertainment for all
fairgoers,” said State Labor Commissioner Peter M. Rivera. “Ride inspectors
and operators are also working to ensure the highest level of safety on
rides.”
“We have a new Midway operator
at the 2014 Fair, and that in itself is very exciting as Wade Shows will
be bringing some of the greatest thrill rides in the country to Syracuse,”
said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “We are leaving
nothing to chance at this year’s Fair when it comes to the safety of fairgoers
on the Midway. Working in tandem with our partners at the Department
of Labor, we have great procedures in place to protect amusement riders
and ensure the safety of fairgoers throughout the 12-day Fair.”
State inspectors enforce
amusement ride safety measures at events across New York including the
State Fair. In addition to the daily work to ensure ride safety performed
by State inspectors, the Great New York State Fair annually utilizes the
services of an independent inspector from Compseq out of an abundance of
caution for the safety of fairgoers. Also, this year the Fair’s new
Midway operator, Wade Shows, will employ Wagner Consulting to perform independent
inspections of the Midway rides throughout the 12 day Fair.
The Department of Labor inspects
all rides at Fairs across New York State before they are set up for structural
issues, after they are set up for assembly, and daily when they are in
operation.
In March 2013, the Department
of Agriculture and Markets announced that Wade Shows was selected as the
newest operator of the Midway at the Great New York State Fair. Wade
was selected after an extensive Request for Proposals (RFP) process that
began in the summer of 2013.
“Producing the best midway
in the country for the Great New York State Fair involves not only bringing
a spectacular array of rides and attractions but also a deep commitment
to the safety of our midway guests,” said Frank Zaitshik, president of
Wade Shows.
Inspectors offered these
guidelines for parents and riders to follow in order to avoid injury:
-
Listen to the ride operator’s
instructions.
-
Read and follow posted warnings
and instructions.
-
Keep hands and feet inside the
ride while it is moving.
-
Don’t reach toward fences or
barriers.
-
Secure loose clothing and long
hair.
-
Don’t drink and ride.
-
Don’t stand or attempt to leave
a ride until it comes to a complete stop.
-
Check restraining devices to
make sure they are properly latched.
-
Avoid horseplay.
-
Never attempt to unlock or loosen
a restraining device until instructed by the operator.
For Parents with Children:
-
Don’t assume a ride is safe
for children if you hold onto them.
-
Parents should never ride go-carts
or bumper cars with children on their laps.
-
Observe age, height and weight
restrictions.
-
Talk to children so they know
what to expect of the ride.
-
If your child gets scared, ask
(if possible) that the ride be stopped.
-
If your child is afraid of the
ride, it’s probably best not to put her or him on it.
-
Not all rides are appropriate
for all children, even if they do meet the height requirements.
-
Water rides require additional
attention.
-
Walk, don’t run, on pool decks
and surroundings.
Among the new rides at this
year’s fair:
-
The RC-48 roller coaster, which
will be the largest roller coaster ever to appear at the Fair. Wade Shows
owns the two largest traveling coasters in America and the RC-48 is one
of them.
-
The Crazy Mouse roller coaster,
which adds a spinning seat to the thrills of going up and down the coaster
rails.
-
The Enterprise, a spinning,
tilting kind of Ferris wheel that falls into the super-spectacular category
and which will mark a return of the ride to the Fair.
-
Mega Drop, the world’s largest
portable drop tower.
-
Two Kiddielands, one of which
will include Wade’s newest ride for younger thrillseekers, Charlie Copter.
Ride safety is achieved when
inspectors check the rides, operators follow manufacturers’ guidelines
and riders follow the posted rules.
The New York State Fair,
operated by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from Aug. 21
to Sept. 1, 2014.
This year, the Midway for
the first time will offer ride-all-day wristbands every day of the Fair.
Advance sale wristbands are priced at $20, providing a $5 savings over
regular weekday prices and $10 over weekend prices. Fairgoers who plan
to spend four days or more at the Midway can save even more by buying the
$70 Mega Pass, which is good every day of the Fair.
Wade Shows will offer free
rides from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on opening day, August 21.
The Department of Labor’s
ride safety web site www.ridesafeny.com
offers parents and children helpful tips on ride safety. The site also
makes it simple to e-mail the agency to report unsafe conditions.
For more information about
the Great New York State Fair, visit www.nysfair.org.
Media Contacts:
Joe
Morrissey
Public Information Officer
NYS Department of Agriculture
& Markets
518-457-0752
Dave
Bullard
Public Relations
New York State Fair
315-487-7711 x 1377 |