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The Australian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association (AALARA) has today issued a rebuttal to media reports of safety concerns described by SafeWork SA surrounding four rides excluded from the Royal Adelaide Show, due to the lack of double locks on their safety harnesses.

Explaining that safety is of the utmost importance to the industry and these false reports are damaging to operators and the industry, AALARA President Shane McGrath stated “these Class 5 rides do have primary and secondary double locking mechanisms installed and operating. They do not pose a public safety risk.

“The ride manufacturer has 400 of these devices operating successfully in Australia and the rest of the world without incident over the past 11 years. Unfortunately, the Restraint Clause which has led to improvement notices in the Australian Standard for Amusement Devices is not as prescriptive as it could be.

“At present AALARA is in the process of having the relevant Clause reviewed in an effort to ensure future misinterpretations of the clause do not occur and Safework SA can remain aligned with the rest of Australian and the global amusement industry.”

AALARA advocates for globally harmonised amusement ride safety standards to ensure Australia’s rides are manufactured, operated and maintained to the highest standards worldwide.

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