Accident: 170729495 - Falls While Dismantling Ferris Wheel

AT 10:50 P.M. ON OCTOBER 10, 1993, EMPLOYEE #1, THE FOREMAN, AND A CREW OF THREE WERE ATTEMPTING TO DISMANTLE THE PARATROOPER FERRIS WHEEL AT THE END OF A SHOW. THE WIND WAS GUSTING AND IT WAS RAINING. THE CARS ON THE RIDE STARTED TO MOVE UPWARDS AND EVERYONE RELEASED THEIR HOLD ON THE WHEEL EXCEPT FOR EMPLOYEE #1, WHO PANICKED, WAS RAISED TO THE TOP OF THE WHEEL, AND LOST HIS GRIP AS HE CAME DOWN THE OTHER WAY. EMPLOYEE #1 FELL APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET AND WAS RUSHED TO PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL IN GLENDORA.

fall, ferris wheel, high wind, dismantling

Accident: 788414 - Killed In Fall From Ferris Wheel

At approximately 1:50 p.m. on July 29, 1992, Employee #1 was one of two machine operators working on a Ferris wheel at the Washington County Fair. The second operator was controlling the Ferris wheel while Employee #1 was working on the exit platform. For some reason, the employee attempted to jump between two gondolas that were moving at full speed. His arms hooked over the side of the gondola, and he was lifted approximately 70 ft before the wheel reached a complete stop. He hung onto the gondola for a few seconds, then fell on top of the canopy of a gondola positioned directly beneath him. He slid off the canopy and fell to the ground. Emergency Medical Personnel pronounced the employee dead at the scene.

fall, ferris wheel, amusement ride, work rules

Accident: 170071583 - Injured When Caught Between Ferris Wheel Seats

Employee #1 was standing between two buckets/seats on the middle unit, dismantling a Wisdom Ferris wheel. The cock bar was in the wrong position, causing the wrong bucket to move. Employee #1 became caught between the moving and the stationary buckets, sustaining head and chest injuries. He had been working on Ferris wheels for more than 40 years and received training at least once a year.

ferris wheel, amusement ride, caught between, chest, head, dismantling, work rules, inattention

Accident: 14454680 - Killed In Fall Into Moving Ferris Wheel

Two employees were operating a double Ferris wheel at a carnival when the wheel's light began to flicker. One of the employees (Employee #1) said he was going to climb the fixed ladder and repair the light while the ride was operating. The coworker tried unsuccessfully to convince Employee #1 to wait until the ride was over. Employee #1 started to climb as the coworker activated the Ferris wheel. When he reached the top of the ladder, he tried to make the needed electrical repairs, but fell into the moving wheel. Employee #1 sustained crushing injuries to his right leg and chest, and lost consciousness; he died of his injuries. The ladder rose about 10.7 meters above the landing platform, but it was not equipped with a cage, ladder safety device, or work platform.

amusement ride, amuse park/carnival, repair, ferris wheel, lockout, fall, fall protection, work rules, crushed, work platform

Accident: 14480396 - Caught In Crossbars Of Ferris Wheel Being Set Up.

A FERRIS WHEEL WAS BEING SET UP. 5 SECTIONS OF THE APPARATUS HAD BEEN ASSEMBLED AT GROUND LEVEL AND RAISED IN ROTATION. THE FERRIS WHEEL RESEMBLED 5 SLICES OF A 12 SLICE PIE. EMPLOYEE #1 CAME BY AND NOTICED THAT SECTION 2 HAD STARTED TO CLOSE. HE NOTICED THAT A PIN HOLDING THE SECTION OPEN WAS MISSING. THE MISSING SCREW WAS CAUSING A SCISSORS-LIKE CLOSING OF THE SECTION. HE CLIMBED UP TO THE AREA AND TRIED TO MANUALLY REOPEN THE SECTION. HE WAS STANDING ON THE LOWER PORTION AND LIFTING THE UPPER PORTION DURING THIS ATTEMPT. THE UPPER CROSS BAR CAME DOWN AND CAUGHT HIM IN BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER BARS.

crushed, ferris wheel, metal rail