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Safety warning after ride death Safety warning after ride death
(3 days later)
Theme parks and fairgrounds must ensure all staff are properly trained and supervised, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has insisted.Theme parks and fairgrounds must ensure all staff are properly trained and supervised, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has insisted.
It said the death of Hayley Williams, 16, who fell to her death from the Hydro Ride at Oakwood, Pembrokeshire, should be a warning to other parks.It said the death of Hayley Williams, 16, who fell to her death from the Hydro Ride at Oakwood, Pembrokeshire, should be a warning to other parks.
Oakwood Leisure Ltd was fined £250,000 on Thursday after admitting failing to ensure visitors' safety.Oakwood Leisure Ltd was fined £250,000 on Thursday after admitting failing to ensure visitors' safety.
Hayley, from Pontypool, Torfaen, was not properly restrained on the ride.Hayley, from Pontypool, Torfaen, was not properly restrained on the ride.
A judge at Swansea Crown Court said there had been a "failure on a massive scale" with the potential for serious injuries to a large number of people.A judge at Swansea Crown Court said there had been a "failure on a massive scale" with the potential for serious injuries to a large number of people.
The court heard staff had failed to ensure passengers were safely restrained on the high-speed ride.The court heard staff had failed to ensure passengers were safely restrained on the high-speed ride.
Fairgrounds, including theme parks, attract and entertain millions of people safely each year but regrettably accidents and incidents do still happen Phil Nicolle, HSE inspectorFairgrounds, including theme parks, attract and entertain millions of people safely each year but regrettably accidents and incidents do still happen Phil Nicolle, HSE inspector
CCTV footage showed 70.8% of passengers did not have their restraints tested on the day of the incident.CCTV footage showed 70.8% of passengers did not have their restraints tested on the day of the incident.
Judge Mr Justice Lloyd-Jones said: "This was a failure on a massive scale amounting to a grave breach of ensuring the public were not exposed to risks to their safety.Judge Mr Justice Lloyd-Jones said: "This was a failure on a massive scale amounting to a grave breach of ensuring the public were not exposed to risks to their safety.
"There was the potential of very serious injuries to a large number of people."There was the potential of very serious injuries to a large number of people.
"The heart of this matter lies in critical failures in the supervision and monitoring of staff carrying out their duty.""The heart of this matter lies in critical failures in the supervision and monitoring of staff carrying out their duty."
Following the case, the HSE said the majority of accidents at theme parks and fairgrounds were down to "management failings" as was the case with Oakwood.Following the case, the HSE said the majority of accidents at theme parks and fairgrounds were down to "management failings" as was the case with Oakwood.
Hayley Williams died while on a trip to Oakwood with her parents and sisterHayley Williams died while on a trip to Oakwood with her parents and sister
HSE inspector Phil Nicolle said: "This tragic case should serve as a warning to all fairground operators that safety must be their top priority.HSE inspector Phil Nicolle said: "This tragic case should serve as a warning to all fairground operators that safety must be their top priority.
"Fairgrounds, including theme parks, attract and entertain millions of people safely each year but regrettably accidents and incidents do still happen."Fairgrounds, including theme parks, attract and entertain millions of people safely each year but regrettably accidents and incidents do still happen.
"Yet the majority of incidents are, as in this case, caused by management failings."Yet the majority of incidents are, as in this case, caused by management failings.
"Our investigation showed that there were systematic failures by Oakwood Leisure Ltd to ensure their staff were properly trained and supervised to make sure they were following the basic safety procedures which are essential for rides like the Hydro.""Our investigation showed that there were systematic failures by Oakwood Leisure Ltd to ensure their staff were properly trained and supervised to make sure they were following the basic safety procedures which are essential for rides like the Hydro."
He added: "No death or serious injury at a fairground or theme park is acceptable and proper controls of hazards are essential."He added: "No death or serious injury at a fairground or theme park is acceptable and proper controls of hazards are essential."
Proper training schemeProper training scheme
The charge against Oakwood Leisure, who must also pay £80,000 costs, was brought under the Health and Safety Act 1974 by the Pembrokeshire office of the Health and Safety Executive.The charge against Oakwood Leisure, who must also pay £80,000 costs, was brought under the Health and Safety Act 1974 by the Pembrokeshire office of the Health and Safety Executive.
The prosecution acknowledged that Oakwood Leisure did have a proper training scheme in place for staff staff overseeing rides. The prosecution acknowledged that Oakwood Leisure did have a proper training scheme in place for staff overseeing rides.
They were instructed to push down on the Hydro's T-bar restraint and pull up on the seatbelt to make sure both were properly fastened.They were instructed to push down on the Hydro's T-bar restraint and pull up on the seatbelt to make sure both were properly fastened.
But the company did not have a way of checking that staff properly carried out their instructions, and this only became apparent when CCTV film of the ride was analysed in the safety investigation.But the company did not have a way of checking that staff properly carried out their instructions, and this only became apparent when CCTV film of the ride was analysed in the safety investigation.
After the hearing, her father Alan read a statement and said Oakwood Leisure's £250,000 fine was "derisory".After the hearing, her father Alan read a statement and said Oakwood Leisure's £250,000 fine was "derisory".
"If it had been £1bn it would not be enough," he said."If it had been £1bn it would not be enough," he said.
Sunday school teacher Hayley had been taken to Oakwood as a treat along with her sister Hannah by their parents Alan and Beverley in April 2004.Sunday school teacher Hayley had been taken to Oakwood as a treat along with her sister Hannah by their parents Alan and Beverley in April 2004.
She died after falling from the 121ft (36.9m) tall rollercoaster at its highest point.She died after falling from the 121ft (36.9m) tall rollercoaster at its highest point.