Amusement Rides & Devices Consultation Summary Report
Consultation Summary
Industry and public consultation on proposed changes to amusement ride regulations was carried out from July 17 – September 30, 2019. During this time Technical Safety BC engaged with over 800 stakeholders including facility owners and operators, industry associations, interest groups, municipalities and members of the public. This summary outlines the consultation activities that took place, as well as a summary of the input and feedback received through the various engagement channels.
Currently, amusement devices that fall under Technical Safety BC’s jurisdiction of installation and operation include a range of rides and equipment, such as roller coasters, waterslides, zip-lines, some inflatable play equipment, and train rides. However, a range of amusement devices are not currently subject to regulation including bungee devices, go-karts, ropes challenge courses, and indoor sky diving. As technologies change and new devices come onto the market, safety regulation needs to thoughtfully adapt to address risk and ensure public safety. With this in mind, Technical Safety BC is proposing changes to the current regulations around existing devices, as well as reviewing new, emerging and currently unregulated amusement devices.
Participation & Engagement Activities
Industry Engagement Activities
| Method | Intended audience | Participants/Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Site visits | Facility owners/operators in the Lower Mainland, Northern, Island and Interior regions | 18 |
| Webinars | Facility owners/operators from across the province | 41 |
| Meetings (in-person and by phone) | Industry associations, municipalities and interest groups | 7 |
| Focus Group | Owners and operators of major rides (fair rides), inflatables, waterslides, ropes challenge and zipline courses, ninja gym | 19 |
| Online survey | Facility owners/operators | 72 |
Public Engagement Activities
| Method | Intended audience | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Online survey | Members of the public, parents and patrons | 570 |
| Alberni District Fall Fair | Members of the public, parents and patrons | 300 |
| Hastings Community Center Open House | Members of the public, parents and patrons | 12 |
| Point Grey Fall Festival | Members of the public, parents and patrons | 60 |
Industry Participant Demographics
Over 50% of survey respondents self-identified as owning/operating challenge courses.
Industry Feedback Received
How supportive are you of the proposed amusement rides and devices regulatory changes? Please rate your level of support.
| Value | Percent | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Very unsupportive | 36.6% | 26 |
| Unsupportive | 14.1% | 10 |
| Neutral | 18.3% | 13 |
| Supportive | 22.5% | 16 |
| Very supportive | 8.5% | 6 |
| Totals | 71 |
How long would it take for your business to be able to meet the requirements of these changes?
|
Value |
Percent |
Count |
|---|---|---|
|
Less than 1 year |
30.6% |
19 |
|
1 year |
32.3% |
20 |
|
2 years |
16.1% |
10 |
|
3+ years |
21.0% |
13 |
|
|
Totals |
62 |
Public Feedback Received
Based on your knowledge, do you agree that further regulations are needed around the amusement ride industry in BC?
|
Value |
Percent |
Count |
|---|---|---|
|
Strongly agree |
47.4% |
269 |
|
Agree |
34.0% |
193 |
|
Neutral |
10.6% |
60 |
|
Disagree |
4.1% |
23 |
|
Strongly disagree |
3.9% |
22 |
|
|
Totals |
567 |
If regulatory changes result in higher operational costs, what percentage increase would you be willing to pay for your entrance fee?
|
Value |
Percent |
Count |
|---|---|---|
|
I would not be willing to pay more for this increased measure of safety |
20.2% |
114 |
|
I would be willing to pay a 5% increase |
19.4% |
109 |
|
I would be willing to pay a 10% increase |
31.4% |
177 |
|
I would be willing to pay a 50% increase |
6.4% |
36 |
|
Any price to ensure all aspects of rides are regulated |
22.6% |
127 |
|
|
Totals |
563 |
Key Themes – Industry Engagement
-
Some stakeholders expressed support for the concept of a “level playing field” which they believe would result from the proposed changes. Currently, those facilities which operate under regulation may be at a competitive disadvantage compared with facilities who are not required to follow the same rules and regulations.
-
Some stakeholders noted that voluntary industry standards currently exist which they feel provide sufficient safety oversight and guidance. These stakeholders see the proposed changes as redundant.
-
Concerns around the potential costs of the proposed regulation were raised 30 times in the industry survey (out of 72 total responses). This was also a central theme across all the feedback received through meetings, site visits and phone conversations with stakeholders. “Not-for-profit camps operate with very small margins and changing the regulatory and standards environment may be a more significant financial challenge then they can accept.”
Key Themes – Public Engagement
-
Members of the public were generally surprised to learn that rides and devices including go-karts and bungee devices were not currently regulated in BC.
-
Technical Safety BC heard strong support from the public for the proposed changes.
-
Members of the public who expressed disagreement with the proposed regulatory changes noted a general aversion to “government oversight” and associated costs.
Next Steps
Technical Safety BC will submit a Request for Amendment to the provincial government by December 31, 2019 which will include a summary of the input received through consultation. While Technical Safety BC will recommend potential regulation changes around amusement rides, the provincial government will ultimately decide whether regulatory changes will be introduced, and if so, how the industry would be regulated.
Attachments
Verbatim feedback – industry
Verbatim feedback – public