Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Darwin carnival ride operator charged
An amusement ride operator could be fined $1.2 million after the metal arm of a sideshow alley ride allegedly crashed to the ground, injuring two people.
May 17, 2021
An amusement ride operator could be fined $1.2 million after the metal arm of a sideshow alley ride allegedly crashed to the ground, injuring two people.
NT WorkSafe on Monday charged the carnival ride operator Tyrone Troy Taylor with four breaches of the Work Health and Safety Act over the incident at Darwin’s Freds Pass Show in 2019.
The workplace safety organisation said its investigation found that a tension arm on the Octopus ride broke, causing the sweep arm to buckle and the attached gondola to crash to the ground, injuring both passengers.
Numerous alleged defects on the sweep arms and tension rods compromised their structural integrity, while the investigation also found the ride’s brakes were faulty due to lack of maintenance and repair, NT WorkSafe said.
NT WorkSafe will allege that supplying and operating the Octopus ride with the defects was inherently dangerous and put the workers, passengers and other people at risk of death or serious injury.
Taylor faces two charges for failing to ensure the health and safety of the two injured passengers, and a further two charges for failing to ensure the health and safety of the two workers who operated the ride.
If found guilty of all four charges, he could be fined a combined maximum penalty of $1.2 million.
The matter is listed for mention in the Darwin Local Court on June 24.