Ошибки оператора привели к инциденту на аттракционе в штате Теннесси

Operator error caused Wilson County fair ride incident, state investigation finds WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tennessee officials say operator error caused the Wave Swinger incident at the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair after an operator lowered the ride before it had stopped rotating. The incident affected nine riders and sent four people to the hospital. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development told FOX 17 News that after consulting with Reithoffer Shows and a third-party inspector, the department determined the incident was caused by operator error rather than a mechanical malfunction. New inspection documents provide additional details about what investigators say happened. ORIGINAL COVERAGE | 4 hospitalized after ride incident at Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair According to a report from Worldwide Safety Group, the operator activated the ride’s emergency stop, or E-stop, then switched the Wave Swinger back to manual mode and began lowering it before the ride had stopped rotating. The inspector said the manufacturer’s manual includes procedures for lowering the ride and that the operator did not follow those procedures or wait for the ride to stop rotating. “So, the operator did not perform his duties properly,” Worldwide Safety Group President Avery L. Wheelock wrote in an Aug. 20 letter to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Wheelock said investigators initially did not have all of the information about what happened. After speaking with the operator, the inspector learned the ride had not lowered automatically. Instead, according to the letter, the operator manually lowered it. A separate post-accident inspection summary also states that investigators determined the operator hit the E-stop and lowered the ride before the end of its swing cycle. The third-party inspector said an associate reinspected the Wave Swinger after the incident and found it safe to operate. The letter also states that the operator involved in the incident would no longer operate the Wave Swinger and that operators who would continue running the ride received additional training. Wheelock wrote that, after the additional inspection and learning of those changes, he was comfortable with the ride returning to operation. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development ultimately determines whether amusement rides can operate in the state. Because no mechanical malfunction was identified, the department issued a business resumption letter Aug. 21 allowing the Wave Swinger to reopen at the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair. The department said it received inspection information and a letter from Worldwide Safety Group determining the ride was safe and operable. “Our goal is not to delay business operations but to verify that amusement devices are safe and operable and to protect Tennessee citizens and visitors from harm,” the department wrote in its resumption letter. The incident happened while riders were aboard the Wave Swinger as the ride was coming to a stop. Video previously shared with FOX 17 News showed riders lifting their legs as their swings approached a perimeter fence. Ava Zotti, who was riding with her friend Ella Scott, previously told FOX 17 News that riders began realizing how close they were getting to the fence as the ride descended. “I kept yelling to my friend Ella Scott, who was just in front of me, that I felt like we were getting too close,” Zotti said. “Then in the video you can see we all had to start lifting our legs to avoid it.” PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Rider recounts frightening moments during Wilson County fair ride incident Zotti said her shoe briefly became caught as she tried to push herself away from the railing. According to Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair officials, nine guests were affected. Five were treated and released at the fairgrounds, while four were taken to a hospital for further evaluation. All four hospitalized guests were later released. Fair officials previously said a state inspector examined the ride and found no mechanical abnormality. State officials now say the incident was caused by operator error, specifically the operator lowering the ride before it stopped rotating. The Wave Swinger was cleared to return to service Aug. 21.