For small amusement facilities, accidents are no small matter.
In my mind, some things that attracted a lot of attention before include the swing machine "biting off" children's fingers and the inflatable castle being blown over by a gust of wind…
A series of injuries occurred.
The society is strongly concerned about the safety of small amusement facilities and children's playgrounds in public places, but media reports have always shown that there are no standards to supervise amusement parks in a "vacuum".
There are neither safety standards nor health standards, and there is almost a "blank" in terms of supervision.
Is it really?
Is it a large or small amusement facility?
Large amusement facilities can be managed in accordance with the "Special Equipment Safety Law" and "Special Equipment Safety Supervision Regulations".
The large rides included are:
The scope of facilities used for business purposes to carry passengers for amusement rides is defined as large-scale passenger amusement facilities with a designed maximum operating linear speed greater than or equal to 2m/s, or an operating height higher than or equal to 2m from the ground. Large-scale amusement facilities used for sports, theatrical performances and non-business activities are excluded.
In layman's terms, amusement equipment that is subject to mandatory supervision by the market supervision department must comply with two "2"s.
If an accident occurs, you must first make a judgment whether it is a large or small amusement ride.
If it is large, it shall be managed according to special equipment.
If it is small and not in the special equipment catalog, who will take care of it? How to manage?
Don't you care if it's a small one?
Small amusement facilities distributed in squares, amusement parks, supermarkets, and communities bring joy to children, but behind them are the worries of parents.
Some facilities have warnings for safe use in the factory instructions.
However, in actual operations, if management is not carried out in accordance with the requirements, safety hazards may easily arise.
For example, inflatable castles are not necessary to be fixed, and the fixed locks become decorations: some just press a few stones and sandbags, or tie a few ropes to a small tree nearby; or even do nothing and just sit quietly. Place the ground on level ground. Until it was blown away by the wind…
It is not ruled out that in order to avoid the two "2"s, some companies control the designed maximum operating linear speed at 1.9m/s, or control the operating height from the ground to 1.9m.
According to the "Special Equipment Safety Law", the market supervision department usually only supervises large-scale amusement equipment; according to the "Entertainment Venue Management Regulations", the cultural law enforcement department only has the responsibility to supervise game machines in indoor amusement places; the urban management department only supervises street amusement equipment. Monitor whether facilities occupy public space, disturb residents and pollute the environment.
There are potential safety hazards in small amusement facilities, how can they be ignored.
Small amusement facilities have national standards
It should be reminded that some media continue to use the term "small amusement facilities" without standard.
Quality Cloud has done its homework carefully and there are indeed standards. The "Safety Specifications for Small Amusement Facilities" (GB/T 34272-2017) was released in 2017 and implemented in 2018.
Standard number: GB/T 34272-2017 Chinese standard name: Safety specifications for small amusement facilities
Scope of application: Suitable for small amusement facilities for children aged 3 to 14 years old to play in public places.
(Standard preview screenshot)
GB/T 34272-2017 specifies the materials, safety requirements, test methods, markings, maintenance instructions and usage management of small amusement facilities.
The national standard also stipulates the management requirements for equipment users:
For example, the "Safety Specifications for Inflatable Amusement Facilities" puts forward a number of technical requirements such as risk assessment, walls, site requirements, number of players, emergency handling, and safety signs based on the characteristics of inflatable amusement facilities.
Inflatable rides should be equipped with an anchoring system or ballast system to enable them to be fixed to the ground; in general, anchor points should be evenly distributed along the perimeter of the inflatable ride.
Each anchor point and its components (such as anchor point ropes, webbing, metal accessories, piles, weights, etc.) of inflatable amusement facilities used outdoors should withstand a pulling force of at least 1600N; the direction of the force exerted by the anchoring system should be consistent with the ground. 30° to 45° included angle.
Specific standards can be found on the National Standard Information Public Service Platform.
If there are standards, who will supervise them?
Public opinion often easily identifies "lack of standards" as the cause of quality and safety problems.
However, all aspects of standard formulation need to be scientific and rigorous, and will not be all-inclusive. It may be difficult for the formulation of standards to meet actual needs and foreseeable needs.
Standards are always in a process of continuous improvement.
To avoid the lag in standards, we must first identify the regulatory authorities and propose regulatory requirements, and then let the regulatory authorities promote them, supplemented by the technical requirements of the standards, or better solutions.
Even if small amusement facilities have national standards, they will be placed in a situation where they cannot be enforced because of their recommended attributes.
If the laws and regulations are not clear and the regulatory authorities are not clear, it is impossible to substantially supervise and solve such safety problems.
Does it all rely on the consciousness of market entities? No!
The responsibilities and division of labor of regulatory authorities have been documented for reference.
In September 2019, the Office of the State Council Safety Committee issued the "Notice on Strengthening the Safety Supervision of Amusement Places and Amusement Facilities" (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"), pointing out that in some places, there are still safety responsibilities of management entities that have not been implemented, and amusement facilities have not been implemented. Problems such as irregular production and operation management, lack of supervision of small amusement facilities, and weak safety awareness of players have resulted in frequent safety accidents.
The "Notice" pointed out that all regions should combine the current safety situation and characteristics of amusement places and organize relevant departments to do a good job in safety supervision of amusement places according to the division of responsibilities.
Education, housing and urban-rural development, culture and tourism departments at all levels, as well as amusement park project approval departments, must follow the principles of "the management of the industry must manage safety, the management of business must manage safety, the management of production and operation must manage safety" and the "whose venue is responsible" According to the requirements, we must carry out the investigation and rectification of hidden safety risks in amusement places and recreational facilities within this industry.
Market supervision departments have effectively strengthened safety supervision of large-scale amusement facilities and improved safety standards for amusement facilities in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Cooperate with relevant departments to entrust relevant technical institutions to carry out technical services such as risk assessment, inspection and testing, and provide guidance and services for the safety management of small amusement facilities.
The emergency management department gave full play to the comprehensive coordination role of the Safety Committee Office and urged all regions and relevant departments to strengthen safety supervision of amusement places and recreational facilities.
Other relevant departments will cooperate in regulating market order in amusement places, cracking down on illegal activities, and educating and guiding public opinion.
Township and sub-districts shall strengthen the supervision and inspection of the safety production status of the operating and management entities of amusement places and recreational facilities within their respective administrative regions, and assist the relevant departments of the people's government at higher levels in fulfilling their safety supervision responsibilities in accordance with the law.
Who will manage the new facilities?
Recently, another facility had an accident.
A female graduate student born in the 1990s fell on a trampoline in a trampoline hall in Xuzhou and was paralyzed, which attracted public attention.
Is a trampoline a sports facility or a small amusement facility?
Does GB/T 34272-2017 apply?
Who will supervise?
Again, there is a lack of standards and lack of supervision.
It is hoped that there will be as few such “regulatory gaps” as possible.