What are the UK's safety standards for fairgrounds?
As is the case with every business, it is our responsibility to ensure a high safety standard and do everything we can to ensure the wellbeing of you, your guests, our staff and anyone else who may be affected by our operations. This is a continual job at We Are Tricycle because of the nature of our products; funfair rides need to be regularly checked over by professional mechanics in much the same way as motor vehicles, and staff training levels need to be high.
We need to have plenty of things in place to legally operate, including:
- Risk assessments
- Health and safety policies
- Access to health and safety advice
- Staff training in controlling risks
- Ongoing staff consultations
- Supervision
- Suitable equipment
- And much more.
The objectives of the health and safety standards are similar to those in other sectors; we aim to eliminate or control risks 'as far as reasonably practicable'. This involves planning your funfair rides and appointing the right people at your event so we know everything is in place for an effective order.
Maintaining health and safety at funfairs and large events
One of the biggest and most rigorous parts of the work We Are Tricycle does is keeping on top of funfair health and safety. Each item has to be declared safe and pass strict standards before it can be hired out and operated.
We understand anxieties over safety when it comes to high octane rides and free form activities like thrill rides and mobile climbing walls, but let us assure you that it is our duty to take every measure and think of every possible outcome we need to protect against. We know how safe certain attractions are and you’d be surprised, traveling to a funfair is in fact a lot riskier than the fairground itself.
Funfair ride operators should also adhere to schemes such as the Amusement Device Inspection Procedure Scheme (ADIPS). It is a national scheme that every amusement must pass to legally operate, quite like an MOT for a car. At We Are Tricycle our guarantee is that every item has an up to date ADIPS certificate which can be presented to you. Keeping guests safe is a top priority as if they’re not safe they’re not having fun which is what funfairs are all about.
On top of this our staff are well trained in things like crowd control and procedures for things like adverse weather. Having eyes and ears like this on the safety of your event means you can relax and enjoy the day.
With our maintenance checks, trained staff and ADIPS passed rides you can have peace of mind, safe in the knowledge that nothing has been overlooked when you book with We Are Tricycle.
Please read our health and safety FAQs to find out more.
Understanding the Rules Behind a Safe UK Funfair
UK fairground safety is not based on one rule, one certificate or one inspection. It is a combination of legal duties, industry procedures, competent inspection, maintenance, safe operation and sensible event management. If you have reached this page because you are researching standards before booking fairground rides, there are several related guides that explain the individual parts of that system in more detail.
A useful next step is What is the ADIPS scheme?, which looks at an important inspection framework for amusement devices. You can then read How Funfair Rides are Tested for Safety for a broader explanation of ride testing, or move into the more technical subject of Non-destructive Testing of Funfair Rides.
Inspection Standards Continue Throughout a Ride's Working Life
Safety standards do not cease to matter once a ride has passed a periodic inspection. Mobile amusement devices are transported between sites, assembled, operated, dismantled and moved again, sometimes many times during a busy season. Ongoing maintenance and operational checks therefore form an important part of responsible ride management.
Our guides to Funfair Ride Periodic Maintenance and Daily Safety Checks for Funfair Rides examine these different layers. For another technical aspect, Fairground Electrical Safety Regulations looks specifically at the electrical systems and considerations associated with fairground equipment.
This applies throughout the ride range, whether an event includes carousels, Ferris wheels, dodgems, roller coasters or thrill and white knuckle funfair rides. Different amusement devices have different designs and operating characteristics, so safety requirements have to be considered in relation to the individual equipment rather than reduced to a generic checklist.
From Engineering Standards to Safe Event Operation
The condition of the ride is only one part of the picture. Once an attraction reaches an event site, correct positioning, setup and operation become equally important. Funfair Ride Set Up and Tear Down Procedures explains the process surrounding installation, while How to Safely Load Funfair Rides considers the point at which passengers actually enter and leave the attraction.
Site planning also matters. Organisers may need to think about pedestrian movement, queues, access routes and the relationship between rides and surrounding activities. Our guidance on How to Place Funfair Rides Around the Site, How to Manage Queues at Funfairs and How to Use Crowd Barrier Fencing at Events covers these practical considerations.
Restrictions Are Part of the Safety System Too
Rules concerning who may use a ride are sometimes mistakenly treated as inconveniences, but appropriate restrictions are another part of safe amusement ride operation. Height, physical suitability and other ride-specific requirements can determine whether an attraction is appropriate for an individual guest.
Read Why Do Some Funfair Rides Have Height Restrictions? for an explanation of height requirements, while Funfair Ride Health Restrictions and the Equality Act explores a more complex area involving access and individual suitability. Refusing Access to Funfair Rides also explains why an operator may sometimes need to prevent somebody from riding.
These considerations can be particularly relevant when creating mixed-age events containing children's fairground rides and attractions, family funfair attractions and rides and larger adult attractions on the same site.
Weather Can Change What Is Safe on the Day
Safety standards also have to be applied to the conditions actually present at an event. An attraction that is suitable to operate in one set of conditions may need a different response if weather deteriorates.
Our How to Prepare Funfairs for Adverse Weather guide looks at planning before the event, while How to Keep Funfair Rides Safe in Windy Conditions concentrates on wind. Organisers concerned about wet conditions can also read the Rainy Weather FAQs.
Safety Information for People Hiring a Funfair
Event organisers do not need to become engineers or amusement-device inspectors, but understanding the basics makes it easier to work with professional suppliers and ask the right questions. This can be especially useful for council and local authority events, school events, company fun days and corporate events, charity events and large public celebrations.
For practical information about our own approach, see How We Are Tricycle Protects Your Health And Safety. You can also visit Are Fairground Rides Safe? for a broader introduction, or browse our Funfair Testing FAQs for answers to common questions about inspection and testing.
Continue Reading Our Fairground Safety Guides
There is much more to fairground safety than can sensibly fit onto a single page. Our Guides section brings together technical information, event-planning advice, ride explanations and operational guidance, while the Health and Safety FAQs provide quick answers to common questions. If you are planning an event and want to discuss suitable rides, site requirements or operational arrangements, you can also contact our team.