What to do in a Funfair Emergency
Emergencies are something that is every event planner's worst nightmare, so the temptation is to try not to think about it. However while this is the easy option we all know that it’s not the best - accidents and emergencies caused by fairground rides are rare, but general emergencies when you have a lot of people gathered together are less so. You need to be prepared and ready to deal with an emergency when it arises, being prepared is the difference between a minor incident becoming a major one and it’s very simple to do.
Here We Are Tricycle have compiled a simple guide of a few precautions you can take so in the unlikely event of an emergency you can deal with it efficiently and safely. Check out more funfair safety FAQs for additional advice.
An emergency is an emergency no matter what the cause is so you must look at all potential hazards at your event and this includes the human factor.
Factors include:
- Funfair Ride malfunctions
- Adverse weather
- Fire
- Public behaviour
It must also be considered that an initial incident can have a knock on effect and cause further incidents, for example a fire can cause people panic, and a second incident can be caused if people don’t have a clear path out. Therefore an evacuation plan and procedures must be top of your safety list, so you can safely and quickly clear large amounts of people and so professionals can attend to the scene.
Organisers need to think about the circumstances of the individuals directly and indirectly involved in the incident.
- Mobility and disability issues
- Distressed individuals
- Youngsters who could be displaced
All need an option to safety if an incident occurs and the best way to do this is have a clear pathway with demarcation from crowd barriers, and have your staff trained in directing people through it. Not only must it be clear and quick for people but emergency vehicles and maintenance vehicles must be able to travel swiftly down them.
Different parts of your event will have different footfalls so rather than spread out staff evenly it’s a better idea to concentrate them in areas that are likely to be busier. Do this by looking at where funfair attractions that are likely to cause footfall have been placed and place your staff accordingly. It’s also key that all staff must have a direct way of contacting different sides of the event in case of an incident.
No one wants to think about an emergency happening but with evacuation procedures in place and strategically placed trained staff throughout your event you have set it up to be ready for an incident.
We Are Tricycle delivers safe funfair hire, with risk assessments, method statements and full insurance. Contact us for more information.
When Something Goes Wrong, Clear Actions Matter
Most funfair visits pass without serious incident, but any large public event should still have a plan for the unexpected. An emergency may involve a medical incident, severe weather, fire, loss of power, a problem affecting an attraction, crowd congestion or another situation that requires normal activity to be interrupted.
The important principle is not to improvise unnecessarily. Operators, event staff and organisers should work within the procedures established for the event, while visitors should follow instructions from the people managing the situation. Our Funfair Emergency Planning and Crisis Management guide looks at the preparation that should happen before an event opens, while this page focuses more closely on what happens once an incident is underway.
Stop Normal Activity Where Necessary
An emergency may require one attraction, one section of the site or the wider event to stop operating. That does not necessarily mean every ride must be shut down for every incident, but affected areas should not continue as normal simply because queues have formed or guests are waiting.
Ride operators are responsible for the attractions under their control and may need to stop a cycle, delay loading or keep passengers in position temporarily while the situation is assessed. What Causes a Funfair Ride to Stop? explains why amusement rides can pause for many different reasons and why a stop should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a mechanical failure.
Passengers Should Follow the Ride Operator's Instructions
If an attraction stops while people are riding, passengers should normally remain in the intended riding position unless instructed otherwise. Attempting to climb out of a carriage, release a restraint or leave an elevated attraction independently can create additional hazards.
This is particularly important on roller coasters, Ferris wheels, Chair O Planes and other attractions where passengers may be above ground level or in moving components.
Our How to Safely Load Funfair Rides guide explains the passenger cycle from boarding through to unloading, while How to Stay Safe on Roller Coasters provides more ride-specific passenger guidance.
Give Emergency Services a Clear Route onto the Site
Large events can contain rides, catering units, generators, queues, temporary structures and thousands of pedestrians. Emergency access therefore needs to be considered before an incident occurs.
Crowd fencing, stalls or waiting lines should not inadvertently block routes that may be needed by emergency personnel. How to Use Crowd Barrier Fencing at Events looks at creating public and operational boundaries, while How to Place Funfair Rides Around the Site considers the wider relationship between attractions and site access.
Keep Spectators Away from the Incident Area
When something unusual happens, people naturally stop to look. At a busy funfair this can quickly create a secondary crowd around the very area staff need to reach.
Organisers may therefore need to redirect pedestrian movement, temporarily close a walkway or move waiting guests away from an affected attraction. Clear instructions and appropriately positioned crowd barrier fences can help prevent spectators from interfering with the response.
For broader advice about visitor movement, see How to Manage Queues at Funfairs.
Medical Incidents May Have Nothing to Do with the Ride
Not every funfair emergency originates with amusement equipment. A visitor could become ill, suffer a fall, experience heat-related symptoms or require medical assistance while walking around the event.
This is one reason emergency planning needs to cover the whole site rather than focusing only on fairground rides. Our Common Factors in Funfair Injuries discusses the wide range of circumstances that can contribute to incidents at fairgrounds.
Know How to Communicate During an Incident
Conflicting instructions can make an emergency harder to manage. Event organisers should know who is responsible for coordinating the response, how operators can contact the appropriate event personnel and how information will be communicated to guests if part of the site needs to close.
At council and local authority events, festivals, music, arts and cultural events and other large public gatherings, this may involve several organisations working together. Communication arrangements should therefore be considered during the planning process rather than invented after something has happened.
Bad Weather Can Become an Operational Emergency
The event may begin in good conditions and change substantially later in the day. Strong winds, lightning, heavy rain or other severe weather can require attractions or parts of the event to close.
Our How to Prepare Funfairs for Adverse Weather guide looks at advance planning, while How to Keep Funfair Rides Safe in Windy Conditions focuses on wind-related operation. Rainy Weather FAQs provides additional information for wet conditions.
The important point is that commercial pressure or a busy queue should never be the reason to continue an activity when conditions require another response.
Power Loss Needs an Orderly Response
A loss of electrical power may affect a single attraction or a wider section of an event site. Depending on the equipment involved, operators may have procedures for safely managing passengers and assessing the attraction before normal use resumes.
Visitors should remain patient and follow staff instructions rather than attempting to intervene themselves. For more information about the technical side, see How Are Funfair Rides Powered? and Fairground Electrical Safety Regulations.
Children Need Reassurance and Clear Supervision
An unexpected stop, alarm or crowd movement can be particularly confusing for younger visitors. Parents and carers should keep children close, follow event instructions and avoid moving towards an incident simply to find out what has happened.
If an emergency results in altered pedestrian routes or a temporary evacuation of part of the site, children should remain with the adult responsible for them wherever possible. Our How to Keep Children Safe at Fairgrounds provides wider family-safety guidance.
Do Not Spread Unconfirmed Information
In a crowded public environment, rumours can travel quickly. A temporary ride stop can become described as an accident, while an ambulance attending an unrelated medical incident can lead people to make assumptions about nearby attractions.
Organisers should communicate confirmed information where appropriate and avoid speculation. Likewise, visitors should follow instructions from event staff rather than relying on incomplete information passed through the crowd or posted online.
Accessibility Must Be Considered During Emergency Movement
Emergency arrangements should account for the fact that not every guest can move through an event site in the same way or at the same speed. Accessible routes, clear communication and suitable assistance can all be relevant depending on the venue and the nature of the incident.
Our Disabled Accessibility and Inclusivity at Funfairs & Fairgrounds guide looks at accessibility in the wider event environment, including practical considerations that should be addressed during planning.
Risk Assessment Should Include Foreseeable Emergency Scenarios
Emergency procedures are strongest when they are connected to the risks already identified for the event. Organisers should consider reasonably foreseeable situations and decide what controls, communication arrangements and responsibilities are appropriate.
How to Perform a Funfair Ride Risk Assessment explains the wider risk-assessment process. For technical ride safety, How Funfair Rides Are Tested for Safety and Daily Safety Checks for Funfair Rides explain other preventative layers that operate before an emergency occurs.
After an Incident, Do Not Simply Restart Immediately
Once the immediate situation has been resolved, the next question is whether normal operation can resume. That decision depends on what happened. An affected attraction, area or piece of equipment may need to be checked before it returns to use.
Where technical investigation or maintenance is required, our guides to Funfair Ride Periodic Maintenance and Non-destructive Testing of Funfair Rides provide further background on the engineering and inspection side of amusement ride safety.
Emergency Planning Is Relevant to Events of Every Size
Large festivals may have substantial event-management teams, but smaller events still need proportionate arrangements for foreseeable emergencies. A company fun day, school event or charity event can still involve moving machinery, children, crowds, temporary power and changing weather.
The appropriate plan should match the scale, location and attractions involved rather than assuming a small event cannot experience an unexpected problem.
More Guidance on Funfair Emergencies and Safety
If you are planning an event, continue with Funfair Emergency Planning and Crisis Management for a more detailed look at preparation. You may also find How to Ensure the Safety of Your Guests at Your Funfair, What Are the UK's Safety Standards for Fairgrounds? and Are Fairground Rides Safe? useful.
Our How We Are Tricycle Protects Your Health And Safety page explains more about our approach, while the Guides section contains further resources on ride operation, inspections, weather, accessibility, crowd management and event planning.
If you are arranging fairground and funfair hire and would like to discuss the practical requirements of your venue or event, please contact us.