Many amusement parks lax on safety rules

Article title: Many amusement parks lax on safety rules
Source: The Japan Times Online
Published: Sunday, May 13, 2007
Downloaded from: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070513a2.html on May 13, 2007

One-third of the nation’s major amusement parks have not been aware of government standards for safety checks and the inspection norms under the Japanese Industrial Standards. The standards oblige park operators to conduct one or more safety checks every year to find defects in the parts used in their attractions. 51 amusement parks with roller coasters responded to the survey. 17 of the 51 amusement parks didn’t know the JIS norms existed. Even if some parks knew the JIS norms, they didn’t think they had an obligation to follow them. Some parks use their own standards. Actually, Expoland in Suita, Osaka, where killed a woman and injured about 20 people didn’t conduct a checkup for 15 months.