Amusement industry tipped on child safety

Thursday, Sept. 25, 1997 | 11:20 a.m.

Amusement center operators walk a thin line by letting teenagers operate attractions that could harm customers while constantly standing guard against frauds looking to cash in on a little negligence.

Safety issues were spotlighted in a seminar just before the trade show floor for Fun Expo '97 opened Wednesday. The trade show kicked off demonstrations and displays of amusement devices from an estimated 360 companies in more than 1,000 booths.

The show, which continues through Friday, is being conducted at the Sands Expo Center by the International Association of Family Entertainment Centers. The event is drawing about 9,000 delegates to seminars covering everything from profitability at a miniature golf course to safety and security at arcades.

The latter topic is particularly timely for Southern Nevada, where three high-profile incidents this year have pushed arcades, amusement centers and theme parks to re-examine their procedures.

An accident at a Pistol Pete's pizza restaurant killed a 3-year-old girl at her birthday party in February and a 7-year-old girl was murdered near an arcade at a casino in Primm in April. Last month, a 9-year-old girl was pulled from a wave pool at the Wet 'n Wild water park on the Strip. She died a week later.

Although none of those incidents were cited at Wednesday's seminar on how to handle an accident, insurance consultants, an attorney and a park manager told horror stories about what can happen to an arcade or amusement center that isn't ready to deal with an emergency.

Panelists also delved into a related problem: guests waiting to capitalize on an opportunity to win a cash settlement if something is amiss.

Most of the lightly attended two-hour seminar focused on how to prevent an accident, how to react when an incident occurs and what steps to take in the aftermath.

Alan Ramsay, who operates Roger Williams Park in Providence, R.I., and Michael Beckman of Beckman Insurance Agency in Brookfield, Wis., described how to develop a comprehensive emergency action plan and related training. Those panelists and moderator MaryLou Iverson, a risk management consultant in Hansville, Wash., described how theme parks and amusement centers can head off accidents with mock incident training and document events when they occur.

A fourth panelist, Wayne Pierce, a Baltimore-based attorney who serves as national counsel for the Fun Expo sponsor's insurance program, said he has reviewed a vast number of claims against what has grown into a $10 trillion industry nationwide.

Pierce and his staff have encountered complaints on a variety of accidents involving equipment failures and operator error as well as unusual cases like a man who sought compensation for getting gum on his Air Jordan tennis shoes in an inflated Moonwalk attraction or another who said he was infected by a diaper hidden in a ball corral.

Panelists said some centers are finding success in video monitoring their centers while others have just one camera and several fakes to encourage guests to follow the rules.

Beckman warned that the growth of the industry has led to corresponding increases in insurance fraud attempts.

"The explosion of the phenomenon feeds the explosion of people wanting to get into our knickers," said Beckman. "People who come in without an injury are intending to leave with an injury. And often, the press is right there and the attorney is right behind the press."

Pierce also recounted a story about a man who got a splinter off a wooden rail at a park. The injury became infected and the man sought $10,000 to cover medical bills and a total of $125,000 to settle the case. He was unsuccessful.

Ramsay also gave a short primer on how to handle press inquiries. He stressed keeping to the facts and avoiding speculation, warning attendants that television stations are notorious for putting a camera and a microphone in an owner's face to get immediate reaction.

Sponsors of the show also presented its Golden Token Achievement Awards Wednesday. Only one Las Vegas attraction, the Coney Island Emporium, was nominated for best new or redesigned center, but it did not win.

Also, Circus Circus Director of Rides and Attractions Cliff Hay took office as the association's treasurer for the coming year.