Merlin found at fault for Smiler accident

It was briefly mentioned in the article.

[Mikey]

I read that as:

We really screwed the pooch with the UK operation so we are going to avoid fixing the ride or publicity problems and focus on international developments in uncertain economic climate.

I hope Six Flags guide book on dumb business decisions hasn't leaked on Amazon again.

[JAMMY]

As expected by many of the coaster community, Alton Towers Resort has today released an official statement regarding the conclusion of the investigation into The Smiler incident in June, stating that:

???An investigation concluded that the incident was the result of human error culminating in the manual override of the ride safety control system without the appropriate protocols being followed.???

The ride will reopen with the park for the 2016 season!

Source: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Alton-Towers-Smiler-crash-human-error-ride-reopen/story-28231836-detail/story.html

[gouldy]

Breaking News: Alton Towers states the obvious.

[Coasterkidmwm]

Well, told ya lol.

[Paradox]

Someone's gonna be out of a job

[mkingy]

Maybe not. The HSE isn't likely to blame the individual (the tend not to in the UK) and it'll be down to the procedures not safeguarding the chance of a mistake well enough - hence the improved safety protocols they installed on all Merlin Multi-Car rides. "Misunderstanding a shutdown message" basically screams bad/inadequate training and hints that for something so serious (such as a train entering a occupied block) the protocols in place didn't have enough checks to ensure the message was understood.

From working in the construction industry the UK HSE tend to put a huge emphasis on contractors / clients ensuring that there are safe systems in place to prevent incidents occurring - rather than blaming individuals for their actions. The theory being that no incident would occur if someone was trained well enough with the correct control measures where in place. Therefore they may still lay the blame with Merlin/Alton and I imagine they couldn't lawfully sack the guy.

[Mr. Freeze]

IAAPA and IROC could though

[Mikey]

titanrocks01 wrote:

IAAPA and IROC could though

Ya.... No. IAAPA is perhaps the single largest lobbyist group against government oversight of amusement park rides. It is probably second to the trade show in terms of reasons for their existence. Politically the parks themselves don't want to admit what would really happen if federal over sight were to be implemented. Frankly, it would be very messy and some parks would be unable to survive.

IROC is a corporation, another consulting company. Like IAAPA, they have basically zero power.

I always find it funny that people like to say amusement rides are safer the airplanes. It's only true if you include incidents involving small non professionally operated aircraft and disregard an appropriate formula for miles flown to cycles completed. In two states in America your actually safer in your car parked on the side of the freeway then on a ride due to complete and utter disregard for inspections, enforcement, accident reporting, insurance claims, and allowance for settlements for victims that include non-disclosure agreements instead of full public disclosure.

From all these issues over the years, I think Alton Towers could easily be transported to Wisconsin and fit right in.

[mkingy]

Smiler is to reopen at the beginning of the season on March 19th.

https://www.facebook.com/altontowersresort/

That's sooner than I thought, I hope the victims won't cry about it on the news and make some more bad publicity.

That's really good news. I was worried that this incident would somehow affect my ability to ride this coaster whenever I am able to get over there from across the pond. Mostly worried that it would be SBNO for a long time or for some reason demolished.

I bet there's another serious accident on it by the end of this season.

[Paradox]

*First ride since the accident*
*Riders injured in the accident get to sit in front row*
*Crashes again*

I'm really interested in how long the queue will be. Time will tell.

They're not living in the past, that's for sure. I know there are people who would still ride it regardless.

[Mikey]

I bet it reopens and the safety processes they put in place are so absurd that the ride never functions as designed again and guests hate it because they have to sign the waiver before riding.

[Coasterkidmwm]

I'm betting it won't "duel".

Anyone care to make all of these horrific bets "interesting?"

[gouldy]

FINALLY.

Nothing wrong with the ride. Should have been open long before now. Just don't employ stupid people and you're golden.

[Coasterkidmwm]

gouldy wrote:

FINALLY.
Just don't employ stupid people and you're golden.

That's like finding a Waffle House with no white trash in it.

[Paradox]

Coasterkidmwm wrote:

gouldy wrote:

FINALLY.
Just don't employ stupid people and you're golden.

That's like finding a Waffle House with no white trash in it.

I'm stealing this.

[Mr. Freeze]

Paradox wrote:

Coasterkidmwm wrote:

gouldy wrote:

FINALLY.
Just don't employ stupid people and you're golden.

That's like finding a Waffle House with no white trash in it.

I'm stealing this.

or going to a walmart in the middle of nowhere and not finding at least one person dressed in hunting camouflage

RCDB says Smiler is still SBNO. Well, I can see that they are paying attention to the operating status.

I really feel like the operation won't be so severely affected. I imagine that all operators will have to do a visual scan of the layout before dispatching any train so the public sees that. And they likely retrofitted the manual override system so that they have to have five workers climb down into the concrete gully and each push a tiny button embedded in the concrete using bent paperclips simultaneously and then climb back up into the station and press the big red flashing ARE YOU SURE???????? button.