FAQs

The review highlighted certain challenges with the current regulations for amusement rides and devices in British Columbia. These challenges include:

• An imprecise definition of what kinds of rides and devices are regulated causing confusion to the public and amusement ride and device owners; 
• An out of date safety code for the design, maintenance, and operation of amusement rides and devices creating a gap between the adopted code and current wise practices;
• An inability of the current regulation to adapt to newly developed rides and devices, creating a safety gap when new and novel designs are brought to British Columbia.

Technical Safety BC is proposing a shift in the regulatory approach to amusement rides to make sure that regulations keep up with innovation in the industry, and to put new wise practices, like operational safety management plans, into practice in BC.

Technical Safety BC is proposing that the regulations would require that a Technical Safety BC safety manager consider specific criteria, established in regulation, when examining a new or novel amusement device to determine if, and under which category, it would be regulated. This criteria, which will also be used for determining the category that existing amusement rides and devices fall under, includes:

• The technical risks of the device, in relation to design, construction, operation, and maintenance;
• The degree of control a patron has over their exposure to risk in relation to the device, or the risk that arises from patron behaviour in or on the device;
• Any enhanced risks posed to a vulnerable population;
• Any gaps in regulatory oversight, because of a lack of regulators, engineering, safety codes, insurers, or similar factors;
• The ability for regulatory oversight by Technical Safety BC to increase safety.

These considerations are intended to balance the need for the public to be reasonably assured that amusement devices do not pose unreasonable risks with the reality that almost all amusement activities carry some degree of risk that patrons must consciously and clearly accept.

Below is the initial proposed classification of rides and devices both currently regulated and unregulated. This list is non-exhaustive and subject to change.