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Toronto, ON, August 31, 2023 – The Polar Express ride at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) Midway has been given permission to be returned to service following an incident that occurred on August 28 that resulted in a rider being injured.
The ride remained shut down while TSSA conducted a thorough technical inspection of the ride. The inspection is complete and TSSA has confirmed that the Polar Express ride is safe to resume operation.
The investigation into the root cause of the incident is ongoing.
TSSA inspectors have been on-site daily since the incident occurred, with full cooperation from the ride operator, North American Midway Entertainment and the CNE as TSSA conducted inspections and gathered information relating to the incident. This is standard protocol following any reported incident related to amusement devices in the province of Ontario.
The ride had met safety requirements before it was allowed to operate initially and was found to be safe after TSSA’s inspection.
About TSSA
Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) administers provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education, authorization, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, compliance support, enforcement, and prosecution activities.
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For more information, please contact:
Alexandra Campbell
Vice President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Technical Standards and Safety Authority
Telephone: 416-734-6227
Email: media@tssa.org
Bearings on all Dover-Turnbull counterweights with 2-to-1 roping to be assessed and monitored
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority has issued a Director’s Safety Order and an Advisory on the safety risk posed when a bearing on a 2-to-1 counterweight sheave arrangement fails.
- Director's Safety Order on Turnbull-Dover Elevator 2:1 Roped Counterweights:
This safety order requires counterweight as outlined in the Order to be located, accessed and retrofitted. Compliance timelines include ensuring that installations are assessed by August 30, 2023, and retrofitted by April 30, 2024. Please read Director's Safety Order 302/22 for details.
- Advisory on 2:1 Roped Counterweights:
This advisory, which relates to the Director's Safety Order 302/22 above, brings awareness to the maintenance and monitoring of bearings on 2:1 roped counterweights to ensure they are not presenting signs of failure. Please read Advisory 303/22 for details.
Elevating and Amusement Devices Safety Program
Technical Standards and Safety Authority
WHEN: April 3, 4 and 5, 2023
• April 3, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.: Reception and check in
• April 4, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.: Training (8 hours of continuing education credits or CEU)
• April 5, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.: Training (8 hours of CEU)
WHERE: Niagara Falls, Ontario
Double Tree Fallsview Resort & Spa
6039 Fallsview Boulevard, Niagara Falls, ON, L2G 3V6
Register now for the 21st Annual TSSA Amusement Ride Safety Training Forum. This two-day forum provides specific training on ride inspection, codes and standards, employee safety and ride manufacture. Attendees will receive 16 hours of NAARSO continuing education credits.
Continuing education for NAARSO-certified inspectors comprises the following in-class and hands-on workshops:
• Waterslide Manufacture/Repair
• Incident Investigation
• Welding CWB Requirements
• Industry Best Practice
• Ride Manufacture Bulletins
• ESA and TSSA Update
• Wire Rope Requirements
• ASTM 2783
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: (Friday) March 24, 2023
Registration includes the following:
• April 3rd Reception
• April 4th (Breakfast and Lunch)
• April 5th (Breakfast and Lunch)
HOTEL RESERVATIONS: Double Tree Fallsview Resort & Spa
Register for Amusement Ride Safety Training Forum
IAAPA Meetup: Great Wolf Lodge
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) is partnering with TSSA for the IAAPA Meetup at Great Wolf Lodge. If you are already registering for the TSSA Amusement Ride Safety Training Forum 2023, please make sure you select to attend the IAAPA Meetup. If you cannot attend the forum but would like to attend the IAAPA Meetup, please register below.
Mark your calendars for the 2023 TSSA Amusement Ride Training Seminar.
The seminar provides in-class, hands-on training on ride inspection, codes and standards, employee safety and ride manufacturing. Attendees will receive 16 hours of continuing education credits (CEU) from the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials.
The seminar will take place on April 4 and 5, 2023. Details on registration for the seminar's location will be made available. Stay tuned for more updates.
The Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA) is partnering with Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) to help the amusement sector reopen its doors safely, by providing COVID-19 education while doing technical inspections in preparation for the reopening of the amusement device sector.
This joint effort by MLTSD and TSSA is driven by the shared goal of ensuring members of the public can enjoy amusement facilities safely and providing operators of amusement devices and water parks with the information they need to be ready to reopen safely and build their businesses after the pandemic disruption.
The following outlines how the inspections will work:
- In addition to TSSA’s normal periodic inspection, inspectors will have a conversation with amusement device operators to provide them with information to help them reopen safely.
- Inspectors will complete a Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development web form to capture key data that includes the operators they met with, where they met and what was discussed.
- Inspectors will only attend sites where we have pending work. We will not return to operators that have already been inspected this season.
- TSSA’s role is to educate, not to confirm compliance, as our inspections are not likely to occur when the devices are in operation.
- MLTSD will also be doing COVID-19 inspections, particularly for large sites with large numbers of workers.
TSSA worked with the MLTSD last year as safety partners, visiting 11,000 restaurants, construction sites, retail stores and golf courses in Ontario to help educate owners, managers and staff on COVID-19 safety protocols.
Ontarians’ health and safety remain a top priority as we work with the industry to get ready to safely reopen and prepare for a successful summer season ahead.