Recall: Himalaya Amusement Rides Repair Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 1999 Release # 99-083

Company Phone Number: (503) 694-2803 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052

CPSC, Reverchon Industries Announce Repair Program for Himalaya Amusement Rides

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Reverchon Industries, of Samois, France, and Reverchon USA, of Wilsonville, Ore., are offering new inspection and maintenance procedures and secondary restraints for approximately 25 Himalaya amusement rides operating in the U.S.

CPSC has received reports of five incidents involving the Himalaya ride resulting in two deaths and three injuries. This repair program is the result of a CPSC investigation of these incidents. Most recently, one rider was killed and two others seriously injured when they were ejected from the ride in Austin, Texas, on March 19, 1998. The component failures appear to be the result of poor maintenance and inspection procedures. These rides should be properly inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer's specifications or serious injury and death to riders can occur.

Reverchon is offering ride owners and state safety officials current inspection and maintenance guidelines, and a free tolerance gauge which measures wear on the lap bar latch. Ride operators also must install a speed control device and a secondary lap bar latching device. For more information, owners and state safety officials can contact Reverchon in the USA at (503) 694-2803 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST Monday through Friday or Reverchon in France at 011-331-6074-9400.

CPSC is working with state regulators to ensure that these safety repairs and inspections are carried out. In addition to this repair program, CPSC has issued three safety alerts to states for inspection of the Himalaya rides. While CPSC has jurisdiction over the mobile rides that move from place to place, states and local communities are responsible for inspections and oversight.

While most states currently have some mandatory regulations or inspection program to ensure ride safety, the following states have no regulations and do not require that rides be inspected for safety: Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Vermont. The following states have insurance company or other private inspections, but do not require inspections by state or local regulators: Arizona, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas.