About 25 years ago, the festivities in my town, ‘Churuca’, were among the most outstanding in Cartago. They were renowned for their family atmosphere and the quality of their gastronomy, with visitors arriving from across the province and even from other provinces such as San José.
The amusement rides provided entertainment for all the family, with my personal favourite being the pirate ship. Later, they incorporated the ‘Kamikaze’, which became my favourite. The term ‘kamikaze’ originates from the Japanese word for ‘divine wind’, which was used by the Americans to refer to suicide attacks by Japanese pilots during World War II.
We were aware of it as ‘The Hammer’. This designation was due to its configuration and the force with which it rotated on a single axis, causing the occupants to rotate 360° and be left with their heads down for a few seconds. I loved that feeling and miss it, but now I avoid using amusement rides. I am afraid, not because of the speed or the acceleration or the bodily sensations, but because the safety of these rides is not optimal.
In the past, I did not give much thought to the safety of these rides; I simply enjoyed them. Today, however, when I see a festivity, I am reminded of my childhood and adolescence, but I also analyse their safety. On several occasions, I have observed rides with unstable bases, wear and tear, unevenness and other dangerous conditions.
Recent accidents
The ‘Tagada’ is a mechanical ride consisting of a large plate that moves rapidly in various directions. This ride uses a very high centrifugal force and lacks basic protection systems such as safety belts. In addition, people are allowed to stand up, which greatly increases the likelihood of being ejected.
Just over a year ago, a young mother from San Pablo de León Cortés, Costa Rica, suffered serious injuries on this ride that led to her death. While the investigation did not attribute blame to any failures in the ride’s design, it did highlight the inherent risks associated with such attractions.
Following the incident, the event organizers confirmed that all permits were current. However, this cannot be applied to this particular case. It is essential to thoroughly assess and mitigate the inherent risks associated with activities of this nature, even if users are expected to assume part of the responsibility for these risks. There is a strong possibility that this case may be a culpable homicide on the part of the organizers and the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for issuing permits.
In October 2024, in Siquirres, Costa Rica, the mechanical ride ‘El Pulpo’ collapsed, resulting in injuries to four children. Health Minister Mari Munive stated that the permits had been granted following an inspection by the engineering department, as per standard procedure. On 28 January of this year, in Palmares, Costa Rica, several individuals had to be rescued after becoming inverted on the ‘Move it’ ride, which abruptly halted due to the failure of a safety sensor.
Such occurrences are becoming more prevalent in Costa Rica, which is concerning given that, when technical safety regulations are adhered to, the likelihood of sustaining a severe injury on a mechanical ride is minimal – one in 16 million. This probability is even lower than that of being struck by lightning in the United States, estimated at one in 700,000.
The recurrence of these events in Costa Rica could be due to the lack of adherence to internationally recognised technical standards and the age of many of these rides, which may have exceeded their useful life or lack proper maintenance.
Inspection process
Media reports have recently emerged regarding an inspection of the Palmares rides by engineers from the Ministry of Health, which revealed no indications of fatigue or visible damage. However, shortly thereafter, an emergency occurred due to a breakdown.
Inspection procedures for rides should be meticulous. They should be conducted by seasoned ride engineers who possess comprehensive knowledge of all ride systems, both mechanical and electrical. Additionally, there should be ongoing monitoring during operation, and strict daily review protocols should be mandatory for ride operators.
Concerns have been raised about the quality and effectiveness of the preventive protocols applied by the Ministry of Health when granting permits for this type of attraction, and about their application in the daily operation of the attractions, which could fail due to use, even after having passed an initial inspection.
A number of internationally recognized standards issue safety criteria for rides, including ASTM F2291-24, issued by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). This standard provides criteria and references for designers, engineers, manufacturers, owners and operators of amusement rides for their design or modification.
The European Union has also promulgated EN 13814:2019, Safety of amusement rides and attractions, which establishes safety criteria for the design and operation of such attractions.
With this normative basis, qualified inspectors can check acceleration limits, loads and resistance, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, safety-related control systems, electrical and mechanical systems, fencing and guardrails, welding, fasteners, cladding, operator controls and fall protection.
Town festivities are family-friendly events that promote culture and fun. However, these must always be held to high safety standards to prevent Costa Rican families from having to mourn a loss that could certainly have been avoided. No ‘kamikaze’ should be part of these activities, except for the mechanical ride.