After death, Wichita weighs how to regulate inflatables

Companies that operate moonbounce-style rides would face tougher requirements under a proposal being considered by Wichita officials. The plan, which would expand a city ordinance regulating amusement rides, was prompted in part by the death of a Wichita boy who fell from an inflatable ride in March.

The death raised questions about ride supervision, inspections and other issues, said City Manager Robert Layton.

"We're starting to get a feel for public concerns and the (city) council's concerns. Now it's a matter of talking to people in the industry," Layton said.

"It doesn't make sense to put in regulations that are hard to enforce or don't make sense or don't attack the problem," he said. "We're gathering input at this point to determine what the final recommendation will be."

Kurt Schroeder, Wichita's superintendent of central inspection, met with representatives of five local inflatable ride companies on Wednesday to discuss an early draft of the new ordinance. Proposed changes include:

* Increasing certification requirements for ride inspectors.

* Requiring anyone supervising inflatables to receive standard training in ride setup, safety and emergency procedures.

* Requiring owners or operators to inspect inflatables regularly, not just once a year, using a standard checklist.

* Requiring businesses to report any serious injury to emergency officials and ride manufacturers.

* Requiring operators to clearly post inspection and safety information.

* Outlining "patron responsibilities," including requirements to obey instructions and warnings, exercise the judgment "of an ordinary prudent person" and not participate on a ride while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

* Increasing penalties and fines for violations.

"It's long overdue," said Ruben Hernandez, owner of Party Bounce Moonwalk Rentals.

"They need to regulate and make more clear what we, as operators, are supposed to do. Some of us go above and beyond and some don't, "he said. "I'm hoping what comes out of this is safe, clear regulations."

City Council members on Tuesday suspended the license of Pure Entertainment, an inflatable-amusement facility near Kellogg and Tyler, saying the owner did not have his rides properly inspected. The business was the site of 5-year-old Matthew Branham's fatal fall March 22.

On Wednesday, Schroeder said he hoped city inspectors, police and attorneys could work together with business owners to develop reasonable regulations.

"Our intent here is to try to ensure, as best we can, the safety of individuals," he said.

Business owners voiced concerns about some of the measures, including one that would have required ride inspectors to have at least a "Level II (Advanced)" certification from the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO).

Currently there is only one Level II and one Level III inspector in the Wichita area, and the process for certification can take years. Besides, the owners said, advanced NAARSO training deals primarily with carnival-style rides, not inflatables.

"I think Level II is overkill for inflatables," said Thomas Smith, general manager of All Star Adventures.

Jay Jones, owner of Kids Fun USA, urged city officials to get tougher on how rides are set up and operated rather than focusing on inspections.

"The unit that killed that little boy was inspected a week later and passed inspection," Jones said. "Does that mean it wasn't dangerous? Absolutely not."

Schroeder asked the group to offer suggested changes to the draft ordinance by early June. City Council members will likely discuss it in a workshop setting before voting on it.

This story was originally published May 20, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "After death, Wichita weighs how to regulate inflatables."