A maintenance worker at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition died on Wednesday, April 7, 2016, ironically while inspecting the safety conditions of a popular children’s ride. The worker’s name has yet to be released pending the notification of relatives. The victim appears to may have fallen through the metal slats in the flooring of the car he was aboard on a ride called the “Hurricane”. Upon initial inspection, investigators found several slats removed and it was unclear as to whether or not the victim removed them or perhaps was repairing them.
“The Hurricane” uses centrifugal force to elevate six attached cars that make up the ride. As a 30-foot central tower spins faster and faster, arms that hold each of the six cars begin to elevate as they are forced outward. At it maximum speed, the cars can reach a height of around 30 feet.
As the death of this carnival maintenance worker demonstrates, catastrophic workplace accidents can happen anywhere. Although this is the first death to have been reported due to an accident at the fair, several other accidents have taken place in the fair’s 65-year history.
In 2008, a woman was injured when the “Convoy” tipped over. Four years earlier, a metal bolt on the “Gravitron” came loose and several people were critically injured when they were flung from the ride. Others have been injured and at another amusement venue, The Broward County Fair. A young lady was killed and six other people injured due to maintenance worker negligence on the “Monster”.
Rides at Broward County Fairs and amusement parks are mechanical devices and require ongoing maintenance and repairs to run safely. There is nothing that guarantees your safety should you choose to ride except the ride’s inspection and maintenance by workers. When a worker dies in a workplace accident, a wrongful death has occurred and someone must be held accountable.
If you have been injured or have had a loved one killed in a workplace accident call Broward County’s experienced personal injury attorneys at the Maus Law Firm. The Ft. Lauderdale workplace accident attorneys at our office can help you to get the compensation you deserve.
source: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article70330667.html