Amusement devices

If your business provides devices that people use as entertainment, like carnival rides, you need to check that the design and the device is registered.

 

From 1 December 2022, there will be new requirements for persons who manage or control an amusement device under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017. Read more.

There are specific requirements for amusement devices, including on their:

You must ensure a competent person (PDF, 152.24 KB) such as a chartered professional engineer or a person that is qualified to be on the National Professional Engineers register inspects the device.

For inflatable devices, such as jumping castles (that have a platform height less than nine metres) a 'competent person' need only demonstrate that they have acquired through training, qualifications or experience the knowledge and skills to inspect inflatable devices.

Some amusement devices do not require registration. These include:

  • water slides
  • wave generators
  • inflatable devices, other than inflatable devices (continuously blown) with a platform height of 3 meters or more
  • miniature trains and railway systems, but only those which are owned and operated by model railway societies.

Resources

Amusement device operators

Safe Work Australia also has guidance material to help device operators manage the risks.

A SafeWork NSW factsheet Controlling hazardous noise in the amusement device industry is also available.

There is also a National Audit Tool (PDF, 448.31 KB) to help amusement device owners prepare for an audit.

Amusement device organisers

For more information, see our Amusement devices duties of event organisers guide.

Purchasing fact sheets and poster

Use these to help you know what to look for when purchasing:

New requirements for amusement device operators

From 1 December 2022, there will be new requirements for persons who manage or control an amusement device under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017.

There is new Safe Work Australia guidance on how to manage the risks associated with amusement devices and passenger ropeways at a workplace.

Outline of changes to WHS Regulation 2017

Operation of amusement devices and passenger ropeways

If you own an amusement device you are the person with management or control of the amusement device. As the owner, you are required to ensure that the device or ropeway is operated only by a person who has been provided with instruction and training in its proper operation.

The new provisions clarify that this instruction and training must include how to carry out the daily checks and how to operate the device without passengers. The term ‘daily checks’ refers to the checks required to be carried out on the device on each day on which the device is to be operated, noting that the device may not be operated every day of the week.

Log books for amusement devices

The Amendment Regulation introduces new provisions for improved record keeping and operator training for amusement devices and passenger ropeways.

The new provisions require that a log book be kept with the amusement device and be made available to anyone in control of the device. The log book must record details of:

  • the erection or storage of the device including the relevant dates of erection
  • the maintenance of the device
  • any repairs to the devices as well as other defects identified during its operation
  • the operation of the device, including:
    • the number of hours the device operates for on any given day, and
    • the total number of hours the device has been operated for
  • each person who operates the device, including:
    • the person’s name
    • whether the person has been provided with instruction and training to check and operate the device properly
      • the date and a summary of any instruction and training the person was provided as well as qualifications of the instructor or trainer and
  • any statutory notices, e.g. improvement notices, prohibitions notices or infringement notices by any regulator for the device, including:
    • the date each notice was issued
    • the reasons why each notice was issued, and
    • the location of the device when the notice was issued.

For more information on how to manage the risks associated with amusement devices and passenger ropeways at a workplace, see Safe Work Australia’s guide for amusement devices.

Legislation

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