Kathryn Woodcock, PhD CCPE ICAE PEng
Professor
It’s literally the last minute before the TSSA Amusement Ride Safety Training Forum for this year. I’m delighted to contribute content for this NAARSO-accredited safety education event right at home in Ontario, with on-site sessions at Canada’s Wonderland. (Yes, the forecast low is -3C that day.)
This month, I had the magical opportunity to visit Universal Epic Universe, opening for guests in May. No photos were permitted, except for official photographers, so enjoy me casting an unknown spell using my Wand 2.0 in front of the Wizarding World: Ministry of Magic portal.
Do not even try to ask me my “favourite” land – they are all stunningly immersive! Please visit the official websites to see preview videos and photos.
Excited to be back to IAAPA again, and delighted to join another speaker panel. Looking forward to inaugural women’s lunch and the academic symposium on Friday, among many other plans.
My first conference in over a year and a half has successfully concluded! IAAPA met in Barcelona for the first conference since November 2019, after converting all 2020 and summer 2021 to virtual events. It was wonderful to see three-dimensional, live people (!) discussing design, management and recovery, and accessibility topics, among others.
Continue reading “3D People!”
One of the best benefits in the themed entertainment industry is the professional development opportunities. The highlight of the summer was a behind-the-scenes event with the Themed Entertainment Association hosted by Universal Creative at the new VelociCoaster in Universal’s Islands of Adventure, at Universal Orlando Resort.
In 2020, I was bowled over with the news that I was included on the Blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer list, a highly regarded industry honour compiled by themed entertainment industry media outlet Blooloop, in association with Gateway Ticketing Systems. Looking over the other 49 people, I very much appreciated the inclusion in the list! What an honour to be listed in their company!
The fatal injury on the Schlitterbahn “Verrückt” waterslide has been reported as a decapitation.
Earlier accounts referred to a “neck injury”. Reporters enthusiastically parsed past Consumer Product Safety Commission reports and noted 28% of injuries in their dataset were head and neck injuries. They did not report that the CPSC data on amusement rides substantially overstates injury occurrence due to the inclusion of swan boats, ball pits, laser tag, corn mazes and other things that are not what you would popularly consider “amusement rides”. A study I published in the journal Safety Science in 2014 found the national estimate of actual amusement ride injuries was less than 2/3 of what CPSC data would suggest.
Continue reading “Report of rider injury”
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) hosts a series of valuable international conferences and expos. The IAAPA Asian Attractions Expo 2016 was held in Shanghai at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in mid-June, including a reception on the evening of opening day of Disneyland Shanghai, and a day visit to the park on Day 2.
Continue reading “Disneyland Shanghai”
During the IAAPA Europe, Middle East and Africa Spring Forum at Gardaland Park in Peschiera del Garda, Italy, THRILL Lab Director Dr. Kathryn Woodcock was honoured with a Career Special Award for Professional Merit. This award recognized her leadership in the attractions industry project promoting expanded accessibility and risk-informed rider eligibility for rides.
Continue reading “Parksmania recognizes ride accessibility initiative”
There are many people involved in setting standards that make amusement rides and devices safe. The ASTM F24 standards are used in 19 countries, and counting. The committee has almost 900 members, and holds meetings three times annually. Meetings held in USA have almost 300 people participating in multiple concurrent sessions, literally poring over language used in standards to ensure that people following the standards will interpret the requirements as intended.
Continue reading “Who makes attractions safe?”