Proposed Changes to Amusement Devices Regulation

Pending regulatory changes, our safety oversight will expand to include certain rides and devices that are currently unregulated. This will be an addition to rides and devices that are currently regulated such as:

• All amusement rides regulated under the Elevating Devices Safety Regulations (EDSR)
• Ziplines (other than those ziplines located at aerial adventure courses and within the scope of ASTM F2959-21)
• Inflatable devices
• Water slides
• Train rides

The following unregulated rides and devices are now proposed to be included:

• Trampoline courts
• Go-karts previously exempted from EDSR
• Ziplines previously not subject to the EDSR
• Climbing walls (portable and those used on a midway or in an amusement setting)
• All other amusement devices not previously subject to the Elevating Devices Safety Regulations that have been identified for inclusion for oversight

The transition timeline for each amusement device and ride will be added to this page once we have more information.

• New definition of “amusement ride” and “amusement device”.
• Specific classifications of rides and devices and how oversight is to be achieved for those rides and devices.
• “New to regulation” requirements.
• New licencing requirements.
• Compliance with the ASTM F24 Amusement Ride and Devices Standard (to replace CSA Z-267) for regulated products and regulated work.
• Requirement for every facility to submit a Safety Plan (SP).
• Requirement for every facility to name a Responsible Person (RP).

New proposed definitions will provide clarity to operators and the public as to which amusement rides and devices are regulated and which are not.

It is proposed that the following amusement rides and devices would be excluded from oversight:

• Professional or sports training with oversight by training or coaching staff and appropriate safety precautions (e.g., simulators used exclusively for pilot training, or gymnastics facilities with trampolines used exclusively for sports training).
• Specific extreme thrill rides and devices (e.g., parasailing, zorb balls, and via ferrata).
• Low risk rides (e.g., coin-operated children’s rides which are commonly found at malls or shopping centers, and children’s playgrounds that are covered by other safety codes).

It is proposed that all operators will be required to prepare a Safety Plan. A Safety Plan will help owners and operators identify and be responsive to the risks associated with operating amusement rides and devices, while promoting a higher level of safety.

Completion and submittal of a Safety Plan Guidebook will be a condition of obtaining a licence. The Safety Plan will require the licence holder to demonstrate compliance with documentation requirements in the Regulation and ASTM standards. The Safety Plan Guidebook will be made available at a later date.

In order to obtain a licence, it is proposed that a facility will need to name a Responsible Person on its licence application. The Responsible Person is proposed to play a key role in maintaining and overseeing the implementation of the Safety Plan and declaring work compliant with the Safety Standards Act and associated regulations.

The Responsible Person course and certification is intended to establish a minimum standard of safety knowledge across the amusement devices industry in BC. The Responsible Person candidate will be required to take an online course and pass a test to demonstrate their knowledge. Components of the online course and test will assess their knowledge of:

• the Safety Standards Act and regulations,
• the safety standards for amusement rides and devices,
• hazard identification, risk assessment and mitigation of the amusement operations they oversee.

We have proposed that select ASTM F24 standards be adopted as the safety code for regulated amusement rides and devices, as the current code is no longer supported or updated.

The ASTM standards provide requirements on design, construction, installation, operation, maintenance, and inspection of amusement rides and devices. The design of new rides, or devices designed or installed after the code is adopted, would be required to comply with this standard.

The list of standards proposed for adoption will be made available at a future date. The required standards are protected by copyright and therefore a copy cannot be provided by Technical Safety BC. All standards can be purchased here.

New fees will follow a two-phased approach, the first of which would likely come into effect upon publication of the new regulations for trampoline courts only. The next fee consultation phase will affect the remaining amusement devices and rides in 2024. We will send out a request for the second industry fee consultation later in 2023.

Amusement device operators will still require a licence to operate. Proposed changes to the requirements for a licence include naming a Responsible Person, providing proof of insurance, and completing the Safety Plan Guidebook. More information regarding when these changes will impact presently regulated operators will be provided at a later date.

Changes are also proposed for design registration, most notably, the introduction of enhancements to the installation permit and design registration application forms. These changes require specific amusement ride or device technical information to be supplied, which acts as a guide for the applicant to ensure that all required technical information has been accounted for in the submission.

Further information on Design Registration and any changes to the current process will be made available at a future date.

Design Registrations submitted after the launch date must comply with the new Adopted Codes and Standards listed in the Amusement Device Regulation, including ASTM codes.