Scared yet?

[Linzi]

For those of you who have worked at SF, have you ever been "afraid" to operate or ride on a ride when you know what can go wrong (running/riding GD after the kentucky kingdom accident; being at a lift position at flumes after the guy fell taking down SWF)?

[RagingBullFan]

No.

If you ever really feel afraid of operating a ride, then you should let someone know and asked to be moved to a different ride. If you have a fear of the ride, that fear will always be the first thing in your mind, instead of what should be first, the safety of both you and the passengers.

[sixflagsgurneeboy]

Not really. I look at it like this, accidents happen anywhere and with anything that exists. When we get in our cars and on plane and other form of transportation and think nothing of it. So, i can't speak for the others but when I worked at the park I was at peace no matter were i worked because I know that things happen and there's nothing i can do about it so i just do my job to my best ability and enjoy it because if i DID have a fear, it would really make my job suck and it would affect my performance. So i just try to stay positive and concentrate on my job. It will get better as you get used to it and start making friends and believe me, you will be like this is a piece of cake!

[Colonel Mustard]

I suppose when you're starting, it would probably be a little bit intimidating. But there haven't been any MAJOR ride related incidents at our park in quite a while, so I would be cautious, but not worried or scared.

[Linzi]

i used to be in kiddies (two seasons... willingly) so i guess im not really "familiar" with major accidents, but i still dont think i could handle going up the 80 ft on flumes after hearing what happend at SWF, no til mid season

[Colonel Mustard]

Well, I'm sure the guy didn't have a nice little railling behind him in a safe little box, he was doing construction work!

[Linzi]

flumes little rail is nothing. and the friggin walk up...

[Colonel Mustard]

So Imagine doing it will bull across the park, 200 feet up with just those little wire stairs and a railing keeping you from faling to your death...that's scary, flumes, I highly doubt.

[DejaVu2001]

The flumes are only 60ft. And if you can't handle going up there, you wouldn't be able to work on any of the major rides because all the coasters and flumes require you to be comfortable going up the catwalks.

[Linzi]

no, it's a 60 ft drop. it's 80 ft to the ground if you fall.

[thrillseeker27]

i think it would be pretty cool to walk up the catwalk.

[Linzi]

the catwalk's in pretty shotty condition. and, for the record, i don't really have a fear of heights, but after the SWF incident, i doubt i could be at flumes

[sfgam1]

What if it was his fault he fell?

[Linzi]

that may very well be the case, but who here can honestly say they haven't leaned when they weren't supposed to.

[sfgam1]

no one knows how it happened.

[DejaVu2001]

no, it's a 60 ft drop. it's 80 ft to the ground if you fall.

It's 60 ft. The drops on both Flumes go all the way down, they dont stop 20 ft off the ground.

[FParker185]

well falling was his fault, there is no disputing that. The ride didnt fail structurally. Though in construction those things happen from time to time.

I cant say I can think of a situtaton where a regular park employee (exept for maint. of course) would be put in a situation where falling is a real possibility unless the person is really clumsy or something.

[RagingBullFan]

Exactly Right FParker...

Any location a regular park employee is allowed to go follows OSHA standards for railing height, maximum grade etc...

For Maintenance we are required to wear fall protection for any height higher than about 6ft. or so where there is no adequate protection, there are several more OSHA guidelines regarding situations like this, its also classified as hazardous work by OSHA.

[CoasterDude12-2]

You can't be scared. You have to tell yourself nothing is going to go wrong, and if something goes wrong, you know what to do about it. Otherwise, yeah I can see accidents happening.

[UWW-10]

It's really not a "scary" thing and I remember walking up the lifts as a part of training just to get the feel. What's important to remember is that if an emergency situation arises when guests have to be unloaded, if you remain calm the guest will remain calm.

One night in particular I was in charge at Batman, and the operator decided it would be funny to hit the lift stop when the train approached the top instead of right away. It wasn't too funny when I made them climb it and from there on out, it was always my thing that if you want to stop the train at the top, you can also be the one to walk up there...I'll be glad to take your spot here.

[Mr. D.T.]

The only thing that petrifies me on the Giant Drop is the DROP itself. I'm not worried at all about anything else that can go wrong. The same thing with a handful of other coasters depending on the drop.

[zjohn1988]

So Imagine doing it will bull across the park, 200 feet up with just those little wire stairs and a railing keeping you from falling to your death...that's scary, flumes, I highly doubt.

On a windy day its even better! Seriously though its the climb thats the bad part..once you are at the top its not that bad..

But you should never be afraid of your ride. If you have a sense that something is wrong, there probably is and you should get assistance.

[rasslin]

Can I ask you folks that work there a question?

1. Does SFGA have a Lightning Detection System?

2. Do they make the operators stationed high up on tall rides come down during electrical storms?

I only ask because I was at Hurricane Harbor when it first opened. I was facing Southwest near where the switches are that turn on the buckets (Little shack has a sign that says Red Witch on it.) And I could clearly see an approaching storm. I waited to hear if they would start getting people out, but nothing. After I could hear thunder in the distance I began to leave and I asked one of the life guards if they were aware of the storm. They said Yes. But not until the storm was right on top of the place did people finally start scrambling out. Then I noticed the employee's still stationed up at the top of the slides.
Now that's dedication to guest safety! Facing the potential of a million volt jolt while standing 40 feet in the air on wet steel to make sure everyone was off the ride safely. To this day I wonder if those poor employees were not told of the approaching storm by their supervisors, and then after it arrived were duty bound to stay up there making sure park guests were safely off the ride. I was scared for them. I can't imagine being in that circustance and not being scared.

[DejaVu2001]

^ Yes, SFGAm does have a lightning detection system. I don't know the exact details, but it is there. As for shutting rides down for lighting, the rule for the tall rides is if there is lightning within 10 miles of the park, they will shut down.

[FParker185]

even if the slide tower was hit by lightning, it wouldn't affect the employee. The lifeguard has no ground potential, the electricity would find paths to ground and only ground.