Superman Tower of Power removal

[cycamps]

^I didn't know it was like that. That's interesting.

[FParker185]

http://www.clermontsteel.com/

That is the former Southern Ohio Fabricators, there are a few pics scattered around their website of coaster pieces being made, though they are not labeled as such.

[UWW-10]

While this isn't really a shocker (since most people knew this was coming) but the Kentucky Legislature passed the bill that banned anyone from under 18 years of age from operating any kind of amusement ride.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9Sv ... wD8VPH0JO0[/url]

[bigb7965]

^ dead link

[rico28]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9Svkarn18WrJBiVvzRUWkr3vplwD8VPH0JO0
I agree with the the new policy. I feel safer with someone is 18 an adult.
this works now

[sfgam1992]

^ I dont think this will do anything other than cause staffing problems. Age is just a number in this situation. I've met plenty of 16 year olds more mature than 18 year olds. Anyone with the right training can operate a ride safely.

[cycamps]

^I totally agree with you. However, it seems like lots of parks do it. I know that Cedar Point enforces that policy.

[Trailblazer Tony]

It shouldn't necessarily be an age rule, but I think there should definitely be a consideration to years of experience. I think you should have to work around smaller rides for a length of time before you can progress to rides of this size and thrill.

[rct2wizard360]

^I personally do not feel that thats the way to go either.

Think about it.
On one end, you have teenagers and on, riding huge pieces of machinery. Of course one of them could do something stupid.

But on the other end, you have a little kid, who's curious, and dosen't like listening to strangers, around a not so big piece of machinery. Something can still go terribly wrong.

All I think that would help would be stricter policies and get rid of this laid back attitude that I see a lot of ride-ops have today.

[Linzi]

i get that they have to have an age for liability and what not, but to say i can do it at 18 becasue im an "adult".... no. who says i'm not mature at 17 and am at 18?

[UWW-10]

Well...I guess if we're passing legislation for no one under 18 to be operating amusement ride machinery, then we might as well pass legislation that no one under 18 can drive a car either.

If a 16 year old can hold a valid license (and at 15 able to hold a temp license with a responsible guardian in the front passenger seat) to operate a piece of machinery on an open road with no track, or "emergency stop" to just kill the car in a split instant, then why can't a 16 year old push a button that sends a message to a computer?

[tp41190]

^good point

But the truth is if one (responsible) 16 year old can do it, then there will be another (un-responsible) teen who will be able to do it. There really is no way to tell the two apart. And like you said its really just pushing buttons, then the (un-responsible) teen will then be like "oh nothing will happen, its just a computer, I dont have to do anything, its just a crappy job, ect). Then when the time comes where theres a serious accident they will be too busy, not caring, to even notice.

[DejaVu2001]

^ Problem with that argument is what about the irresponsible 18 year-old or the irresponsible 22 year-old. The only way to really solve the problem of bad employees is to be more selective in hiring (ie. more interview questions, harder interview questions, etc) All changing the age to 18 will do is cause more staffing problems.

[bigb7965]

what about the canopy that surrounded the tower?

could that have prevented the ops from seeing the accident about to happen?

[FParker185]

Well, maybe, But the ride ops were aware of what happened but didn't stop the ride. The girl at enable knew what was happening(or at least that something was very wrong) and yelled at the person at the main controls to stop the ride, even though she had a ride stop button directly next to her.