§3005-09 Maintenance of Amusement Devices

   (a)   Protection of passengers.

      (1)   Passenger-carrying amusement devices, interior and exterior parts. All interior and exterior parts of passenger carrying amusement devices, with which a passenger may come in contact, must be smooth and rounded, free from sharp, rough or splintered edges and corners, and have no protruding studs, bolts, screws or other projections that might cause injury. Interior parts that a passenger may be thrown onto by the action of the amusement device must be sufficiently padded to prevent injury, in accordance with the device's operating manual.

      (2)   Restraining devices and/or containing devices. Passenger restraining or containing devices must be inspected daily in accordance with paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 3005-10 and maintained as needed to ensure they are fully functional before the operation of the ride.

      (3)   Self-powered amusement devices. Amusement devices that are self-powered by the passenger must have the driving mechanism securely guarded to prevent passengers from gaining access to the mechanism. The driving mechanism must also be secured in a manner that will prevent passengers with long hair, clothing, or accessories from becoming tangled in the mechanism.

   (b)   Amusement devices constructed prior to adoption of this rule. All existing amusement devices must be in compliance with the following safety standards:

      (1)   Code in effect at the time the amusement device was manufactured;

      (2)   Code in effect at the time of alteration of the device;

      (3)   Manufacturer's manual and bulletin. If no manual exists, then a registered design professional must create a manual for the device;

      (4)   There must be no pinch or nip points that may cause injury to a passenger;

      (5)   There must be no exposed electrical wiring creating unsafe conditions; and

      (6)   The safety of bystanders and passengers must be provided for when operating and loading/unloading the amusement device.

   (c)   Repairs.

      (1)   Maintenance log and manual. All repairs must be entered into the maintenance log and performed in accordance with the manufacturer's operation and maintenance manual and any other specific repair instructions.

      (2)   Life-supporting or suspending parts. A life-supporting or suspending part such as a pin, axle, or tension strap, that fails inspection must be removed and a new or repaired part must be used as a replacement in accordance with the manual's specifications. No amusement device may be placed into operation until all necessary repairs are made and the repaired parts are reinspected and retested.

      (3)   Welds. A weld that fails inspection must be noted in the maintenance log and must be repaired before the device is placed in operation. Repairs must be completed by a welder licensed in accordance with Article 407 of Title 28 of the Administrative Code. Where the welding work is not performed in the city, welds must be made by American Welding Society (AWS) qualified welders.

      (4)   Notification. The owner or amusement park operator must notify the manufacturer of the amusement device of any defects. Before starting repairs, owners or amusement park operators must request an official repair procedure from the manufacturer. Where the manufacturer is no longer in business, the repairs must be made following a procedure prescribed by a registered design professional.

   (d)   Out of service individual units. Individual units of an amusement device, such as cars, seats, or other carriers that may be taken out of service without jeopardizing the safety of the entire amusement device as outlined in the operating manual, must be firmly secured with caution tape and clearly marked with a sign reading "Out of Service".