Fairground Safety (Hansard, 23 June 1992)

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many accidents at fairgrounds including fatalities have occurred in each of the past 10 years; what percentage of fairgrounds are inspected annually by Health and Safety inspectors; how many enforcement180W notices on rides which required improvement or closure have been issued in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement about fairground safety.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
The following table shows the number of fatal and other injuries, to employed persons and members of the public at fairgrounds and pleasure parks reported to the Health and Safety Executive from 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1991:

Year¹ Employed persons² Severity of injury Members of the public⁴Severity of injury

Fatal Major/over 3days³ Fatal Major

1986–87 1 24 1 70

1987–88 1 26 4 107

1988–89 — 41 2 169

1989–90 — 29 — 107

1990–91 — 38 3 108

¹ 1 April to 31 March.

² Employees (including trainees) and self-employed persons.

³ Major injuries as defined in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR); over three-day injuries which cause absence from work for over three days.

⁴ Over three day injuries to members of the public are not reportable under RIDDOR.

Injury data for the years prior to 1986–87 are not available.
Information is not available as to the percentage of fairgrounds which are inspected annually by Health and Safety Executive inspectors.
Between 1 April 1991 and 31 March 1992 the Health and Safety Executive issued a total of five improvement notices and 12 prohibition notices in connection with fairground safety.
Sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 place responsibilities on employers and the self employed to ensure the health and safety of those at work and also others who might be affected by the work activity. At visits to work activities, including fairgrounds and pleasure parks for which they have responsibility for the enforcement of health and safety legislation, Health and Safety Executive inspectors seek compliance with the provisions of the Act and take whatever action is appropriate to ensure that those responsible comply with their legal duties.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what talks she has had with the British Safety Council about safety in fairgrounds.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
I have had no such talks.

Year¹	Employed persons² Severity of injury	Members of the public⁴Severity of injury
	Fatal	Major/over 3days³	Fatal	Major
1986–87	1	24	1	70
1987–88	1	26	4	107
1988–89	—	41	2	169
1989–90	—	29	—	107
1990–91	—	38	3	108
¹ 1 April to 31 March.
² Employees (including trainees) and self-employed persons.
³ Major injuries as defined in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR); over three-day injuries which cause absence from work for over three days.
⁴ Over three day injuries to members of the public are not reportable under RIDDOR.