Safety Inspections Underway For Rides At Tulsa State Fair

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OKLAHOMA – The Tulsa State Fair gets underway Thursday. One of the biggest draws to the fair is the carnival rides.

But before the fair fun begins, The Oklahoma Department of Labor must make sure the amusement rides are in fair shape. Inspectors check every nook and cranny of the slides, the swings, and the wheels and tracks.

"Our main goal is to make sure nobody gets hurt," Lloyd Fields, Oklahoma Department of Labor Commissioner, said.

The traveling thrill rides are made to be set up and taken down quickly.

The turn around from Albuquerque is Sunday night to Thursday at 5 p.m. to be open," Fields said.

Which is why inspectors have to keep a sharp eye.

"He'll look at the castors underneath, he'll look at the rail, he'll look at the ground wires, he'll look at the tubs, he'll look at the lapseat, the seatbelts," Fields said.

The hazards are flagged and must be fixed before the ride is considered safe.

"They look underneath, on top, inside round, everywhere," said Fields.

Inspectors thoroughly look over the rides before the fair starts. But they continue to monitor the rides throughout the duration of the fair.

"We are in the business of making sure that whoever walks in that gate, walks out the same way," he said.

The Comet Two is a new attraction. It's billed as the world's largest traveling roller coaster which may concern some people. But the coaster is only visiting two fairs this year, the Wisconsin State Fair and in Tulsa.

The Amusement Ride inspectors say the thrill ride is looked at closely by the fairgrounds consultant, the Jerry Murphy Brothers Consultant and the inspectors from the Department of Labor. They say it's a very safe ride.

The fair opens at 5 p.m. Thursday September 30th, 2010 and runs through October 10, 2010.  Hours of operation and ticket prices vary by day.