Ride Safety Top Priority For Investigators At Tulsa Fairgrounds

Inspectors are at the Tulsa fairgrounds to check the rides before the Tulsa State Fair opens in two days.

Their inspection includes the Skyride, where one worker was killed and another injured while doing maintenance on the gondola ride two weeks ago.

The teams of inspectors from the Oklahoma Department of Labor spent much of Tuesday going through the ride parts that travel on flatbed trucks to the fairgrounds.

Over the next 48 hours, crews will put the pieces together and the inspectors will come in again to make sure the rides are good to go,

For the next two weeks, the midway at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds will be filled with 60 carnival rides and roller coasters.

"The fair almost becomes a little city in Tulsa. You know, these rides came from Oklahoma City, and all over across the United States, so when they get here, they have to setup and be inspected right before they open on Thursday at 5 p.m.," said Sarah Thompson with the Tulsa State Fair.

Every beam and part comes together like a large puzzle; and to make sure every piece is in working order, the Tulsa State Fair teams with the Oklahoma Department of Labor to inspect and certify the rides.

Thompson said, “The Department of Labor will go through every ride with a fine-tooth comb and make sure it's safe as possible."

She said nothing at the fair operates unless it passes the state inspection; that includes the permanent Skyride where, earlier this month, a safety basket with two maintenance workers inside fell, killing one of them.

9/12/2015 Related Story: One Dead, One Injured Working On Tulsa Fairgrounds Skyride

It, too, will be inspected before anyone takes a ride in the gondolas.

“We just want to make sure that we're providing a safe environment for all our fair guests," Thompson said.

The fairgrounds are also buzzing with 650 vendors moving in and setting up.