Smiler rollercoaster at Alton Towers - carriage collision

Firestar_3x · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:19

Sliver said:
Human error I suspect. Someone, probably a single individual, will get dealt the blame for this and Alton Towers will walk away with their heads held high.

Human error indeed, however such error paths should have been designed out of the system with some very simple track checking.

Burnsy2023 said:
I'm sure the HSE will have a field day.

They really really will.

Sliver · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:20

robfosters said:
Lots of vital time wasted building a platform to get to the victims.

Surely it should be designed to allow quicker access in case of events like this.

As you can never predict where an accident will happen, how the hell do expect access platforms to be in place ? :rolleyes:

smr · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:20

"James Gay, another visitor to the amusement park who saw the aftermath, questioned why the ride was still open after it had been hit by technical glitches throughout the day."

randal · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:20

robfosters said:
Lots of vital time wasted building a platform to get to the victims.

Surely it should be designed to allow quicker access in case of events like this.

I presume there's 16 potential serious neck injuries up there, so they need to be able to get people down from the 10-15ft height as smoothly as possible lest they do any more damage.

jas72 · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:20

Always wonder if this could happen but convinced myself that it couldn't....

Sliver · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:21

Firestar_3x said:
Human error indeed, however such error paths should have been designed out of the system with some very simple track checking.

I hope Alton Towers read this thread. I'm sure they would be keen on employing you. You have all the answers. :rolleyes:

Burnsy2023 · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:21

smr said:
"James Gay, another visitor to the amusement park who saw the aftermath, questioned why the ride was still open after it had been hit by technical glitches throughout the day."

Technical glitches aren't an issue if they're not safety related. There should have been robust measures in place to always ensure the ride is safe though.

Firestar_3x · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:21

jas72 said:
Always wonder if this could happen but convinced myself that it couldn't....

Anything can happen, just events like this are low in probability, much like a plane crashing.

Gambisk · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:21

smr said:
"James Gay, another visitor to the amusement park who saw the aftermath, questioned why the ride was still open after it had been hit by technical glitches throughout the day."

More than likely as its the premier attraction of the park. They will have wanted to keep it open as soon as the glitches are ironed out. Obviously they messed up somewhere in this process

Ascendancy · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:22

People asking Alton Towers on twitter if the ride will be open tomorrow. Really?

Burnsy2023 · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:22

randal said:
I presume there's 16 potential serious neck injuries up there, so they need to be able to get people down from the 10-15ft height as smoothly as possible lest they do any more damage.

Assuming that people aren't having more acute injuries. Spinal issues are always secondary to people breathing or bleeding out, both of which are potential killers here.

smr · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:23

randal said:
I presume there's 16 potential serious neck injuries up there, so they need to be able to get people down from the 10-15ft height as smoothly as possible lest they do any more damage.

not just neck injuries, quite a few bloody faces being reported.

Firestar_3x · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:24

Sliver said:
I hope Alton Towers read this thread. I'm sure they would be keen on employing you. You have all the answers.

I'm a Safety Risk Consultant in the Oil and Gas industry, deailing with major refinary projects both on and offshore all round the world, so yes i'm very well placed to comment thanks.

From a mitigation and safety systems point of view looking at what they could have done on the AT ride is childs play.

Clearly someone decided that an event like this was of low enough probability that the cost of such track checking systems couldn't be justified by AT, go read up on ALARP, the HSE will now want to know why and how this decision was made.

robfosters · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:24

Yet another good news day.

smr · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:25

Firestar_3x said:
I'm a Safety Risk Consultant in the Oil and Gas industry, deailing with major refinary projects both on and offshore all round the world, so yes i'm very well placed to comment thanks.

From a mitigation and safety systems point of view looking at what they could have done on the AT ride is childs play.

they probably would be keen on employing you then, just like he said

Sliver · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:26

Firestar_3x said:
I'm a Safety Risk Consultant in the Oil and Gas industry, deailing with major refinary projects both on and offshore all round the world, so yes i'm very well placed to comment thanks.

From a mitigation and safety systems point of view looking at what they could have done on the AT ride is childs play.

You are the man. I worship you. Now go forth and fix this world !

robfosters · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:26

Firestar_3x said:
I'm a Safety Risk Consultant in the Oil and Gas industry, deailing with major refinary projects both on and offshore all round the world, so yes i'm very well placed to comment thanks.

From a mitigation and safety systems point of view looking at what they could have done on the AT ride is childs play.

Superb comeback

smr · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:27

pwned.

Sliver · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:32

robfosters said:
Superb comeback

It was fabulous. He's a true keyboard hero. I am shamed :rolleyes:

randal · 2 Jun 2015 at 16:33

Sliver said:
It was fabulous. He's a true keyboard hero. I am shamed

Even when beat, butt hurt.