THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HIGHLIGHTS PROACTIVE SAFET...

Department Also Reminds Amusement Park and Fair Employers to Keep Workers Safe During Extreme Heat

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is highlighting proactive measures to ensure the safety of amusement riders and workers statewide during summer amusement park and fair season, including information regarding the Department's rigorous ride inspection process, ride safety tips, and guidance to help keep outdoor workers safe in extreme heat.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "At the New York State Department of Labor, we are working to ensure every New Yorker can experience the fun of fair rides and amusement parks safely this summer. Our dedicated team of inspectors conduct thousands of inspections annually across the state, so you can be confident that these rides have passed our safety checks and are ready for you to enjoy!"

NYSDOL enforces amusement ride safety across New York State, with the exception of New York City. NYSDOL employees inspect all rides at stationary amusement parks at least once a year. Since the beginning of 2026, the Department has performed 3,176 inspections on 1,011 amusement devices and identified 703 violations. Rides at traveling fairs or carnivals are inspected every time the ride is set up in a new location. A ride cannot legally operate without a permit from NYSDOL, and all safety violations found by inspectors must be fixed before a ride passes inspection and is allowed to run.

NYSDOL also utilizes drones in its inspection process to view areas of rides that are inaccessible from the ground.

NYSDOL inspections are a three-step process:

1. As rides are brought into a fair or festival location, NYSDOL inspectors examine each individual part and component of every ride for defects.
2. Once the ride is assembled, NYSDOL inspectors perform another inspection to ensure all components have been put together correctly and are properly secured.
3. The operator is required to run the ride, and NYSDOL inspectors check once more while operating. The operator is also observed to ensure they are running the ride correctly.

NYSDOL places dated inspection tags on each ride after it has passed inspection and been deemed safe to ride. This tag will be visible at the ride's point of entry. A searchable list of ride inspection results can be found on NYSDOL's Ride Safety Database.

If you observe unsafe conditions involving an amusement ride, submit a report to [email protected].

For more information about NYSDOL's efforts to keep amusement park visitors and fairgoers safe, as well as safety tips for parents and children, visit the Ride Safe NY page on NYSDOL's website.

Extreme Heat Guidance

NYSDOL also reminds amusement park and fair operators of previously released guidance to protect outdoor workers who transport, set up, and operate amusement park and fair rides during hot weather:

• Provide water: Regardless of the heat index, employers should provide each outdoor employee with 32 ounces of cool drinking water per hour.
• Allow for rest and relief: Employers should provide shade and paid rest when the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit or above, and more frequent rest breaks once the heat index exceeds 90 degrees.
• Develop and provide training: Employers should train outdoor workers and supervisors on the signs and symptoms of common heat-related illnesses and basic first aid measures annually and before extreme heat exposure.
• Develop and provide a plan: Employers should make a written plan for how they handle acclimating workers to the heat, extreme heat preparedness, and emergency response.

For more information about NYSDOL's extreme heat guidance, including suggestions for creating an effective training and preparedness plan, visit NYSDOL's extreme weather guidance webpage.