More than 160 attendees from across the amusement ride industry gathered in Vaughan, Ontario for the Amusement Ride Safety Seminar held from March 25-27, 2025.
Hosted by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) in collaboration with the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials (NAARSO), the annual event brought together industry experts, regulators, professionals from Canada's Wonderland, manufacturers and third-party engineers for three days of knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and hands-on training.
Participants earned 16 hours of continuing education credits while gaining valuable insights from industry leaders through both In-class and practical sessions. Topics covered ranged from ride inspection and auditing to incident investigation, evacuation, industry best practices, and Electrical Safety Authority training.
A key highlight was a field trip to Canada’s Wonderland where participants received a behind-the-scenes look at the park's safety practices, upcoming attraction and the latest technology used in the amusement park.
Event organizers Sonny Silva, Regional Supervisor for Elevating and Amusement Devices (EDAD), and Joelle Javier, EDAD Manager, gave an update on TSSA and ASTM regulations and standards.
Deep Dives into Specialized Topics
Andy Benko, Quality Assessment Specialist with TSSA’s Boilers and Pressure Vessels (BPV) Program, presented on BPVs in amusement rides. He emphasized the responsibility of amusement ride owners and operators to ensure that BPVs regulated under Ontario Regulation 220/01 are registered, inspected and maintained in safe operating condition.
Dr. Kathryn Woodcock, a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University in the School of Occupational and Public Health, delivered a presentation on device control interfaces in amusement rides. She highlighted the importance of designing operator controls that are within easy reach not just for comfort, but also for speed, accuracy of response and to avoid unintentional activation.
Dr. Woodcock said a task group is updating ASTM F2291-24’s clause 17 on ‘Operator Controls’ to provide more guidance on good interface design. The scope will apply to all user interfaces with safety implications, including riders, attendants and mechanics. “We want to make sure everyone understands what we mean by the principles we refer to in the standard,’ she said.
“Ideal controls will leave the user no uncertainty as to what will happen to the system when a particular control is moved a certain way,” Dr. Woodcock notes. “Meaningful displays will be user-centered, supporting accurate intuitive interpretation or the current state. Interfaces should be easy to use because the operators will do their tasks more accurately and faster.”
Devan Devalia, application engineer with SKF Group, presented on the bearings used in amusement rides and shared maintenance tips to optimize their performance and lifespan.
Other industry experts at the event include Cindy Sypher, Chair of TSSA’s Amusement Devices Industry Advisory Council; Vince Conforzi, Building/Plumbing Inspector at the City of Vaughan; and Jason Gordon, Director of Operations at Cobalt Safety East. They discussed building, fire and occupational health and safety in amusement buildings such as escape rooms, which are designed to disorient people or have reduced lighting and can make it challenging for people to find their way out in an emergency.
Concluding the seminar was a presentation by Chris Clarke, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Amusement Operators. Clarke’s presentation highlighted practical field issues with amusement rides and illustrated with before-and-after examples.
The session wrapped up with a final exam for some members who were sitting for certification.
The next seminar will take place in spring 2026. TSSA looks forward to continuing to strengthen safety, spark innovation, and support excellence across the amusement ride industry. Stay tuned.