Ride inspection at Ohio State Fair is underway

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – It’s just two days until the start of the Ohio State Fair and final preparations are underway, including making sure rides are safe and ready to go.

Fair organizers said they take ride safety very seriously.

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The Ohio Department of Agriculture is in charge of inspecting each ride at the fair, and the state has some of the strongest ride safety regulations due to Tyler’s Law, named after 18-year-old Tyler Jarrell who died from a fair ride accident in 2017.

Each ride at the fairgrounds is looked at by two inspectors before being cleared for operation.

There are 10 full-time inspectors with the Department of Agriculture. And they go through rigorous training each year to stay up to date with the latest ride safety regulations.

David Miran, the deputy director of regulatory programs with the Department of Agriculture and the chief ride inspector, said there have only been very minor problems they’ve come across at the fair, with all of those fixed by the ride company almost immediately.

“Our inspectors go through the ride as it’s being set up, as it’s fully set up, and as it is being operated as well to ensure the ride is being maintained and operated in conformance with manufacturer specifications,” Miran said.

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The Ohio Department of Agriculture said it’ll have multiple inspectors out each day of the fair to ensure everything is operating smoothly.

The Ohio State Fair opens Wednesday, July 24, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 4.

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