Ohio Administrative Code › Title 901:9 - Fairs & Amusement Rides › Chapter 901:9-1 - Amusement Ride Standards; Bungee Jumping Standards › Section 901:9-1-17 - Safety standards for water slides

Current through all regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
(A) Slide-type attractions which allow a mix
			 of adult and small children riders shall employ a dispatch procedure which will
			 establish spacing between riders to reduce the possibility of collision between
			 riders in the splash pool or while still on the slide.
(B) A lifeguard/attendant shall be stationed
			 with a clear view and rapid access to any splash pool or run-out.
(C) Height requirements shall be the
			 manufacturer's recommendation or six inches above static water level and shall
			 apply to all slides with shallow water splash pools.
(D) Patrons must ride all water slides in a
			 feet-first position unless the manufacturer design specifications specifically
			 permits other safe riding positions.
(E) Stopping, changing positions and forming
			 chains shall be prohibited.
(F)
			 Patrons are not permitted to ride slides with small children on their
			 laps.
(G) Life jackets or other
			 personal flotation devices may not be worn on water slides unless recommended
			 by the manufacturer.
(H) Patrons
			 must exit splash pools/run-outs immediately upon arrival. It will be the
			 responsibility of the lifeguard/attendant supervising all splash pools/run-outs
			 to require patrons to exit immediately.
(I) In the absence of manufacturer
			 guidelines, patrons riding speed slides should be instructed to ride lying down
			 in a feet-first position. Patrons should be instructed to keep their legs
			 crossed and to cross their arms and to hold them close to their body for the
			 entire ride.
(J) An operator shall
			 be stationed at the dispatch point of all rides and shall remain in continual
			 visual or verbal contact with the lifeguard/attendant stationed at the splash
			 pool/run-out.
(K) When an entry
			 pool at the dispatch point exists, an attendant rather than an operator, shall
			 be present.
(L) Fencing/acceptable
			 barriers shall be installed around low profile sections of the trough and
			 around the sides and back of the splash pool/run-out. Fencing/acceptable
			 barriers shall comply with American society for testing and materials, volume
			 15.07, 2007 edition, "Design and Manufacture of Patron Directed Artificial
			 Climbing Walls, Dry Slides, Coin Operated and Purposeful Water Immersion
			 Amusement Rides and Devices and Air-supported Structures."
(M) Splash pool fencing/acceptable barriers
			 along the front and rider exits shall be at a minimum, forty-two inch tall
			 posts with three horizontal cables and designated exit point(s) shall be
			 installed along the front/rider exit side of a splash pool if the location
			 meets the following criteria:
(1) Splash pools
			 which due to their proximity to heavy surrounding patron traffic areas pose an
			 attractive opportunity for surrounding patrons to jump or dive into the splash
			 pool from the front/rider exit side of the pool;
(2) Splash pool design and lifeguard
			 placement do not allow for control of surrounding patron behavior;
(3) The installation of such a barrier does
			 not impede the effective space necessary for emergency extrication and response
			 in an emergency; and
(4) The splash
			 pool is not a zero depth entry pool; or
(5) In the alternative, sufficient space must
			 exist between run-out troughs such that the presence of the fence/barrier does
			 not impede the safety clearance envelope of the rider in the run-out.