July 23, 2025
Albany, NY

THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HIGHLIGHTS RIDE SAFETY INSPECTIONS TO ENSURE FAMILIES HAVE A SAFE AND FUN SUMMER

Look for NYSDOL Inspection Tags to Know if Ride is Safe

New PSA Showcases Use of Drones During Equipment Checks

Department Reminds Employers to Keep Workers Safe During Extreme Heat

Summer amusement park and fair season is underway, and the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is highlighting proactive measures to ensure the safety of fairgoers and workers statewide, including information regarding ride inspections, ride safety tips, and extreme heat guidance.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Nothing says summer fun like a day at the New York State Fair or one of our state’s thrilling amusement parks and county fairs. Fairgoers can breathe easy knowing that our inspectors work tirelessly to make sure every piece of ride equipment is functioning properly before anyone steps aboard. Our Department is committed to ensuring that every ride is safe and that outdoor workers are protected from the summer heat.”

Ride Safe NY

NYSDOL enforces amusement ride safety throughout New York State, with the exception of New York City. NYSDOL employees inspect all rides at stationary amusement parks at least once a year. Rides at traveling fairs or carnivals are inspected every time the ride is set up in a new location. A ride cannot operate without a permit from NYSDOL.

Since 2024, NYSDOL has been utilizing drones as an additional tool to assist amusement ride inspectors. The use of drones allows inspectors to view areas of rides that are inaccessible from the ground and to get a high-quality overhead view of rides once they are set up to ensure proper placement on event grounds. This is just one way NYSDOL is always striving to ensure the most rigorous amusement ride safety process possible.

NYSDOL inspections are a three-step process:

  1. As rides are brought into a fair or festival location, inspectors examine each individual part and component of each individual ride for defects and review documentation of ride maintenance, required non-destructive testing, and operator training.
  2. The ride is assembled and inspected again to ensure that all components have been assembled and are properly secured.
  3. The operator of the ride is required to run the ride, and it is inspected once more while operating. The person operating the ride is also observed to ensure that they are operating the ride correctly.

All amusement rides that pass inspection and are safe to ride will have a DOL inspection tag that is visible at the ride’s point of entry. If you do not see the tag, please ask the operator to show it to you. 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, visit the Ride Safe NY page at dol.ny.gov/ride-safe-ny.

Protecting workers from extreme heat

NYSDOL also reminds amusement park and fair operators of previously released guidance to protect outdoor workers during hot weather. The workers who transport, set up, and operate summer amusement park and fair rides do so during some of the hottest months of the year.

It is critical that employers take these steps to keep outdoor employees safe:

  1. Provide water: Regardless of the heat index, employers should provide each outdoor employee with 32 ounces of cool drinking water per hour.
  2. Allow for rest and relief: Employers should provide shade and paid rest when the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit or above.
  3. 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.
  4. 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, as well as a recommended heat acclimatization schedule, visit: https://dol.ny.gov/extreme-weather-guidance.