The safety standards of mobile fun fairs or carnivals have been overlooked even though they directly affect children, said Channarong Waiyapoj, chairman of the EITʼs safety engineering subcommittee.
“We should protect our children from accidents when they play at mobile fun fairs. If we leave it too late, it will like closing the stable doors after the horse has bolted,” he said.
The institute estimates there are 1,000 mobile carnivals nationwide, with 60pc or 600 not following safety standards.
They operate without safety checks because they just get permission from the provincial administrative organisation (PAO), municipality or the tambon administrative organisation (TAO) to stage entertainment activities.
Organising a mobile fun fair does not require a specific licence for safety control.
Mr Channarong said most mobile fun fair operators used second-hand or very old equipment.
Equipment with high risks include Ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds and inflatable fun attractions.
Apart from accidents, children face risks of receiving infections from other children.
Currently, there are no ministerial regulations controlling mobile carnivals or fun fairs.
Customers can lodge complaints only with the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB).
“To solve this issue, we need cooperation from all parties such as the Interior Ministry, the OCPB and amusement park operators,” Mr Channarong said.
The Interior Ministry can directly instruct PAOs and TAOs to check safety standards at mobile fun fairs before granting them permission.
Sittisak Luangmornlert, president of the Thai Amusement Park and Attractions (TAPA), said his agency expected to have standards for amusements and attractions, covering all segments such theme parks, mobile amusement parks, indoor amusement parks and water parks within a few years.
Recently the TAPA and the EIT jointly introduced a code of safety standards, but that covers only amusement parks.
The TAPA will encourage its 20 members to implement these safety standards first.
Thailand has almost 20 amusement parks and 40 water parks operated mostly by small operators.
The Board of Investment has offered privileges to amusement parks that have an investment budget of more than B500 million.
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