Gröna Lund receives fierce criticism after the fatal accident at the amusement park last summer. However, according to the Accident Investigation Authority, inadequate public supervision may also have contributed to the accident.
The supervision that takes place today for amusement park attractions is too weak, says SHK's Director-General John Ahlberk.
What the Police Authority does today, which is entirely in accordance with the mandate, is essentially to check that the roller coasters are inspected. If they are, then they are approved for use, says Ahlberk.
SHK believes, after its investigation into the accident at Gröna Lund last year, that a significantly more active supervision is needed.
Concrete guidance required
A supervision that, for example, can provide concrete guidance and support to amusement park companies and inspection companies on how to work with safety to get it as good as possible.
SHK writes in its report that it cannot be certain that stronger public supervision would have prevented the accident. However, it is reasonable to assume that it could have contributed to increased knowledge and better conditions for the park "to handle the circumstances that were contributing factors to the course of events", according to the authority.
In the report, the government is therefore recommended to strengthen public supervision of amusement park activities.
Ongoing supervisory measures
This should include, among other things, the possibility of ongoing supervisory measures and supervisory visits, as well as guidance and information to amusement park companies about the safety requirements.
"We have just received the report, but I can already announce that the government will review this issue in an inquiry, and work on the directive is underway", says Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (M) in a comment to TT.
SHK also wants the police to review the regulations on amusement park facilities, with the aim of increasing safety. This involves, among other things, making the amusement parks' own responsibility clearer.
They are also sending a recommendation to the international trade organisation for amusement parks, IAAPA.
The organisation and its members should review whether the standards for safety components on roller coasters need to be changed, as they were inadequate in the Jetline accident. Furthermore, SHK's observations on the need for systematic safety work and the use of spare parts on roller coasters should be highlighted broadly.
