Minor PKI Workers be relocated from Rides

[Captain Obvious]

http://members.aol.com/rides911/accidents.htm

Sorry, I found out about this yesterday but didn't have enought time to post it.

[coasterbilly]

wow that isn't cool. I want to be an op somewhere when i turn 17 when i drive. Guess not with that rule. Maybe when i go to college i can be near a park and operate. I guess the move is wise, what do you guys think?

[King Bowser]

Oh please this is a load of bull...Kids that run those kinda rides runs know what they are doing.

[RevengeofTheSmurfs]

Well I guess more and more people are getting hurt at amusement parks and I think its there own fault.

[coasterbilly]

yes i agree, but they do train these kids just like they do the adult ops so what is the difference? They do what they are told and operate it the way it is meant to operate, it's just ride malfunctions that cause these accidents. No way it's the kids fault, i think some people should argue this. :jerry:

[flightoffear1996]

Well I think if you can go out and die for you cournty when you turn 18 you should be able to buy a beer or a lottery ticket. Well the operators today do not care about the rules for I carried a camera and I let the operator see it and he did not say a word. And sometimes if people are too big they let them on anyway. So I would have to agree on what they are doing but then again it wont effect me in any way.

[Captain Picard]

I think the difference would be that if you get someone killed and you was over 18

you would goto prison. I don't think it would be bad to have one adult at each ride.

[Captain Obvious]

This is pretty stupid. Altho the common idea is that most minors are less mature than people over 18, most minors are afraid to mess up. Also they worry more about work. I mean, look at a high school todays absence list. There is always more Seniors out that underclassmen.

[KIBeast]

It could have to do with maturity, but I don't think it makes a whole lot of difference as long as they are properly trained. What could an adult 18 or over do that a minor could not? Especially if you're talking coasters. Whatever happens, happens. No adult will be able to do anything differently. I think this is a paranoid move.

[swampmonster]

The fact is that people get more mature with age. Of course there are some minors that are more responsible than some adults-its not an iron-clad statement that no minor is as qualified as an adult, but the fact is that the average adult is more mature than the average minor. This bill wouldn't solve the problem of immature people operating rides, but trying to say that minors are just like adults isn't close to being true.

And there are other reasons why seniors will skip more school than freshmen: one-they have cars, two-they've been in school four years longer and are more burnt out.

[Browntggrr]

I don't think they are saying that adults are always more mature than minors, but that if you take a minor out of the equation if something were to happen there would be more blame put on the park, and not the maturity of a minor.

McDonald's is not allowed to have minors do some of the work that a 18 year old is allowed to do (use the tomato slicer- but that was when I was working there 13 years ago), and in restaurants, a minor is not allowed to serve alcoholic beverages, and minors are not allowed to work certian hours. There has to be a point where they are allowed to do certian things, and that point is at the age of 18. I agree with the fact that you can die for your country, vote, and buy lotto tickets, but cannot be served alcoholic beverages- is just plain wrong.

Don't take offense to it. They are not singling out PKI, just the amusement park industry as a whole.

[RevengeofTheSmurfs]

The McDonalds I worked at you had to be at least 15years old that was last year..I quit because they screwed me I HATE MCDONALDS! and its hard to Work and go to school...Bills kill ya!

but with this topic I think the Minors are doing a great job they know what they are doing.

[flightoffear1996]

If you can die for country at 18 or at 16 if they really need people you should be able to vote, drink a beer, or buy a lottery ticket. In Europe they have no drinking age limit and have a much less achol abuse rate. What I am trying to say is that if you are qualiflied for the job and you know how to operate the machinary you should be able to operate the rides. I guess MO changed on this one.

[DirtySteve]

actually you can't join the military at 16...have to be 18, or 17 if your parents sign a concent form. Also, Europe does have drinking age limits...varies from country to country.

[BoddaH1994]

If you can die for country at 18 or at 16 if they really need people you should be able to vote, drink a beer, or buy a lottery ticket. In Europe they have no drinking age limit and have a much less achol abuse rate. What I am trying to say is that if you are qualiflied for the job and you know how to operate the machinary you should be able to operate the rides. I guess MO changed on this one.

What Dirty Steve said is absolutely correct. I'm sure that the new bill (or law.. whatever) that has this in it isn't intended to insult minors or imply that they have the inability to run the rides, but it's in the interest of the park. When you're 18+, an employer can more easily hold you responsible for your own actions. I'm not saying that if there was an accident, you'd get sued, but if something tragic happened at least if the park did get sued the party couldn't claim that there was just some kid driving the ride, which make the park look inept.

Look at it this way: you also have to be 18 to drive a fork lift. Does this mean that all people under the age of 18 are incompetant and unable to drive a fork lift? No. It's simply that in our country, when you're 18 you are an adult, and you are given a certain level of responsibility for yourself as well as the enviornment around you.

Another thing that you might want to consider is the fact that you're parents have control of you when you're under 18. If an individual were to get hurt on a job site who was under 18, then the parents could elect to sue the company. It's kind of a common conception that a parent always thinks that their kids are "perfect" and that the wrongdoing was the work of the company, so that's why most jobs with any risk at all are left to patrons over the page of 18.

Now as far as the drinking thing that FoF1996 mentioned goes, that's kind of a hard social fact to equate to this. It's very true that alcahole is less of a problem in other countries than it is here, but that's not necessarily due to the drinking age itself. It's the fact that you were denied something you're whole life until you reach a certain age and then you have an inherent desire to binge with that particular privledge. It's almost like how every kid that turns 16 and gets his/her license is always more than willing to be the driver when traveling with a groupfor the first year or so. Unfortunately though, when it comes to drinking, problems occure that lead to alcaholism or unforunate accidents before the novelty has worn off.

Anyway, like I said, it's not a matter of insult, it's a matter of protecting the park.

Regards,

Ryan

[flightoffear1996]

As the United States ecomny starts to slow and less people have jobs adults are now taking over teen job such as amusment parks, fast food etc. and if they pass this bill or law whatever it is it going to mean its going to be even harder as a underage person to find a decant paying job.

[Mrs. G.]

OK, I just re-read this ridiculous article, typical political garbage. The best part is the quote about the fact that riders "often act like children, because they often are children." There's one for Captain Obvious!

From the (way) over-18, parental, and retired-insurance-exec perspective:

Liability is not an issue here. If you're not married, Mom and/or Dad can sue whether you're 14 or 80. If you ARE married (another thing you can do at 16 with consent) spouse takes over the right to sue. On the flip side, parents are not held liable for actions of minors over 13. Technically, the insurance carrier sets and oversees the safety programs, standards, procedures and policies for any business. They are not likely to hand over this kind of control to the government easily. I also feel that this would be another huge step backward for our teens, as someone would be sure to pounce on this bill as a precedent to slap even more restrictions on driving, if not push it to 18.

Safety is not determined by age. (That said, let me also say that the ride ops at PKI are by far the best as a whole I've ever encountered.) Even the statistics cited by the Representative indicate that under-18's only account for 20% of injuries - despite being a large percentage of the workforce (that statistic left out), so his own statistics negate his logic.

I doubt this will fly but I would hate to see it happen. Not once have I felt in any danger nor been concerned due to youth of a ride operator. It's got to be a tough job, in most areas it's a seasonal job, which people over 18 tend not to want anyway, it's a youth-oriented industry, and the teens are doing a fine job. It's only a proposed bill anyway, which can take years to get through our government. I say, let the Representative spend a day in the blazing sun (or biting cold) taking lip from strangers, running back and forth with stuffed animals and checking lap bars, measuring crying kids and cleaning up puke - and see if he does a better and safer job than the teenagers.

[FOFzySUPer]

Personally I think this will be a great move for King's Island, having people over 18 in rides. That way they will all be able to handle the responsibility of it. The only thing that suck about the park getting rid of minor is, that over half of the rides department is fill with them. Frankly most people 18 and over look for more serious work, not just a "summer job". Besides i don't think the maturity level of minors is the only factor why King's Island is doing this. Have you ever had a crew of 11 people and at least 8 or 9 of them have to go on break between a three hour period, or you could minor violate them. It royally sucks to have a whole crew of minors and your left without a break on a 15 hour shift. I believe BoddaH1994 has a valid point, if you have to be 18 to operate certain machinery, what should be the difference when operating a rollercoaster?

[coasterbilly]

yeah you do have a point, but i really think they should look into this more. What if they run out of people over 18 to operate, where will they look to? I think they should only pick a select few minors to operate some rides that will take it seriously.

[FOFzySUPer]

If King's Island were to pick certain minors to work in ride and not allow others, they could be brought up on discrimination charges. They can't rightfully say to a kid that you can't work in rides because we find you incompetant of operating a rollercoaster. Some kid will walk in there and cry discrimination, I almost garuntee it. I see their only choice either being; A) Keep hiring on minors, or Not to hire minors at all.

I beleive that on a popular ride, it's the Supervisor that should deside who can be mature enough to run the ride and who is just not responsible enough, no matter their age.

~Tif~

[DirtySteve]

Trust me...there are plenty of people around here over 18 to hire...they wouldn't run out. It's also perfectly ok for them to say to minors, "hey, you're too young to operate a ride." Alot of places have age limits for certain departments...like when I worked at Best Buy...you had to be 18 to work in our department, because of some of the machinery.

[BoddaH1994]

...like when I worked at Best Buy...you had to be 18 to work in our department, because of some of the machinery.

Proving the point once again... Nathan should NEVER have been allowed to operate the machinery in my department.

[DirtySteve]

so I crashed a pallet jack 7 or 8 times...a night...so what

[DragonLord]

I'm kinda mixed on this. I know a lot of 16 year olds that are by far more mature than their 18 year old counter parts. I've also seen my fair share of 16 year olds horsing around.

I belive that anyone at the age of 16 can operate a coaster if they are given the strict training properly and everything for the training is recorded and signed off like it's supposed to be and logged properly and all refresher training is done on time and properly.

Aslo, all the work done by the op (no matter the age) should be watched over by the sups and any and all infractions be logged and corrected. If someone is constently screwing up or missing things or just can't do it, then move them to another department. When it comes to safetly you can't fool around.

The guests should take it upon themselves to be the park's eyes and ears. If you guys see something that is going on that bothers you (like an op knowing you have a camera and letting you take it on the ride with you) then you should get their names and note the time (incase you can't tell someone right away) so you can let GR know and possible talk with a rides manger before you leave the park. The sups and managers can't see everything, so we need your help to keep you safe.

Also, most of the accidents that happen on rides are usually the fault of the guest. People are dumb and want more of a thrill and try to wigle their way out of the restraints or knowing unbuckle themselves while the ride is operating. Some other dumb things people do is throw things off the rides, spit on the rides, carry on cameras or other things that might fall off (or out of pockets). Guests need to be punished for such activities and at PKI they can be kicked out of the park, banned from the park, season passes revokted and even arrested all depending on the infraction. Stupidity (I didn't know you couldn't do that!) isn't an excuse.

[Mrs. G.]

I agree with you as usual DragonLord.

Safety is everyone's responsibility.

[teenageninja]

Here's my .02. They would never have enough 18+ y.o. to run rides. There is no way. I think that all the minors would be grandfathered in if such a bill was passed.