Amusement Ride Operator fails in attempt to challenge infringement notices

A Darwin amusement ride operator who elected to challenge in court, infringement notices issued to him by NT WorkSafe Inspectors has been convicted and fined $5,000 in the Darwin Local Court.

Mr Tyrone Troy Taylor faced one charge under section 193 of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 for failing to comply with an improvement notice.

In August 2021, Mr Taylor setup a number of amusement rides at Karu Park next to Bagot Road to operate a carnival. Mr Taylor was issued with a number of improvement notices for his rides due to maintenance concerns after NT WorkSafe Inspectors conducted compliance checks.

At the time of the incident, Mr Taylor was already before the courts facing WorkSafe charges over the 2019 Octopus Ride malfunction at the Freds Pass Show which injured two passengers.

Mr Taylor failed to develop maintenance regimes for his rides as required by the improvement notices, and was subsequently issued with the infringement notices which he challenged.

The Northern Territory’s Work Health and Safety Regulator Peggy Cheong said it was disappointing Mr Taylor appeared not to take his work health and safety duties seriously in relation to the maintenance of his amusement rides considering the serious incident he was involved in two years earlier.

“Improvement notices are one of the tools available to inspectors to ensure compliance with the work health and safety laws.”

“Inspectors will issue an improvement notice if they form a reasonable belief that there has been a contravention of the laws that could create a risk to health and safety,” Ms Cheong said.

“WorkSafe Inspectors will follow up on improvement notices they issue to ensure safety in a workplace and will not hesitate to take further action if the notice was not complied with.”

Mr Taylor was also required to pay an additional victim’s levy of $150.00.