Back in the swing
Inspector banned after rollercoaster horror crash is now a fairground safety officer
AN INSPECTOR who gave a rollercoaster the all-clear just 16 days before it derailed and injured 10 people is back working in fairground safety.
The Health and Safety Executive banned Craig Boswell from inspecting rides after last June’s horrific crash at M&D’s theme park near Motherwell.
We watched this week as he worked at a fair at the Links Market in Kirkcaldy – wearing a hi-viz jacket with “Showmen’s Guild Safety Officer” on the back.
Boswell spent two days at the fair before it opened yesterday.
When our reporter confronted him, he said he was working on “safety logistics”.
Asked why he was there, he replied: “To do a job that I’m paid to do. I’m a safety officer, just the logistics. I’m not inspecting any rides.” He declined to comment further. Boswell issued the Tsunami rollercoaster at M&Ds with a “Declaration of Operational Compliance” confirming it was safe on June 10 last year.
On June 26, five carriages on the ride derailed at up to 40mph. Ten people were injured as victims and wreckage crashed to the ground.
Bystanders fought desperately to free youngsters trapped. Three children were seriously hurt.
Student Katie McArdle, 19, who suffered a broken wrist, said at the time: “Honestly thought I was going to die, sitting in that carriage upsidedown with everyone screaming.
“I have never been so scared in my entire life. Most horrifying thing ever.”
After the crash, the HSE inspected the ride Boswell had passed and found “significant issues” with the “condition of the mechanical and structural parts”.
They issued him with a legal prohibition notice banning him from inspecting any more rides until he could prove he was competent.
And they warned all fairground operators with rides Boswell had inspected to get them checked again.
Operators were told to examine “critical parts” and “pay particular attention to any corrosion”.
Principal inspector Cameron Adam wrote in a report: “There is clearly the potential for other rides examined by Mr Boswell to be unsafe.”
Concerns were also raised about bouncy castles and other inflatables that Boswell had checked. The HSE reminded operators of the need to check and maintain strong anchor points.
Boswell, 54, of Uddingston, Lanarkshire, worked at the time for a company called Amusement Inspection Services. He took himself off the register of fairground ride inspectors after the crash but that wasn’t enough for the HSE.
Despite his past, Boswell was hired to work in safety for the Showmen’s Guild, who represent travelling fair operators around the UK.
An HSE spokesman said: “HSE can confirm the prohibition notice served on Mr Boswell remains in force.
“The decision to engage him is a matter for the Showmen’s Guild. They have a legal duty to ensure the people they employ have the necessary knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications.
“We have been assured by the Guild that Mr Boswell’s role at the fair will not involve the inspection or ongoing safety of any of the fairground machinery.”
The Showmen’s Guild could not be reached for comment.
Fife Council, who issue public entertainment licences for events such as the Links Market, said: “Operators must demonstrate that appropriate insurance, health and safety documentation and guidance is being followed.
“We take the safety of visitors and local people very seriously. We work with a range of authorities – police, fire and ambulance services – and voluntary organisations to ensure that this event runs as smoothly as possible.”
We confirm that the prohibition notice on Mr Boswell remains in force HSE