Child help desks, safety officers mandatory in amusement parks: panel
Name and details of the licencee responsible for any safety lapses should be displayed at the parks. Each park should have systems to provide urgent medical treatment in the event that accidents occur.
The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has recommended that amusement parks in the state must have child help desks and child safety officers on-site. This proposal was made following a petition filed by S. Gautham, a resident of Kurichakam in Kozhikode. The commission emphasized that parents, park operators, and the administration all bear responsibility for ensuring the safety of children at amusement parks.
The Division Bench, consisting of acting chairperson Cicily Joseph and member Shajesh Bhaskar P., suggested that parks should undergo regular inspections by technical safety experts and acquire safety certificates. These inspections should be conducted by experienced staff members stationed at each ride and safety center. Clearly visible safety signage and instructions should be provided at every ride, tailored to be easily understood by children.
Special safety features must be incorporated for differently-abled children. The name and details of the park licensee responsible for any safety violations should be prominently displayed. Each amusement park should have emergency medical protocols in place to manage accidents. All parks in the state should adhere to guidelines issued by the Kerala High Court and the Local Self-government department.
A high-powered committee, comprising the Kerala State Pollution Control Board Secretary, the Public Works Mechanical division superintending engineer, the Director of Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, and the Local Self-Governments department Principal Director, should collaborate with technical inspection agencies to develop safety protocols and ride safety guidelines.
This committee should also spearhead a public awareness campaign on child safety in amusement parks, in coordination with the parks themselves. The Local Self-Governments department Principal Director will oversee the implementation of this campaign. The petitioner highlighted that many amusement parks were failing to adhere to government guidelines and court rulings when it came to ride safety, particularly for small children.
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