North Carolina Department of Labor continues inspections at all 94 NC State Fair rides

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Before the gates open Thursday, every ride at the North Carolina State Fair must pass a safety inspection.

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Inspectors with the North Carolina Department of Labor are now working through all 94 rides, spending more than a thousand hours checking everything from safety restraints to structural components.

“It is a very thorough check according to industry standards, manufacturers’ rules,” North Carolina Commissioner of Labor Luke Farley said. “We’re looking at the way the bolts are tightened. A lot of these things are taken apart and reassembled. The bolts have to be tightened appropriately.

“We’re looking at safety restraints and making sure those all operate properly,” he continued. “We’re checking welds to make sure everything has been welded properly and those welds hold up the right of car maintenance.”

If an issue is found, according to Farley, it’s flagged and the ride won’t operate until it meets every safety standard.

Every time a ride is moved, whether it’s from another fair or within just feet of the same fair, it has to be reinspected, according to Farley.

According to Farley, 16 inspectors spend more than a thousand hours looking over the rides before the fair starts. They’ll spend an additional 740 hours during the course of the fair, making sure they’re still operating correctly and safely.

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“I’ve got three young sons,” Farley said. “I would put them on any single ride that has been fully inspected by the North Carolina Department of Labor inspector. That’s how much confidence I have in these gentlemen.”

Among the nearly 100 rides this year are two new ones from Powers Great American Midway.

“Ones called the Twin Twister, which is two giant arms that do 360-degree rotations,” Powers Great American Midway spokesperson Marc Janas said. “The casino ride actually like a casino. The table you sit on looks like a roulette wheel and the center has an LED screen.”

As of Tuesday morning, according to the NCDOL, inspections for 15 rides were certified, but they do expect all to be inspected by the start of the big event.

“I’d say we’re in pretty good shape right now,” said Joey Hazelrigg, the NCDOL Elevator and Amusement Device bureau chief.

If a fairgoer sees something they’re concerned about, they can find one of the inspectors walking around during the fair or call the North Carolina Department of Labor at 1-800-625-2267.

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