YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — As the fair and festival season continues across Ohio, new regulations regarding ride safety are in effect this year.
The changes are in response to Tyler’s Law, named in honor of 18-year-old Tyler Jarrell who died in 2017 when a thrill ride broke apart at the Ohio State Fair.
Reithoffer Shows, which operates the midway at the Canfield Fair, was required to pass state inspections the week before opening.
Ryan Reithoffer’s been in the business his whole life.
“It’s a passion we have,” he said. “It’s kind of a family business, so it gets passed down from one generation to another.”
Ryan Reithoffer said he is a part of the fifth generation of Reithoffers working with the carnival company since it’s started in 1896. He’s a supervisor for the Canfield site and checks each of the nearly 50 rides daily.
“At this particular location there’s state inspectors, there’s engineers involved and the guys that work the ride daily have a checklist,” Reithoffer said.
He said each of the ride manufacturers establishes its own set of safety guidelines for their rides that his team works to maintain.
His brother, Patrick, also assists with the site but he hasn’t been on many rides lately.
“When I was younger I definitely did but as of right now, no,” he said. “Nothing fun about spinning up and down and round and round to me.”
Regardless, all that spinning needs to be done safely and he said Ohio’s standards are strict.
“Really, we like having them guys come out here, cause after they’re gone, you know, everything is 100% legit safe,” Patrick said. “And that’s what it’s all about.”
The crew posts signs at each ride notifying riders of the Revised Code and their responsibility for their own safety, as well.
“Follow the rules,” said Patrick. “Make sure you keep your hands and arms inside the cars and just listen to the operators. Some of them might look crazy, but they should know what they’re talking about.”
Since the Ohio State Fair did not have rides this year due to COVID-19, the midway in Canfield is the largest in the state.
The Canfield Fair is the largest county fair in Ohio.
The event runs through Labor Day.
