Man sent to hospital for workplace accident with roller coaster

On behalf of Jeffrey Frederick of Frederick & Hagle posted in Workplace Accidents on Thursday, April 9, 2015.

Amusement parks may seem like all fun and games for Illinois attendees, but at least one worker was injured during a test run of a new roller coaster at an out-of-state park. This workplace accident apparently involved the worker actually being struck by the roller coaster car. Although owners of the Knoebels Amusement Resort still believe that the ride is safe for those visiting the park, test runs have been shut down until a thorough investigation has been completed.

The new roller coaster promises to be a thrill with at least one free fall and speeds that top 55 mph. However, during testing, an employee positioned in an area that will not be open to the public was seriously injured following a collision with the car of the roller coaster as it passed by. His hand was broken and he suffered a contusion to his head that required staples to seal. He also underwent a CAT scan that did not reveal any immediate brain damage.

It is unclear exactly how fast the roller coaster was traveling when it hit the employee, but the investigation hopes to answer that question. Knoebels claims that it was unaware that the employee was standing next to the coaster at the time, and has insisted that no one from the public will have access to that area in particular. Still, the investigation is important for the future safety of not just park attendees, but for the continued safety of all park employees.

Employers in Illinois are not only charged with creating the safest environment possible for all employees, but also for providing adequate and necessary safety training. Without proper training, a workplace accident can occur in even the safest of environments. When an employee is injured, he or she can typically benefit the most from receiving workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits are designed to cover related medical bills and lost wages that an employee might miss out on during the recovery process.

Source: wnep.com, “Worker Hurt During Roller Coaster Testing“, Nikki Krize, March 26, 2015