1. Workers Hit Coaster Bolts and Nuts with a Hammer and Listen to the Sound
In roller coaster maintenance, workers perform a tap test. They hit bolts and nuts with a hammer and listen to the noise. According to a Keihan activity report, if there is looseness, the sound is dull. If there are no problems, a tight "karn-karn" sound echoes through the site.[1]
The check is not done by one person alone. It is done by multiple people. By having several people look at the same spot, they reduce the chance that one person misses a problem. This tap test happens at the end of the work. But what happens to the ride before they start tapping?
2. Hirakata Park Takes Apart the Coaster Cars Before the Tap Test
Hirakata Park gives 3 weeks for the maintenance and inspection of its roller coaster. A team of about 10 people, combining Keihan Railway vehicle staff and park maintenance staff, does this work.[1] Note that this 3-week period is specific to this park. Other amusement parks may not have the same length of time.
The process is as follows. First, all cars are taken apart, and oil dirt is washed off the trucks (the wheel assemblies). Next, every bolt and nut is checked one by one. After reassembly, the tap test is performed.[1] They remove dirt, check each bolt and nut, and then tap to listen to the sound at the end of assembly. This order helps them find looseness. Is this "check by tapping" idea only for maintenance sites?
3. The National Standards for Coasters and Ferris Wheels Include Tap Inspection
For amusement facilities like coasters and Ferris wheels, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has set inspection items and methods in a public notice (Heisei 20 No. 284). Methods to check for loose nuts at mounting parts include hitting with a test hammer, called "tap inspection," and visually checking the position of looseness confirmation marks.[2] Tap inspection is just one way to check. Not all inspection items use this method.
This inspection is based on the Building Standards Act. The owner must have a qualified person do the regular inspection and report the results to a specific local government office. In Koto Ward, Tokyo, inspections for amusement facilities happen twice a year. The request is made to an architect or a person holding a certificate as an elevator or similar device inspector. The report goes to the Tokyo Amusement Facility Safety Council.[3] This is a guide for municipalities in Tokyo, and it does not state that this is a uniform rule for the whole country. So, we have maintenance workers and qualified inspectors. But who does what at the place where customers ride?
Note: In Koto Ward, inspections happen twice a year. The request is made to an architect or a certified inspector. The results are reported to the Tokyo Amusement Facility Safety Council.[3] Amusement park safety is supported by two hard-to-see jobs: site maintenance and legal inspections.
4. The Visible Operation Work and Invisible Work of Staff at the Ride Entrance
The visible job at the ride entrance is operation. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s job information site, attraction operation staff load customers, close the doors, check safety, and then press the start button. They stop the ride after one loop or after a set time.[4] The name for these staff members varies by facility, such as "cast" or "crew."
Amusement parks also have other jobs. These include selling tickets and ride passes, selling food and souvenirs, guiding people in the park, cleaning, security, and maintaining equipment.[4] How these jobs are divided depends on the facility. The safety checks customers can see and the maintenance and inspections done in hidden places work together to create fun times. In these hidden places, machines are starting to help with checks.
Note: The operation work at the ride entrance, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, involves loading customers, closing doors, checking safety, pressing the start button, and stopping the ride after one loop or a set time.[4] Checks at the entrance and maintenance/inspections in hidden places overlap to support amusement park safety.
5. Using Drones to Inspect the Outside of Amusement Facilities
A technical verification report from the Digital Agency includes a proposal for regular inspections of amusement facilities. It suggests using drones and other remote controls to take photos and check for damage or deterioration on the outside of coasters and Ferris wheels.[5] In this technical verification, achieving accuracy equal to or better than visual inspection is a condition.
This is still at the verification stage. It has not been fully introduced everywhere. Also, the target is taking photos of the outside condition. The materials do not say that tapping bolts to listen to sounds will be replaced by this. For checking the outside, they are testing if drone photos can match human eye accuracy. Jobs that use human ears and hands, like listening to hammer sounds, are not part of this verification.
6. What to Watch the Staff Do on Your Next Amusement Park Visit
When you go to an amusement park, you can observe the staff. Watch the staff members from a place where you are not in their way. See what they look at before riding and what they do before starting. Following the workers' movements in order helps you see the operation job.
If you want to read more, the Keihan activity report, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism notice, and the Digital Agency report are the main sources for this article. Park and local government websites also have guides about inspections.