Safety first

There’s probably not a parent in Downers Grove who hasn’t strapped their kid into some fast-moving, high-flying, wildly spinning carnival ride and hoped that the guy who assembled it wasn’t having a bad day.

Given the haste with which the rides appear on the eve of Heritage Fest and the even greater haste with which they disappear in time for the Monday commute,  it’s no wonder some of us are edgy.

Surely, given the village’s appetite for inspecting and permit-ing other types of construction, someone in Village Hall must have responsibility for signing off on those Heritage Fest rides?

Actually, that job goes to a state inspector summoned by local officials when the job is complete, said Doug Kozlowski, director of community relations.

A little Web-surfing indicates the state Department of Labor (IDOL) is responsible for enforcing the Carnival and Amusement Rides Safety Act. The department inspects some 5,000 rides a year and advises the public to look for a 2009 permit sticker before hopping aboard.

Since 2008, owners of the amusements also have been required to conduct criminal background  checks on their workers.  No one convicted of  rape, murder or certain sexual offenses may be hired.

Readers may recall that an Astro Amusements carny with a criminal record was  charged with molesting a young girl at the festival in 2003.  A subsequent investigation by CBS 2 and the Naperville Sun uncovered  major lapses in the hiring of such workers. Prior to 2008, there was no state law requiring carnival companies conduct mandatory background checks on carnival workers.

Tightening up the hiring criteria for carnies and having a state inspector signing off on the rides may have give parents a bit more peace of mind, but there’s no substitute for teaching your kids to be aware of their surroundings, at the carnival midway or any other time.

Especially if storms threaten. I’ve noticed that ride operators are loathe to shut down their tall, metal money-makers even when lightning plays across sky. Where’s the Thor-Guard System when you need it?