Chiang Mai: Ziplines Reopen With 'European' Influenced Safety Tests

[webfact]

Ziplines Reopen With 'European' Influenced Safety Tests
by CityNews



CityNews – A Media trip was organised, inviting the Tourism Business Association and Hotel operators to tour the newly reopened zipline centres after months of injuries and death caused by unsafe equipment.

On March 8, Royal Peninsula Hotel held the project which Pornchai Jitnawasatien, the president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, director and deputy director of Chiang Mai zipline group, Santi Pitikham and Nawapon Kantawanich and the media were invited as guests of honor at the opening of the Eagle Track Zipline.

Pornchai said during the trip that Chiang Mai faced many obstacles regarding safety and standards of service at zipline centres, and asked for the cooperation from all involved to solve the problems for good.

Full story: http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/news/ziplines-reopen-with-european-influenced-safety-tests/


-- Chiang City News 2016-03-09

[Pimay1]

Death Wish VII.

[iReason]

"Pornchai Jitnawasatien, the president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, director and deputy director of Chiang Mai zipline group,

Santi Pitikham and Nawapon Kantawanich and the media were invited as guests of honor at the opening of the Eagle Track Zipline."

Did they take a test ride?

[scorecard]

"Pornchai Jitnawasatien, the president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, director and deputy director of Chiang Mai zipline group,

Santi Pitikham and Nawapon Kantawanich and the media were invited as guests of honor at the opening of the Eagle Track Zipline."

Did they take a test ride?

And do they know anything at all about the safety aspects of such equipment?

[slapout]

Wonder where the farang were who where the influence of this safety test? I guess the procedures to follow, traing, etc must have been sent via e mail and translation will be top notch.

Another shade mechanic, tree house builder from the local Burmese labor camp who speak/ understand a hilltribe dialect, following instructions from a Thai foreman. Who has been been given the task of translation of safety instructions, of another accident being built to happen ( thai standard)

The tourists traps should be required to have camera coverage of every trap set up to part the money from the tourists, plus a disclaimer they sign to not hold the operator liable for injury. Or make the liability so high , the operator closes the business.

[clockman]

The only way to change anything in Thailand. They have to have outside help. Because everything is flawed, because of corruption

[Acharn]

"Pornchai Jitnawasatien, the president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association, director and deputy director of Chiang Mai zipline group,

Santi Pitikham and Nawapon Kantawanich and the media were invited as guests of honor at the opening of the Eagle Track Zipline."

Did they take a test ride?

And do they know anything at all about the safety aspects of such equipment?

Somebody should offer them a free tour trip to North Korea.

[MESmith]

I didn't realize the ziplines had been closed. Plenty of minibuses heading to FoG, and the others out past Mae On. Or are they just talking about one operation, Eagle Track?

[worgeordie]

European Standards, Thai working methods, sure to be a success.

regards Worgeordie

[topt]

Wonder where the farang were who where the influence of this safety test? I guess the procedures to follow, traing, etc must have been sent via e mail and translation will be top notch.

Another shade mechanic, tree house builder from the local Burmese labor camp who speak/ understand a hilltribe dialect, following instructions from a Thai foreman. Who has been been given the task of translation of safety instructions, of another accident being built to happen ( thai standard)

The tourists traps should be required to have camera coverage of every trap set up to part the money from the tourists, plus a disclaimer they sign to not hold the operator liable for injury. Or make the liability so high , the operator closes the business.

From reading the full article.........

Santi said that now, the ziplines in Chiang Mai have already passed quality standards tests based on the safety standards of countries such as France and Australia instead of Japan and China.

Nawapon told the press that from now, each zipline will be made of two wires rather than one for added safety, and that each and every staff memeber hired has been trained at the Rockcamp International – which uses imported techniques and equipment from France.

Which doesn't negate your comments unfortunately........

[Joop50]

European standards (there is not such standard) can be Turkish.... Greek.... German (VW) omg.....

[oldsailor35]

Love to see more detail of the equipment. They are now using two lines, but both are fixed to one cross piece which looks like timber. Would'nt it be safer if the cross piece was fixed on the other side of the up right post thus eliminating chance of it pulling off.

[Johpa]

A Media trip was organised, inviting the Tourism Business Association and Hotel operators to tour the newly reopened zipline centres after months of injuries and death caused by unsafe equipment.

Ziplines have been open continuously. There was never "months of injuries". There was a fatality up at the zipline in Pong Krai last year that was a result of human error, a procedural error, and not equipment malfunction. Although to be fair the Chinese guest who died acted in a manner never before seen. But if proper procedure had been followed the accident would have never occurred. Since that incident all of the zipline operators have increased regular safety training including high altitude rope rescue training. The equipment used has always been the same brands as used in the west and the courses have always been inspected daily before operation. By the way, the owner of Eagle Track has been operating ziplines around Chiang Mai for nearly 20 years without incident with European designed courses using European hardware.

[Johpa]

Love to see more detail of the equipment. They are now using two lines, but both are fixed to one cross piece which looks like timber. Would'nt it be safer if the cross piece was fixed on the other side of the up right post thus eliminating chance of it pulling off.

That picture is of a training line maybe 3 meters off the ground that runs for about 4 meters.

Wonder where the farang were who where the influence of this safety test? I guess the procedures to follow, traing, etc must have been sent via e mail and translation will be top notch.

Another shade mechanic, tree house builder from the local Burmese labor camp who speak/ understand a hilltribe dialect, following instructions from a Thai foreman. Who has been been given the task of translation of safety instructions, of another accident being built to happen ( thai standard)

Mostly designed by French engineers who do show up during the building stage and I have yet to meet, at my local zipline, any casual laborers from Burmese work camps although I have met some folks who greatly prefer Burmese workers to Thai workers for the same pay. I have met many "hilltribe" Karen working at the ziplines. But they all speak fluent Thai as well as decent English with a smattering of Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and Hebrew. Certainly no need for any hired translator. But perhaps best you stay away so you sleep better. In fact, best not to live in Thailand so you can worry less about your personal safety.

[naboo]

The issues were caused by tourists not following safety instructions and the operators not being able to stop them dangerously jumping onto the lines before it was safe - i.e. there was nobody else on the line for them to collide with.

You can have a guess which country these tourists came from.

[Johpa]

The issues were caused by tourists not following safety instructions and the operators not being able to stop them dangerously jumping onto the lines before it was safe - i.e. there was nobody else on the line for them to collide with.

You can have a guess which country these tourists came from.

The guides are responsible for the release of the next person down the line. Although the Chinese woman acted unexpectedly to both the guides as well as the next person in line on the cable, it was still the responsibility of the guide to not allow the release down the line of the next person until the first rider was verified as stable on the platform. We can criticize the actions of the two Chinese riders as we want, but ultimate responsibility resided with the guides.

[connda]

Influenced by standard? Really? Hummmm...

And then the redirect, <paraphrased> "Let's crack down on illegal tour operators!!!" (Don't look here - Look Over There!!!)

I'd be much more accepting if the wording was, "Adheres to EU Standard <standard_number>." Until then, I'll redirect my touring friends to other venues. Has anyone been killed at a 'Snake Farm' yet?

[connda]

Love to see more detail of the equipment. They are now using two lines, but both are fixed to one cross piece which looks like timber. Would'nt it be safer if the cross piece was fixed on the other side of the up right post thus eliminating chance of it pulling off.

Shhhh! The design engineer will lose face. Whoa, wait a minute, that must be influenced by an EU standard! If it fails, it's the EU's fault. Righttttt!