The National Occupational Health and Safety Service (NOHSS) of the Employment Ministry is currently carrying out its full investigation into a 12-seater Ferris wheel accident at the Wairiki Sevens tournament in Taveuni.
It was reported that on the 11th of December at around 4:00 pm, there were some malfunctions to the ride. Patrons had to be assisted to disembark from the ferris wheel with the assistance of the operators and some bystanders. There was no injury or fatality reported.
The ministry will thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident based on the evidence provided. In the meantime, NOHSS has issued a prohibition notice stopping all the rides from further operation.
The amusement rides were inspected by the NOHSS Inspectorate on the 7th and 9th of December 2024, undergoing the relevant examination and tests to make sure that essential components are in proper working conditions. The certificate to operate was issued on the 9th of December 2024.
The Ministry is in the preliminary stages of the investigations and inspectors are still at the Wairiki grounds to ascertain the actual cause of the incident.
A full investigation report will be provided, and the Ministry will release an update on the outcome.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Hon. Agni Deo Singh, after exhaustive discussions with senior ministry staff, has decided to place a ban on all ferris wheels operations until further notice.
Minister Singh added that the report on the fatal incident at the Showcase last year was submitted to the ODPP in December 2023, as stated on numerous occasions in the past.