Germany: VDV Organized Successful Seminar on International Product Liability

The German Association of Amusement Machinery & Accessory Manufacturers (VDV) organized an information seminar on the topic of International Product Liability at the Steigenberger Icon Parkhotel in Düsseldorf. The event, which had been organized together with VDV member Dutch Design, also brought participants together at Oscar Bruch Jr.’s Ferris wheel at the Düsseldorf Christmas market. For the seminar, the US-American specialist lawyer Tom Sheehan, who worked as a mechanic in the leisure industry before his professional career in laws and thus found his focus on product and design liability, was welcomed in Düsseldorf.  

Sheehan‘s lecture dealt with the peculiarities of product liability in US law – among other things, he advised the participating manufacturing companies that in the event of an accident, they should always carry out an investigation at the respective attraction themselves. In most cases of malfunctions, it is a matter of an attraction not being used properly or for its intended purpose, which is combined with other sources of error.

In the course of an open discussion following the lecture, the question arose as to whether proof should be required for the operation of complex installations substantiating the corresponding technical and specialist knowledge. In Europe as in the United States, it is an option to commission the respective manufacturer of an attraction or other service providers with professional facility maintenance in order to always guarantee the high testing and inspection standards that already exist in the international leisure industry – an established practice that ensures safe ride fun in attractions. (eap)