September 17, 20159 yr comment_217807 What's the likelihood that the public will actually be told in detail what went wrong? I mean is there even a legal obligation for the info to be made public?
September 17, 20159 yr comment_217808 What's the likelihood that the public will actually be told in detail what went wrong? I mean is there even a legal obligation for the info to be made public? I *think* the HSE investigation will be made public to some degree, and so that will be reported on. Given how open and honest Towers and Merlin have been about the situation, I'd be surprised if they didn't make some form of closing remark about what went wrong.
September 17, 20159 yr comment_217819 What's the likelihood that the public will actually be told in detail what went wrong? I mean is there even a legal obligation for the info to be made public? HSE are a public body /prosecutor, carrying out an investigation on behalf of the public to ensure and reassure the public of their safety. They want to shout about the work they have completed and publish their results practically daily as seen here. I have no doubt the report, or at least a redacted one, will be published when it is ready. When it is I'm pretty sure it will conclude with confirmation that the measures put in place by the park mean this incident can not happen again and therefore the ride is now safe, and it's my guess that's the point the Alton will reopen it as it counters all the likely press outrage before it occurs. I doubt Alton know exactly when it will be published, and it might be delayed if a prosecution is necessary, so their 'foreseeable future' unspecified time-frame is probably quite genuine.
September 18, 20159 yr comment_217862 If any individual is prosecuted, which is entirely possible if company procedures had not been followed, then they will be named as our courts are open and public. Unless they are under 18, then there can be reporting restrictions.
September 18, 20159 yr comment_217866 But working on one of the roller coasters like The Smiler in the ops cabin you'd have 2 people operator and CCTV operator. So they can't be under the age of 18.
September 18, 20159 yr Author comment_217869 If there is to be a prosecution, the full report won't be published until after that has taken place.
September 18, 20159 yr comment_217873 Sounds like we could be waiting a while then! Thanks Pluk and Josh for explaining it all a little bit, the legal side of things always confuse me.
September 18, 20159 yr Author comment_217880 Due to the 'public interest' in the case they'll probably release a very minimal report once the investigation is complete, something like 'human error, no further comments to be made pending prosecution' then follow it up with the full one once any prosecutions are done, they cannot release the full report immediately because it'll prejudice the case (the defendant could, and should if it happens, argue that due to the the publicity over the report, they cannot expect to have a fair unbias trial). Prejudice and it consequences should be taught at school, the Americans are a lot hotter on it than us, another board I frequent (USA based) has locked down entire threads on subjects as soon as someone is charged.
September 18, 20159 yr comment_217884 We learned about prejudice and that in RE right at the beginning of Year 7.
September 18, 20159 yr comment_217922 It's probably worth considering the statement HSE made the day after the incident. “Our role is to establish the facts. We will want to determine that those responsible for operating this ride have done what the law requires. We will also ensure that if there are any lessons to be learned they are shared as soon as possible. “Although the investigation is in its early stages, we will take action to protect the public if we uncover evidence that could affect the safety of other rides at the park or elsewhere.”
September 19, 20159 yr Author comment_218023 That was months ago in reaction to the media's fear mongering, it's not a recent statement.
September 19, 20159 yr comment_218029 That last line doesn't sound good The last line is pretty much the whole point of all that they do! Find safety issues, do all they can not to let them happen again anywhere else.
September 19, 20159 yr Author comment_218065 And make everybody wear dayglow bibs to the point where the general public is now blind to them and take more notice of someone not wearing a bib than someone that is. Plus making people put stupid signs everywhere like 'surface may be slipperly when it's raining'. Well no **** Sherlock...
September 21, 20159 yr comment_218198 Nick Varney said in the Q3 webcast that the HSE report may not be published for a long time, but that it will be published in full to the public. He also mentioned that the internal report was nearly complete.
September 21, 20159 yr Author comment_218200 Sounds like some prosecutions are in the pipeline then, ouch, I hope Merlin don't hang anybody out to dry.
September 21, 20159 yr comment_218201 Standard thing for any HSE reports to be put into the public domain, especially high profile ones...
September 21, 20159 yr comment_218202 Sounds like some prosecutions are in the pipeline then, ouch, I hope Merlin don't hang anybody out to dry. If it is human error, and the ride is not at fault, then they are accountable, and it be will the Judicial System that deals with them, and not Merlin. Merlin are in business to make money for share holders and to entertain, in that order. They have suffered terribly on the first count, and have already proved they are not out for "scalps".
September 21, 20159 yr Author comment_218313 I guess that'll depend on whether any potential human error was the result of negligence or inadequate training. They haven't proven anything yet, everything they did was for their own benefit too, the true test will be if/when someone faces charges over it, and whether Merlin front up for that person's defence, or whether they simply say, you're on your own mate. That's assuming Merlin themselves are not standing alongside them in the dock. Assuming of course.
September 27, 20159 yr comment_218969 Its now looking more likely we will see the smiler re-open in 2015 . . Although its only news papers nick v has visited the victims and told them that it may reopen this year
September 27, 20159 yr Author comment_218981 Yeah the Mail article is quoted in the other Smiler thread, regardless of what is written in a newspaper, the ride won't reopen until the HSE lift the prohibition order on it, I'm half tempted to do a FOI request to them to see whether there was a time limit on it or whether they decide when it's lifted.
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