Safety Inspectors Ensure Tulsa State Fair’s Nearly 70 Rides Are Ready To Go

The Tulsa State Fair starts Thursday and inspectors have spent days trying to make sure the rides are all safe.

There are nearly 70 rides that inspectors from the Oklahoma Department of Labor must check. It's a long, tedious process, but one they take pride in doing.

Every ride gets a close look at the Tulsa State Fair. Chief Ride Inspector Allen McElyea goes ride to ride, checking to make sure it's up to standards.

"We'll crawl under them, climb on top, we look at everything we possibly can look at," said McElyea.

McElyea is one of several inspectors at the Department of Labor assigned to check all the rides. This is his 13th year inspecting at the Tulsa State Fair.

"None of the rides can be open until we give it the green light," said Jim Williams, the Director of Safety Standards Division at Department of Labor.

Williams said Oklahoma is one of only a handful of states that requires state inspectors to check all the amusement park rides.

"Safety inspections happen outside, underneath and at all angles," Williams said. 

Crews with North American Midway Entertainment are scattered through the fairground, working to set up the nearly 70 rides.

There are perks, like being the first to ride the slide over and over.

"We have eight brand new rides, including a double decker roller coaster," said Scooter Korek with North American Midway Entertainment. 

Korek said they put up rides at more than 100 fairs, and have five inspection levels, so they know what they're doing.

"The people in Tulsa don't understand how good this fair is," Korek said.

So, as the rides start spinning, and the final adjustments are made, it's time to twist, spin and slide into the Tulsa State Fair.

The state fair opens on Thursday and is open for 11 days of awesome.