When we think about fairgrounds, we think about bright lights, thrilling rides, laughter, and sugary treats. When accidents happen, headlines tend to focus on the risks to the riders, the paying public. But what about the people behind the scenes? The ones who spend long days setting up rides, performing safety checks, and working through the night to ensure everything runs smoothly? What about the workers who risk their lives, often unnoticed? One recent story painfully illustrates this overlooked danger.

A tragic day in South Shields

Dean Cariss, a 52-year-old fairground worker, was carrying out routine testing and maintenance on a rollercoaster in South Shields when tragedy struck. As he came out of a storage shed positioned in the middle of the tracks, Dean was hit by a ride car travelling at about 33mph. A colleague who had set the car going shouted a warning, but Dean didn’t hear him.

Tragically, Dean suffered catastrophic head injuries and died in hospital 13 days later.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation was damning. Premier Attractions Limited, the Manchester-based company responsible, had failed to conduct a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. No proper safeguards were in place to prevent employees from accessing hazardous areas while the ride was operational. The company pleaded guilty and was fined £28,000 plus costs.

The ripples of loss

But this story goes far beyond a fine or a failed assessment. The true cost cannot be counted in pounds and pence, it’s measured in broken hearts and lives altered forever.

Dean was more than just a fairground worker. He was a devoted partner of over 15 years, a caring soul who had recently taken on the role of carer for his partner. He played a father figure to her three grown children and doted on her nine grandchildren as if they were his own.

“He was generous and full of life,” she recalled. “Everybody fell in love with him when they met him. There was no serious side, just laughter and fun.”

Now, her world has been “turned upside down and back to front.” The void left by Dean’s death isn't just emotional, it's also practical. She’s lost not only her soulmate but also the support system that helped her navigate daily life.

The forgotten risks

Dean’s story highlights a broader issue: the safety of those who work behind the scenes at amusement parks and fairgrounds. These workers are often taken for granted, assumed to be protected by default. Yet incidents like this reveal systemic failings. It shows employers who overlook risk assessments, disregard standard safety protocols, or fail to implement basic controls that could save lives.

This tragedy was avoidable . That’s what makes it so devastating.

A wake-up call for the industry

The HSE inspector’s words are stark: “This tragic incident led to the avoidable death of a caring, family man. His death could easily have been prevented if his employer had acted to identify and manage the risks involved.”

Specialist personal injury lawyer, Katrina Elsey commented: “This isn’t just about legal responsibility. It’s about human responsibility. Companies that operate funfairs and rides must recognise the gravity of their duty, not just to their customers, but to their staff too.

“Fairgrounds may be about fun and thrills, but for those who work behind the scenes, it’s serious business. Lax safety measures can destroy lives, not only of the workers but of their families, friends, and communities.

“Dean was a beloved partner, carer, grandfather, and friend whose absence will be felt forever. His life, and the lives of those who loved him, deserved better.

“If you are an employer in a high-risk environment, make safety more than a box-ticking exercise. Lives depend on it.”

If you need legal advice following a fairground accident, either as a worker or as a member of the public, speak to the team at Switalskis today. Call us on 0800 138 0458 or get in touch through the website .