WALTER S. REISS
AMUSEMENT RIDE INSPECTOR | SAFETY CONSULTANT | EXPERT WITNESS

414 West Market Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018

(202) 669-3108         E-mail : INSPECTOR-2012@WALTREISS.COM        fax (610) 865-0260

 

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE PDF VERSION HERE

 

 

 

2004-2011         Amusement Ride Inspector/Expert Witness.                         USA

Service Provider

·   Provide case review, analysis and research

·   Amusement ride inspections & evaluations

·   Risk assessment

·   Amusement ride accident investigations

·   ASTM F-24 and state regulation compliance review

·   Provide expert reports/ expert opinions

·   Sworn testimony

·   Amusement ride expert correspondent for various national television networks, radio and newspapers for

breaking news and special reports regarding amusement ride safety or amusement ride accidents.

 

 

2006-2007         Historic Bushkill Park, Inc.                                                     Easton, PA

Owner, Manager

·   General operation of small historic amusement park.

·   Employee relations

·   Perform PA state inspections to amusement rides.

·   Restoration, repairs & oversight of general maintenance to amusement rides and facilities.

·   Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations/Media Relations

·   Budget, spending, filing, ordering, planning, etc.

·   Relocation of a series of small amusement rides from another park in New York City.

·   Relocation and operation of roller coaster simulators both onsite and as a marketing tool within a local mall.

 

 

2005                 Bushkill Amusement Park.                                                      Easton, PA

Volunteer

·   Rehabilitation to neglected and flood-damaged amusement rides. [April - August 2005]

·   Find the most productive use for the efforts of well over 100 volunteers throughout that time period.

·   Procurement of all necessary parts and supplies.

 

 

2004-2011         Walt Reiss Coaster Company, Inc.                                          Bethlehem, PA

Owner

·   General Contractor to disassemble a steel roller coaster at Knoebel's Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA. [12/04]

·   Load the roller coaster into 38 sea containers/trucks and ship to Parque De Diversiones in San Jose, Costa Rica. [1/05]

·   Visit the buyers' park in Costa Rica to inspect the aforementioned roller coaster and ensure proper installation. [9/05]

·   General Contractor to load two large amusement rides onto 7 trucks at Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, PA to send to

Parque de Diversiones in Costa Rica [3/07]

·   General Contractor to disassemble and load one Top Spin amusement ride within Kennywood Amusement Park to send

to Parque de Diversiones in Costa Rica [2/10]

·   General Contractor to load a Pirate and Break Dance amusement ride at an Astroland storage facility on Long Island, NY

to send to Parque de Diversiones in Costa Rica [7/10]

 

 

2005-2011         Parque de Diversiones                                         San Jose, Costa Rica

Private Inspector

·   Provide private annual inspections on all amusement rides and devices and subsequently:

·   Provide a full written report of all safety issues, deficiencies and recommendations.

·   Inspections include roller coasters, water slides, raft ride, trackless trains, kiddie rides, thrill rides, go karts, carousel, large gauge train, kiddie trains, haunted house, antique rides, new rides, pedal boats, simulator, etc.

·   Assist with manufacturer relationships regarding technical or design issues, troubleshooting and procurement of parts.

·   Provide feasibility inspections on amusement rides that are being evaluated for purchase or to be received as donations.

 

 

2003 - 2004       City of New York (Department of Buildings).                                    New York, NY

Inspector Supervisor

·   Perform amusement ride inspections as per RS-18 city code and the ASTM F-24.

·   Safety inspections evaluated all aspects of amusement ride safety including the fundamental design, modifications, repairs, maintenance, testing, operation, adherence to manufacturer requirements, recommendations and safety bulletins.

·   As an amusement ride inspector, the requirement is to be able to approach any amusement ride or device – whether for the first time or the hundredth time – and perform a complete and comprehensive inspection without overlooking any potential safety hazards.

·   Train city inspectors on proper amusement ride inspection requirements and methodology needed to be able to inspect any ride properly without prior training on each separate type of machine.

·   Oversee all amusement ride inspections in all 5 city boroughs.

·   Organize joint NAARSO training sessions between NJ and NYC inspectors.

·   Create and assemble manuals and reference materials for city inspectors.

·   Elevator/Escalator inspections as per RS-18 city code/ ASME A17.1.

·   Amusement Ride & Elevator accident investigations.

·   Create new forms, certificates and methodology of record keeping.

·   NYC code review consultant. (post employment)

 

 

1997 - 2000       State of Maryland.                                                                   Baltimore, MD

Elevator & Amusement Ride Inspector

·   Inspect amusement rides statewide as per COMAR (Maryland state law) and the ASTM F-24.

·   Inspect elevators and escalators in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, Montgomery County, Frederick County and Howard County as per COMAR and the ASME A17.1.

 

 

1995-1996         Six Flags America/Adventure World.                                      Largo, MD

Ride Mechanic/Safety Inspector

·   Amusement ride daily inspections.

·   Amusement ride preventative maintenance and lubrication.

·   Winter rehabilitation to amusement rides as per manufacturer specifications.

·   Emergency repairs to amusement rides during the operating season.

 

 

1988-1993         Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.                                       Allentown, PA

Amusement Ride Mechanic, Ride Inspector, PA State Inspector

·   Amusement ride daily inspections.

·   Pennsylvania state inspections.

·   Amusement ride preventative maintenance and lubrication.

·   Winter rehabilitation to amusement rides as per manufacturer specifications.

·   Emergency repairs to amusement rides during the operating season.

·   Types of rides maintained and inspected: world-class roller coasters including an Intamin/Schwartzkopf double loop coaster, 1924 PTC wooden coaster, 1989 Charlie Dinn wooden mega coaster; water rides including a traditional log flume, a Mill Chute dark ride/flume ride, motor boats; a series of Pentes and Soft Play children's playgrounds; Hampton rides; all varieties of Zamperla rides including a number of prototypes; a wide variety of basic and spectacular midway rides such as the Giant Gondola Ferris Wheel by Chance Mfg., Zierer Wave Swinger, Mack Musik Express, Sellner Tilt a Whirl, Eli Bridge Scrambler, an antique train, Mangles Whip, Dentzel carousel, Lusse bumper cars, an aerial ski lift ride, etc.

·   (Amusement ride operator initially, in 1986-1988)

 

 

EDUCATION & TRAINING

 

1985-1988         Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School.                                    Bethlehem, PA

·   Mechanical Engineering.

·   Architectural Drafting.

 

 

1991                 Amusement and Recreational Equipment Association.          Hershey, PA

·   Amusement ride safety and inspection courses and seminars.

·   Tested and certified as a Pennsylvania State Amusement Ride Inspector.

 

1997                 Maryland State Showmen’s Association – Safety Seminars     Hagerstown, MD

·   Amusement ride safety and inspection trainings and seminars.

·   This event included all Maryland State Inspectors, along with others in the industry involved with manufacturing, inspection,
maintenance and operation of amusement rides.

 

2004                 National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials.    Trenton, NJ

·   Amusement ride safety and inspection training and seminars.

·   Joint training session among both New York City and New Jersey State amusement ride inspectors.

·   NAARSO testing & certification obtained. (Retained for one or two years)

 

2000                 International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions            Atlanta, GA

·   Amusement ride safety, training and management seminars.

·   Trade show including a majority of the amusement ride manufacturers from around the world, which allows abundant
networking opportunity with the engineers and technicians who designed the rides and handle technical support issues.

 

2005                 International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions            Orlando, FL

·   Amusement ride safety, training and management seminars.

·   Trade show including a majority of the amusement ride manufacturers from around the world, which allows abundant

networking opportunities with the engineers and technicians who designed the rides and handle technical support issues.



MEMBERSHIPS

  

American Society of Testing & Materials (ASTM)                 Conshohocken, PA

·   Voting member of the ASTM F-24 (Amusement Rides) code review committee.

·   The ASTM creates and manages standards for, among many other things, amusement ride manufacturing, design, inspection, maintenance, inspection and operation. Additional sections of the F-24 are devoted to unique amusement devices such as go karts, water rides and soft-play playgrounds.