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2020: General Discussion

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A large quantity of Merlin's workforce in front-line roles like this are youngsters in college or university, some of them with it being their first proper customer-facing role. It's true, you do need a thick skin to cope in such roles but when it's their first, having that thick skin isn't always possible as it needs to be developed and adapted as they encounter each different guest concern.

When you have the full control of a ride all by yourself, under pressure to be as amicable with guests as possible yet working under the stress of having to keep queues short, it can get hideously overwhelming. Having that second person by you not only mitigates those stresses, but also helps to keep control in situations when a guest takes advantage of you being by yourself when they get arsey, verbally, or even physically abusive.

There is no comprehensive training that Merlin has in place to deal with guest situations if you're a ride operator or host. Particularly on some of the smaller rides across the group, where you won't need as many hours to be signed off to work it by yourself, there is every chance that you don't receive sufficient exposure to the dark side of the general public before going solo. There's then every possibility on your first outing operating as an individual, you can be put under extreme pressure or face the nastiest of guests without any confidence in having reinforcement; especially when managers hide in their back offices or pretend to look busy with a litter picker elsewhere.
 
Remember that you have to be a host for a season or two before you can train as an operator. Unlike other parks they are two completely different roles at Merlin's parks.
 
Another storm arriving tomorrow. 50+mph winds forecast from midday onwards, so get those X-Sector rides in early on.
 
Remember that you have to be a host for a season or two before you can train as an operator. Unlike other parks they are two completely different roles at Merlin's parks.
Is this an actual rule now? It never used to be.
 
Is this an actual rule now? It never used to be.

Certainly never used to be the case. it was always the person they were looking for, with the right aptitude, rather than having a couple of years experience as a host. Sure, you'd not be hired as a "straight-in" Operator, but you certainly did not used to need a couple of years as a host under your belt.
 
20,000 danger of death signs are being ordered for the rest of the trees on site as we speak.

Leek Signs right now....

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It seems insane and surely an insurance nightmare to devote the operation of a powerful thrill ride to just one individual.
It seems that way at first but really all the potential danger is handled by the ride PLCs and the safe design of the ride etc. Really all the operator does is load it, press go and stay alert for any guest actions.

Anything ensuring the safe working of the ride is handled by rides maintenance and their procedures in place, and the certification at the start the year. So really the park is just relying on the operator to not be negligent if a guest isnt seated correctly or runs into the ride area etc

Adding another operator (on this ride anyway) realistically wouldnt make any difference to that responsibility, but it could speed up throughput
 
It’s always odd how you could have the enterprise at Thorpe run with three or even four staff, then towers run on one, same with monkey swinger at chessie rubbing with two staff, yet towers would only ever run with one.

I certainly think of busier peak days towers should put more staff on rides like those to speed up throughputs. But of course they never would as that’s just seen as a cost that’s not needed. Like not opening ice cream kiosks in August, there’s no logic in it, but they’ll almost rather make no money than have a cost of a staff member.
 
Isn't it weird how oblivion can't operate in high winds. Surely it can complete the layout still. I understand the smiler as that ride just needs as much momentum as possible to get through all the inversions
 
I think it’s more about being able to safely evacuate riders from the top of the drop if needed than the ride not making it to the brakes.
Yeah it's very exposed up there. Would be too dangerous and risky to have staff up there in high winds.
 
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