Channel 11 takes a look at Kennywood's inspection process

Even before Kennywood's doors opened to the public for the 2017 season, hard work was being done behind the scenes. Days before opening for weekends to the general public, crews were touching up paint and inspecting the rides for safety.

"I'm looking for any cracks, any deviation in the tracks that doesn't seem normal," said Tom Tomko, a ride mechanic at Kennywood.

Tomko has ridden the Sky Rocket roller coaster so many times, he's long lost count.

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"A part of the inspections is actually riding the ride yourself. You know more than anybody how it feels, and how it's supposed to feel," said Tomko.

Tomko is one of 20 full-time ride maintenance technicians at Kennywood. They check, and recheck, everything from the bolts and fasteners to the tracks and safety belts. Inspections are done daily, and inspections reports are sent to the state each month.

"We also have inspectors from the state Department of Agriculture that will visit the park announced and unannounced during the summer," said Nick Paradise, Kennywood's director of public relations.

Even when the park is closed in the off-season, there's work being done. Each year the rides (including the seats) are disassembled, inspected, and put back together.

Safety is always the first priority, especially after several headline-grabbing incidents last summer across the country. In Nebraska, 11-year-old Elizabeth Gilreath was scalped when her hair got caught in Cinco De Mayo ride in Omaha. A 10-year-old boy died on a water slide in Kansas City, Kansas. Three children were hurt when they fell from a Ferris wheel at a fair in eastern Tennessee. And in Ligonier, a 3-year-old boy was hurt after falling from the Rollo Coaster at Idlewild.

The Rollo Coaster is being refurbished, and Idlewild representatives said it will remain closed temporarily for the start of the 2017 season.

In a statement to WPXI, Idlewild said it, "...remains fully committed to providing the safest possible ride for our guests, and ensuring that such an unusual event should never reoccur."

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It's also the responsibility of riders at amusement parks to be diligent. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, which oversees amusement parks, 70 percent of injuries on rides happen because of rider error. In 2014, 58 percent of accidents were on family and adult rides, 33 percent were on roller coasters, and 8 percent were on kiddie rides.

That's why it's so important to read the rules and requirements next to each ride. Kennywood has updated their signs for 2017, highlighting the height requirements and the required age of people riding with kids.

"The maturity level of your child is also important, the height requirement not only is based on the height and size, but also the maturity level of the child following the rules," said Paradise.

Cox Media Group