New regulations for cable cars, gondola rides and amusement device logbooks

Industry is advised of new requirements effective on 1 January 2025.

Passenger ropeways regulations advice

Operators of passenger ropeways, also known as cable cars or gondola rides, are generally used for transport over difficult terrain including mountains.

New requirements under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 will require owners to ensure the safe operation, maintenance, inspection, and testing of their ropeways.

Design registration, approved by the Work Health and Safety Regulator, will be required for any passenger ropeway built in the future.

The new regulations give effect to requirements in the national model Work Health and Safety Regulation which has been adopted in other states and territories.

Amusement device logbooks

Changes to the Work Health and Safety Regulation will also require owners of amusement devices to make logbooks available to the new owner when selling a device.

This will allow new owners to be properly informed about the history of the device and ensure inspection, maintenance, testing, and repairs are carried out as required.

To protect privacy, before providing the logbook to a new device owner, all reasonable steps must be taken to remove any identifying information about the people who previously operated the device (e.g., a worker’s photograph or record of their training or qualification must be removed). However, the logbook must still keep a record of names or signatures where this confirms safety checks have been carried out.

This regulation amendment gives effect to the logbook requirement in the national model Work Health and Safety Regulation.