Playing a Vital Role in the Leisure Industry

The National Association For Leisure Industry Certification (NAFLIC) was initially developed through something of a natural requirement within the amusement park and travelling fairground industry.

In the early 1970's various moves started to be made within government to improve safety standards on parks and fairs and in 1976 the Home Office Guide to Safety at Fairs was published. This followed the transfer of responsibility for safety matters to the Health and Safety Executive established under the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act.

The Home Office Guide to Safety at Fairs included elements relevant to the examination and inspection of rides, as well as various technical requirements, thus making it relevant to a number of companies specialising in the different aspects of ride design and technical specification. Some years after the introduction of this document, work began on the Code of Safe Practice at Fairs which was subsequently introduced in 1984 and which again included areas of particular relevance to consulting engineers and other specialist individuals and Organisations.

Subsequently the Health and Safety Executive set up the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) for Safety in the Fairground and Theme Park Industry. This was initially made up of relevant trade associations from within the industry but did not include representation for those involved in the technical side of the business i.e. the inspectors and manufacturers, so no input from this side was made.

There was clearly a need, therefore, for a forum to be set up through which this group could discuss and overcome its common problems and it was Mr. Bob Ward and Dr. Garry Fawcett whose early discussions eventually led to the formation of NAFLIC as it is known today, both having recognised the benefits this would have for people at this end of the industry, not least to represent them on panels such as the JAC.

Thus, in 1988, details were formalised and NAFLIC officially came into being.

Association Objectives

NAFLIC has laid down six main objectives in its constitution which are as follows:

  1. To represent the interest of those Organisations providing a service to the leisure industry, in particular the examination, testing and certification of amusement devices and associated equipment.
  2. To maintain a register of member Organisations agreeing to the appropriate conditions of membership and attaining adequate standards of competence.
  3. To agree detailed Codes of Practice, binding on the membership, in order to improve standards of safety and engineering excellence.
  4. To encourage the leisure industry to recognise the importance and benefits of the standards agreed by the association and once properly established to use the services of association members.
  5. To establish direct links with all external bodies associated with the design, manufacture and safe operation of amusement devices and associated equipment, on all matters relating to examination/testing/certification.
  6. To represent the interests of the association on all appropriate committees.