Chapter 4171 | Roller Skating Rinks

Section 4171.01 | Roller skating rink definitions.

• Effective: April 1, 1993
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 347 - 119th General Assembly

As used in Chapter 4171. of the Revised Code:

(A) "Operator" means a person that owns, manages, controls, directs, or has operational responsibility for a roller skating rink.

(B) "Roller skater" means a person wearing roller skates while in a roller skating rink for the purpose of recreational or competitive roller skating. "Roller skater" includes any person entering a roller skating rink as an invitee, whether or not the person pays consideration to enter.

(C) "Roller skating rink" means a building, facility, or premises that provides an area specifically designed to be used by the public for recreational or competitive roller skating.

(D) "Spectator" means a person who is present in a roller skating rink only for the purpose of observing recreational or competitive roller skating.

Section 4171.05 | Minimum safety standards in interest of public.

• Effective: April 1, 1993
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 347 - 119th General Assembly

The general assembly acknowledges that the recreational sport of roller skating is practiced by a large number of citizens of Ohio, provides a wholesome and healthy family activity which should be encouraged, and significantly contributes to the economy of this state. The general assembly further acknowledges that roller skating as a recreational sport can be hazardous to roller skaters and that minimal safety standards for, and duties and responsibilities of, operators and roller skaters are in the public interest.

Section 4171.06 | Rink operator - duties.

• Effective: April 1, 1993
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 347 - 119th General Assembly

Each operator shall:

(A) Post the responsibilities of roller skaters and spectators and the duties and liabilities of the operator as prescribed in this chapter, in conspicuous places in at least three locations in the roller skating rink;

(B) Maintain the stability and legibility of all signs, symbols, and posted notices required by this chapter;

(C) Maintain the skating surface in a reasonably safe and clean condition and inspect the skating surface before each session;

(D) Maintain the railings, kickboard risers, and walls surrounding the skating surface in good condition;

(E) Install fire extinguishers and inspect fire extinguishers at recommended intervals;

(F) Inspect emergency lighting units periodically to ensure the lights are in proper order;

(G) Keep exit lights and service area lights on when skating surface lights are turned off during special numbers;

(H) Check rental skates on a regular basis to ensure the skates are in good mechanical condition;

(I) Comply with all applicable state and local safety codes.

Section 4171.07 | Floor supervisors - duties, training.

• Effective: April 1, 1993
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 347 - 119th General Assembly

Each operator shall maintain at least one floor supervisor on duty for every one hundred seventy-five roller skaters when the roller skating rink is open for sessions. The floor supervisor shall be in a position to observe the skate floor and shall monitor activity on the skate floor and be available to assist skaters in understanding and adhering to the responsibilities of roller skaters set forth in section 4171.08 of the Revised Code. The floor supervisor shall comply with the duties of a floor supervisor as defined by the roller skating rink operators of America or its successor organization, including directing traffic and assisting roller skaters who may fall or sustain injuries. The floor supervisor also shall issue warnings, reprimands, or penalties to roller skaters upon their violation of the responsibilities set forth in section 4171.08 of the Revised Code.

No person shall act as a floor supervisor unless he has received the training appropriate for such duties.

Section 4171.08 | Roller skater - duties.

• Effective: April 1, 1993
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 347 - 119th General Assembly

Each roller skater shall:

(A) Maintain reasonable control of his speed and course at all times;

(B) Heed all posted signs and warnings;

(C) Maintain a proper outlook to avoid other roller skaters and objects;

(D) Accept the responsibility for knowing the range of his own ability to negotiate the intended direction of travel while on roller skates and to skate within the limits of that ability;

(E) Refrain from action in a manner that may cause or contribute to the injury of himself or any other person.

Section 4171.09 | Roller skater - assumption of risks.

• Effective: April 1, 1993
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 347 - 119th General Assembly

The general assembly recognizes that roller skating as a recreational sport can be hazardous to roller skaters regardless of all feasible safety measures that can be taken. Therefore, roller skaters are deemed to have knowledge of and to expressly assume the risks of and legal responsibility for any losses, damages, or injuries that result from contact with other roller skaters or spectators, injuries that result from falls caused by loss of balance, and injuries that involve objects or artificial structures properly within the intended path of travel of the roller skater, which are not otherwise attributable to an operator's breach of his duties pursuant to sections 4171.06 and 4171.07 of the Revised Code.

Section 4171.10 | Assumption of risk is complete defense.

• Effective: April 9, 2003
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 120 - 124th General Assembly

The express assumption of risk set forth in section 4171.09 of the Revised Code shall serve as a complete defense in a tort or other civil action against an operator by a roller skater for injuries resulting from the assumed risks of roller skating. The comparative negligence or other tort provisions of sections 2315.32 to 2315.36 of the Revised Code shall not apply unless the operator has breached the operator's duties pursuant to sections 4171.06 and 4171.07 of the Revised Code.