A female employee (24) who was inspecting playground equipment at “City” (Koraku 1-chome) died after being caught by a seat section that suddenly descended. On the 23rd, it was learned through an interview with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police that traces of oil leakage were found from part of a hydraulic device used to move the seat section up and down. It was reportedly discovered during an on-site inspection conducted on the 22nd, and the police are investigating the cause of the accident in detail.
The playground equipment involved in the accident was a “Flying Balloon,” where seats are arranged in a circle around a central pillar and move up and down.
The accident occurred at around 11:50 a.m. on the 21st. While a worker was conducting a regular inspection near the base of the equipment’s pillar, the seat section, which should have been fixed at the top of the pillar, suddenly descended. The woman was caught in the approximately 15-centimeter gap between the pillar and the seat. She was rescued about five hours later but was confirmed dead at the hospital where she was transported.
Playground equipment moved up and down hydraulically
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, the equipment was manufactured. The seat weighs about 1.7 tons and uses a mechanism where the movement of a hydraulic cylinder is transmitted via wires to move it up and down.
As a result of the on-site inspection on the 22nd…
