Key Sessions Added to PLASA Rigging Conference 2014

Two important sessions have been announced for this year's PLASA Rigging Conference, adding further weight to the event's standing within the rigging community. The new one-day format will host a discussion from Michael Anderson about the revised CDM Regulations and an update on the International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging (ICoPER) led by Lori Rubinstein.

The PLASA Rigging Conference 2014 takes place on Monday, October 6, 2014 at ExCeL London. For the first time, the whole event will be packed into a one-day schedule, meaning delegates can attend the full conference at a reduced cost.

PLASA's director of international programs, Rubinstein, will moderate the first session of the day, which will look at how the ICoPER has developed over the last 12-months. Prior to last year's conference, PLASA commissioned a review of the various codes of practice from around the world in preparation for creating a universal standard for the rigging industry. ICoPER's framework was agreed at the 2013 event and has been expanded over the last year.

The session will give members of the regional groups and delegates the opportunity to comment on the work done so far and quiz the expert panel, which includes the region chairs of the subject matter experts: Tiny Good from Asia Pacific, Ed Kish from North America, and Roy Schilderman from Europe.

In the afternoon, Anderson, group head of health and safety at Earls Court and Olympia Group, will lead a session looking into the revised Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations and the impact they will have on the industry when they are launched in April 2015. With the consultative process well under way and predicted to be at a mature stage come October, the session will offer timely guidance as the countdown to their implementation begins.

The revised CDM Regulations and how they'll be applied are particularly pertinent subjects for the rigging arm of the entertainment industry. Knowledge will be an important ally to everyone they concern. The session will build that knowledge by looking at what the industry will be faced with and what delegates can do to ensure that they are as prepared as possible.

The PLASA Rigging Conference is an important annual meeting for the rigging industry, typically attracting over 150 delegates, from more than 20 different countries. That includes practitioners, managers, engineers, safety professionals, and policy makers who are keen to exchange information, challenge thinking, and inspire new research. It is unique as the only event to focus specifically on rigging for the entertainment industry.

Program curator, Chris Higgs, is training manager and group safety advisor at Total Solutions. He is regarded as one of the rigging industry's most experienced members. Further schedule announcements will be made in the coming weeks.

Registration is open. Until the end of August 2014, delegates can take advantage of a special early bird booking rate of £150 plus VAT. The delegate rate includes refreshments throughout the day, lunch, and networking drinks at the close of the conference. For more information and to book a place, visit the URL below.