PLASA Rigging Conference 2013 Examines Safety Issues and Lessons Learned from Structural Failures

More industry experts have been confirmed to speak at the fourth annual PLASA Rigging Conference which takes place October 7 - 8, 2013 at its new home, ExCeL London. Topics include control system design, truss design criteria, and discussing structural collapse. In addition, the popular Riggers' Forum scheduled for October 6 is now open for registration, the annual opportunity promising to provide informal and lively debate.

Scott Nachemann of Thornton Tomasetti managed the investigations into the failures of the supporting structures at the Indiana State Fair in 2011 and in Toronto in 2012. In this session Nachemann leads a panel of engineers, users, and manufacturers in an account of the examination of the Indiana State Fair incident and a discussion of the lessons learned from the tragedy. The session will also look at initiatives involving the development of standards, regulations, and inspection requirements.

Cristiano Giavedoni of Kinesys will speak about the "Four Lost Islands." In this session Giavedoni will look at different approaches to control system design from the very simple to the complex, and discuss how systems can be managed, inspected, and classified.

Malcolm Richards of M.A. Richards and Company has been designing aluminum structures in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. His presentation will dispel some of the myths about trusses and help delegates to build a solid understanding of the principles of truss design. The session includes an overview of the reasons trusses are made in the way they are, and the many misconceptions surrounding their use.

Riggers once again get their own event at the Riggers' Forum, held on Sunday, October 6, from 2 - 5pm. This informal event, which costs £40+VAT, provides company and freelance riggers with a platform to openly discuss issues affecting their daily working lives. This year's Forum includes a short presentation about climbing on trusses, an issue currently under scrutiny by the HSE, followed by an open forum for questions and points of concern. On hand to field questions will be members of the National Rigging Advisory Group, safety advisors, and PLASA Skills to answer questions about the NRC. Anyone wishing to raise specific questions or issues can email them in advance to info@plasariggingconference.com.

Up-to-date details of the PLASA Rigging Conference program content and speakers can be found at the URL below. Registration is live now -- early booking rates are available until mid-September; to book tickets visit the URL below.