Everyone associated with the execution of our event rigging is expected to work together to create a safe working environment. The event rigging creates life safety hazards that affect almost every person associated with our events. Anything dropped or lowered from above can cause serious injury to someone below. This set of procedures is meant to minimize or eliminate these sort of accidents from happening on our production sites. The work procedures listed below shall be followed on every site where work above ground level is being performed.
Production Site Introduction
Prior to the commencement of a production site load in, the ASP Project Manager or Lead Technician for the site shall inform the crew of the protocols listed below and ensure compliance.
Prior to performing any lifting or lowering operation, a ‘Ready to Fly’ checklist will be reviewed by the Project Manager/Lead Technician with the on-site event rigging supervisor, and appropriate department personnel as necessary. This will be a show specific document and shall be available from within the Show Paper. It is recommended that the Project Manager or Lead Technician have this document printed and contained within the show binder or folder for ease of access on site.
Ground Level Event Rigging Protocols
Prior to beginning any overhead work or event rigging procedures, an assessment of the work area shall be performed to ensure that the event rigging plan is still feasible under current conditions.
Area Control Measures:
- If the area where work will be performed is accessible to the general public (i.e. anyone not under our employ), an ‘Overhead Work Zone’ (OWZ) must be established under the area where the overhead work is being performed. If possible, this area shall be at a minimum 10’ larger in all directions than the area where the overhead work will be performed. This area shall be closed off
to any unauthorized personnel with the use of a barrier system of either fencing, cones and caution tape or other means available to prevent entry into or passage through the OWZ. - If the area where work will be performed is not accessible to the general public, the entire site will be classified as the OWZ during the period of time that work is being performed at height. An appropriate perimeter shall be established with access warnings at each site entrance with signage (cone group/caution tape/sign) that overhead work is being performed.
All of the following event rigging protocols will apply:
- All personnel working on the ground shall wear a Class G, Type I hard hat at all times while inside of the OWZ. ASP shall provide the appropriate number of hard hats for our employed working crew on each job site. These will be added to the Flex order and packaged along with the equipment by the warehouse staff. All personnel working on the ground shall wear an ANSI Class 2 High Visibility vest at all times while inside of the OWZ. ASP shall provide the appropriate number of Hi-Vis Vests for our employed working crew on each job site. These will be added to the Flex order and packaged along with the equipment by the warehouse staff.
- The OWZ shall be kept free of all non-essential equipment, tools, etc. during the period that work is being performed at height.
- The OWZ shall be kept free of unnecessary audio devices that may hinder clear communication between the ground crew and those working at height.
- Cell phone use inside of the OWZ is prohibited. The crew working inside of this zone shall be 100% focused on the tasks that necessitate them being underneath work being performed at height.
- Unless absolutely necessary, ground personnel shall not be directly underneath the worker at height, the aerial lift, scaffold, ladder or other elevated work platform. Nor shall they be under any active lifting or lowering operation.
- Prior to any lifting or lowering operation, the ‘Ready to Fly’ checklist shall be completed. (see above)
- After the work being performed at height is completed, with confirmation from the PM and event rigging supervisor on site, the OWZ barrier may be removed and entry into the area will no longer be restricted.
Working at Height Protocols
- All work performed from within an aerial lift must be done by a qualified person in accordance with the manufacturers specifications and with appropriate PPE (use of fall arrest where required, weight limits observed, not standing on railings, etc.) All tools being used while working at height shall be tethered in such a way as to prevent them from becoming a falling object.
- All non-essential objects shall be removed from the aerial lift, scaffolding, ladder or other elevated work platform prior to performing any work at height.
- All non-essential objects shall be removed from pockets, belts, etc. of the worker prior to performing any work at height.
- In tandem with the above, Cell phone use while working at height is strictly prohibited. A cell phone cannot be reasonably tethered and can very easily become a falling object. Cell phone use from inside an aerial lift is strictly prohibited.
- The aerial lift, scaffolding, ladder, or other elevated work platform shall be kept free of unnecessary audio devices that may hinder clear communication between the worker at height and the ground crew.
- Prior to making any move in an aerial lift, the worker at height shall announce their intention to the worker below with clear and concise language – e.g. “MOVING”, “GOING OUT”, “COMING IN”, etc.
- Whenever feasible, a ground attendant (spotter) shall be present to assist the aerial lift operator in the safe execution of their work.
Summary
A complete list of every single step involved in the execution of production rigging and overhead work is outside of the purpose and scope of this document. In an effort to keep this concise, this document highlights key standard operating procedures for our company that go along with all the established event rigging procedures outlined in Chapter 18 of the Event Safety Guide (ISBN 978-1-62914-
761-1). In addition to the required actions above, the Event Safety Guide – Event Rigging chapter shall be reviewed regularly and followed as standard operating procedure.
