Unusual Rigging is confirmed as the conference's Platinum sponsor for the third consecutive year, while Outback Rigging makes a welcome return as Gold sponsor.
"Rigging is an essential aspect of almost every event but, as productions increase in scale, size and complexity, so do the consequences of getting it wrong," says Alan Jacobi, managing director at Unusual Rigging. "Unusual Rigging wholeheartedly supports conferences such as this. It's imperative that we, as an industry, keep the debate fresh in order to keep improving upon our working practices. We are proud to again be sponsoring this year's conference."
"Outback is delighted to be sponsoring the PLASA Rigging Conference again," adds Outback managing director Mark Surtees. "It is a unique opportunity for the industry to meet, to learn and to discuss important issues of common interest. We have no doubt it will be a productive day for everyone attending."
Partnered by the National Arenas Association (NAA) and Association of Event Venues (AEV), a main theme of the conference will be the 2015 Construction (Design and Maintenance) - or CDM - regulations, introduced earlier this year.
This year's keynote speech will be delivered by StageCo founder and president Hedwig De Meyer, who says, "The continuing changes in health and safety requirements cause a lot of concern to many of us in an industry where self-reliance and resourcefulness are fundamental. Keeping informed and then able to implement them is a constant struggle.
"The PLASA Rigging Conference has developed into a meeting place for everybody in the rigging sector to share information and experiences. Importantly it can also help create a level playing field for everyone involved, because we should all be conforming to both legal and moral obligations. The conference is one way we can all work towards that by discussing the issues and understanding better what those obligations are."
Gavin Bull from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Construction Division will present the HSE's view of where things currently stand with CDM 2015 and what lies ahead. With the conference taking place soon after the first summer season with the new regulations has finished, this session will focus on their application and enforcement, allowing delegates to discuss compliance and what they need to do in order to achieve it. The panel for this session will comprise key CDM duty holders, including Wob Roberts, production manager for One Direction, who has also worked with Robbie Williams, Snow Patrol and Coldplay, the HSE's Flip Sandell, Outback's Mark Surtess and health and safety professional Mike Anderson.
Other sessions will include:
Truss Design, presented by Marc Hendriks, director of R&D at Area Four Industries - the mother company of Milos, Tomcat, Litec and James Thomas Engineering - and structural engineer Nick Barnfield.
Integration, Ownership and Use of Chain Hoists, presented by Cris Giavedoni, co-director of lifting equipment consultancy Blumano.
Updates on the NRC and trainee rigger scheme, insurance benefits and new initiatives, presented by Paul Riddiford and Ron Bonner.
A closing summary / question time chaired, as is the tradition, by Bill Sapsis, who opened last year's conference.
(Jim Evans)
