The Hoist & Truss workshop featured the disassembly and reassembly of a one ton Lodestar as well as a Prostar with Dave Carmack of Columbus McKinnon. Dave Sowa of Tomcat USA led a discussion on control systems and also coached an advanced troubleshooting session. Instruction was rounded out by Dana Bartholomew of Fisher Technical Services, Inc. who gave instruction and demonstrations on automation.
Rocky Paulson, retired president of Stage Rigging Inc., taught safe rigging practices and principles while Morgan Neff of Mine Safety Appliances gave instruction on fall protection practices and equipment. Participants also had a full day on a Tomcat ground support system with these two instructors for some hands-on instruction and demonstrations.
Both workshops included a full day of truss instruction with Tomcat USA's Will Todd. The class included beginning and advanced concepts in truss usage, including: grid design, applying loads, ground support system considerations, structural design concepts, inspection techniques. The instruction culminated with one of the most popular features of the workshop: live destruction of truss.
(Jim Evans)
