However, after years of enquiries from various companies and groups around the US, Tomcat USA has reported that the first ever Hoist and Rigging Workshop took place August 1-4, 2006 at the historic National Theatre.
Working with I.A.T.S.E. Local 22 in Washington D.C., Tomcat provided comprehensive training for over 50 union members. Many were from the Baltimore/D.C. area - and some participants traveled in from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York, New Jersey and Delaware to be a part of the training.
Don Dimitroff of Columbus McKinnon coached participants through the Lodestar electric chain hoist while Rocky Paulson (formerly of Stage Rigging Inc.) and Morgan Neff of Mine Safety Appliances stressed safety in rigging techniques and fall protection equipment. On the final day, Keith Bohn, Tomcat Design Manager offered an in-depth course in truss theory and design.
Tomcat USA's next workshops will be: October 18 - 19, 2007 in Las Vegas as part of the LDInstitute - more information is available at www.ldishow.com and registration has opened for this course.
And the second is on February 21-24, 2007 in Midland, TX. Registration will open soon for the four-day workshop and the two-day advanced workshop. More information is available from the Tomcat website.
(Chris Henry)
