Total Structures hosts outdoor workshop
- Details
Held at the company’s California headquarters from 23-27 January, this year’s workshop would cover five days of instruction and discussion covering topics ranging from the fundamentals of truss design and inspection to advanced rigging math calculations for rigging supervisors. In between, the course provided training on outdoor structure design, discussion of American National Standards developed for the entertainment industry, and hands on training with the full range of Pointman Electric Chain Hoists. As an ETCP recognised training course, attendees were able to obtain their maximum 30 educational credits towards their certificate renewals.
“In 2012 we held our first training programme focusing on outdoor structures and how truss and rigging design work within those systems. At the time, we thought we would do the school a few times over the next couple of years, and then change direction to cover other areas due to covering the subject. We really didn’t expect that we would continue to see such a level of interest in this area year over year,” said Adrian Forbes-Black, vice president of Total Structures.
“Since that first session we have had at least six more schools, all of them sold out with people on waiting lists hoping to get a seat. That our industry has devoted this much time, effort and spending to making our work as safe as it can be tells us that we are on the right track to creating better events.”
While the week didn’t offer beach weather for relaxing, attendees did get a chance for some fun. Monday night was spent at the company’s headquarters, giving everyone a look at how truss is produced and a chance to try their hand at TIG welding aluminium. Dinner for the night was Georgia style barbecue courtesy of the company’s eastern US salesperson Elmer Veith.
Wednesday evening saw classmates and instructors face off in one of the greatest of American sports – bowling. Injuries were kept to a minimum, and all scores did make it into the double digits. The high score award went to Patrick Wallace of PSAV (his score was in the triple digits) while Seamus Brennan of PRG received the dubious honour of low score for the evening.
The 2017 edition of the Workshop was made possible thanks to sponsorship from Pointman Lifting Products, Clark Reder Engineering, ALPS and Dirty Rigger.
(Jim Evans)
