Yet another stage collapse...

[dnar]

This time in Toronto. One dead, 2 critically injured and several others admitted to hospital. All in calm weather!

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertai...-1226397870234

http://cxmagblog.com/2012/06/17/radi...r-site-report/

Just before Radiohead hit the stage for soundcheck.

Things have got to change clearly, as stage collapses are becoming very common.

Condolences to the family of the effected.

[Things]

Too much weight on insufficient scaffolding .. heh.

[LaNeK779]

these things are outrageously sad
a life loss for a show, because someone can not factor in the law of gravity... should never happen

[Things]

It's pretty common for people to underestimate the weight of equipment, especially these days when you can get single lights weighing hundreds of kg. Load a few up on a bit of scaffolding, it'll be right eh? Sad

[flecom]

more pics

http://soundprolivesocial.com/forum/...ource=activity

http://splnetwork.com/one-dead-radiohead-stage-collapse

this is not good for the industry as a whole, to have a stage for such a large show collapse like that in calm winds on a normal day is not ok

seems like the dude who died was part of Radiohead's crew

http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/120617/Scott

[dnar]

Back when I worked int he touring scene, huge steels were placed atop the scaffolding as the main fly points. Looking at the photos, it all looks way too weak.

Agreed, until now self regulation has been sufficient, or insufficient recently. Things are going to change, they have to. The public are going to loose faith in event organizers, as will crews and bands.

[opcom]

criminal negligence? Do these event managers not hire engineers?

[Things]

criminal negligence? Do these event managers not hire engineers?

Pretty sure you don't have to .. but you are meant to (at least in AUstralia) have a rigging license, which should cover basic stuff like that.

[norty303]

As a result of the State Fair collapse a few months back, the US is changing/has changed its regulations. Not sure what local regs are like in Canada.
There was a good discussion about it on Blueroom forum (theatre/technical oriented forum). In Europe/UK, it was generally felt that we had all the required controls in place which is why we see less of this sort of thing than elsewhere - although the argument could be that there are simply less gigs of the same scale.

To be honest, if you're erecting a faaaarcking great big structure like that, you'd really hope someone had the common sense to hire an engineer/someone qualified, regardless of whether any law requires it.

[norty303]

Ok, some new info.

Radiohead wanted to rig all their video from the main roof structure but the engineer said no as it wasn't rated for the job. A 'discussion' ensued, the outcome of which was that the engineer was 'let go' and another engineer brought in who was prepared to sign it off.

I hope the promoters and all of the people involved in that discussion get what's coming to them.