ESTA ES1.18 PDF

Rigging creates life safety hazards that affect every person associated with an event.

This standard provides minimum requirements and general guidelines to assist an event organizer/producer regarding the suspension of equipment and materials that are used in the technical production of organized events.

This standard addresses the general requirements for design, planning, installation, set-up, removal, and operation of rigging activities. These activities may be conducted either indoors or outdoors, on structures either temporary or permanent in nature.

This is not a tutorial or list of specifications.

Installation of permanent rigging systems is not within the scope of this standard.

Rigging people or performers, and people or performer flying systems are outside of the scope of this standard.

Rigging methods and construction of flying scenic elements are outside of the scope of this standard.

A typical event has multiple stakeholders that may have substantial authority and responsibility for the event’s execution. The responsibility of the stakeholders must be mutually agreed upon prior to the event. It is imperative to have clear lines of authority and responsibility between each of the affected parties.

E1.2

Written Contracts Prevent Disputes. The days immediately before an event can be very hectic; this is no time to be making spontaneous, important agreements. Instead, to the extent possible, lines of authority and responsibility should be memorialized in advance in written contracts that the agreeing parties sign and date which, may also be signed in counter-parts. Memories often differ after an event, but recorded communications always remember. While a signed contract is always preferred, use whatever means of recording an agreement you can to clearly document your agreements for posterity.