A question that jumped out at me early was "Why were the spot ops sent up?" (One I was thinking myself.) But maybe we're looking at this the wrong way. There was a pre-show. Maybe they never came down. Having run spot on a high tower, there is always the question in your mind as to if it is worth it to be climbing down and back up during the 30 minute or so break. I do not know what their schedule was, and if it was only a 30 minute break, but it may explain why they were up there.
They were begging to come down. But the show manager wouldnt let them come down, they were allowed to come down too late. The spot ops were on the way down as it was collapsing.
Wait, so I'm supposed to hire union employees for my shows (who we're told to hire because they work safer and have more experience) but if they screw up then i'm responsible because I didn't train them in the safe use of the equipment?
I would have to agree that at this point in the investigation, it looks like they are trying to find a scapegoat and not put it on the organizers who failed to have a suitable plan for bad weather.
As for precedent, it is a workplace accident. Union members are employed by some entity and that entity would be the responsible party for the workplace accident.
This is the biggest difference between the union and any other staging company. The union is not an employer. No union is. If you go to the grocery store and the clerk is a member of the UFCW, they are still an employee of said store, not the union. I don't know why people don't understand that, unless it is because stagehands are generally temporary employees.
The problem is, inspected by whom? There are probably less than ten industry experts I'd personally trust to do this type of inspection. None of them a city/county/state inspector. Further, if they are inspecting solely for compliance with a manufacturer's specifications, don't we think that's already being done? I have a very strong suspicion that the evidence will eventually show that the Indiana State Fair structure met all requirements and was assembled in accordance with its manufacturer.All temporary outdoor stages like the one that collapsed last year at the Indiana State Fair, killing seven people, would have to be inspected before they are used for performances under a bill approved Tuesday by a state Senate committee.
"We don't know whether it will fix anything or not," Smith said. "Once the investigation comes out and we find out exactly what happened . . . we will be able to craft some meaningful legislation that has long-lasting impact on the public safety of Hoosiers in the state of Indiana."
We use essential cookies to make this site work, and optional cookies to enhance your experience.