Stage Rigging Accessibility: Designing Systems Your Crew Can Safely Operate

What Is Stage Rigging Accessibility?

Designing stage rigging for accessibility is a system-wide process that requires detailed, strategic planning. Making rigging systems accessible is key to ensuring they can be properly maintained and safely operated by any member of your stage crew. Knowing the ins and outs of rigging equipment is a good start; from there everything from the configuration and type of your system to the individual pieces of equipment you choose all impact the overall accessibility and safety of your venue’s rigging.

Why Operator-Centered Design Prevents Accidents

The majority of stage rigging accidents are caused by operator error, rather than equipment failure. While trained and experienced crews can reduce the chance of accidents, it is still crucial to design rigging systems with operators at their heart. By making operator-focused decisions, the overall risk and actual occurrence of accidents can be limited, creating a safer environment for audiences, performers, and crews, while also protecting the rigging equipment itself.

The Six Principles of Accessible Rigging Design

There are many details that go into creating accessible and safe stage rigging systems, most of which fall within the guidelines of six distinct principles. A quick breakdown:

• Ground-level operation – Theater rigging equipment operated by ground crews should be safe, reliable, and chosen to match the expertise and experience of those who will be operating it most often. It’s also important that equipment operated by ground crews can be easily maintained and, if necessary, repaired to ensure safety and optimal performance.
• Clear control labeling – While perhaps it sounds rudimentary, clearly labeling each and every rigging system control is critical for improving accessibility and safety while also reducing mistakes or equipment failure.
• Fail-safe defaults – Safety equipment like dual brakes, load arrestors, safety cables, and secondary restraints are all a must for theater rigging systems.
• Ergonomic control placement – Key for comfort and accessibility, placing controls in places that every person on the crew can easily and safely use is a must for stage rigging design.
• Emergency access design – Accidents happen, even within well-designed rigging systems. Ensuring there is room for access to maneuver around the rigging in the event of an emergency, alongside critical safety features like fire curtains, is essential.

Key Terms and Definitions

While creating an accessible rigging system, keep a lookout for these important terms for key aspects of your design:

• Rigging accessibility – the combination of the physical space for operators, inspectors, and technicians to access all parts of the system, as well as designing for safe stage rigging operation.
• Fail-safe brakes – a brake or brake system that engages automatically to stop a hoist or line when power or connection is lost.
• Load limiting devices – sensors that automatically and instantly detect when load limits are exceeded and either stop or slip to avoid equipment damage and dangerous situations.
• Pendant control – the device used by crew members to remotely operate motorized rigging systems.
• Limit switch – switches placed at the upper and lower limits of an arbor’s travel. Once the arbor reaches either limit, the switch triggers and signals to the motor to shut off to avoid equipment damage and injuries.

Common Accessibility Failures in Stage Rigging Design

Failure	Risk	Design Fix
Minimal or zero service access	Inability to perform maintenance and inspections can cause equipment damage or failure	Incorporate safe floor and catwalk (if applicable) paths so crew members, inspectors, and technicians can reach every aspect of the rigging system
Unlabeled or difficult-to-use controls	Improper or accidental operation of the wrong controls can lead to dangerous or damaging production element movement	Create an accurate, easily read labeling system for your rigging system
Arbors and counterweight systems that are difficult to load	Safety risks, inaccurate loading, inaccessibility and unbalanced weights can all pose dangers to crew members and performers, as well as rigging equipment	Incorporate accessible and easy-to-load counterweight rigging equipment into the system design
Improperly placed controls	Controls that are not ergonomic or easily accessible can lead to crew injury or challenges properly operating motorized rigging	Place controls where they can be easily and comfortably used by all crew members

When designing your system, choose high-quality rigging equipment. If your venue requires unique solutions, reach out to Thern Stage Equipment. Our expert engineers can customize our products to meet any venue and system design.

Thern Stage Solutions for Accessible Rigging

Thern Stage Equipment produces top-quality, durable, and reliable rigging equipment for all types and sizes of venues. Whether you’re looking for innovative, safer front-loading arbors, intuitive motorized rigging controls, manual or powered hoists, or rigging blocks to enhance every production, we’ve got you covered. You can also reach out for more information or advice on designing an accessible and safe stage rigging system for your venue.