ENTECH Safety Summit backs rules for events safety

The National Stage and Events OH&S Summit at this week's ENTECH convention has heard how a set of national safety rules for event safety might be developed, while also considering wider safety and training issues.

Backed by Live Performance Australia, CX magazine and ENTECH owners NTF, the Summit was held to discuss safety issues relating to theatre and live events.

A show of hands at the Summit agreed to creation of a working party, to be steered by Live Performance Australia, to decide whether to pursue a Code of Practice or a set of Guidelines

Addressing the Summit, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Workplace Health Safety & Compensation Manager Carolyn Davies explained the differences between Code of Practice or a set of Guidelines and the implications of such rules.

Davies suggested that, if developed, a Code of Practice would be used in conjunction with the model Workplace Health and Safety legislation and would be admissible in court proceedings under the model WHS Act and Regulations.

Davies added developing a Code of Practice might be difficult to achieve and would require Governments to "sign off" on the document.

By contrast, Davies suggested that model Guidelines would be usable in conjunction with the model WHS Act and Regulations and are admissible in court proceedings under the model WHS Act and Regulations. Guidelines, Davies suggested, would be easier to achieve.

Discussions surrounding the guidelines followed a session, 'Anatomy of a Stage Disaster' that considered the collapse of the stage roof at the Indiana (USA) State Fair in August 2011, stage collapse, that killed seven people and injured over 40.

Led by CX's Julius Grafton, the session dissected 2,000 pages of extensive engineering and site logistic analysis of the Indiana disaster.

In open forum, industry safety expert Roderick van Gelder, Risk Manager for Stage Safety Pty Ltd, advised of this week's establishment of the Event Safety Alliance Australia (details to follow).

Melbournes first sound and light convention in a decade, ENTECH CONNECT was held at the Melbourne Park Function Centre on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th July.

The event also featured exhibits by leading suppliers of lighting, staging, vision and audio equipment along with a full program of seminars and training events.

ENTECH 2013 will be held from 23rd to 25th July at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

For more information go to www.entechconnect.com.au