What is rigger?

Rigger is a person who specialises in rigging lighting, sound and structural elements (truss) in event spaces.

Riggers operate lifting equipment and work at height, so they have to hold the right certifications and qualifications. Those qualifications are what keep the rigging safe.
 

What a rigger does at the event

Assembly 
The rigger assembles the truss and sets the rigging points, sizing them to the layout of the structure and keeping every point within its Working Load Limit (WLL). They also build free-standing support structures, such as towers or ground support systems on outdoor stages.

Operating the hoists
The rigger runs electric chain hoists, which give precise control when lifting and positioning the structure. Where a point is fixed or power is limited, they turn to manual chain hoists instead.

Load distribution
The rigger spreads the weight of the sound, lighting and LED screens across the truss, so the structure carries the load evenly.

Safety
Riggers are responsible for the safety and stability of every structure. They inspect the equipment as they go, checking fixings and safeties to head off accidents and damage.

Coordination
Rigging has to be coordinated with the staging, sound and lighting builds, so everything lines up with the production schedule.

De-rig
Once the event wraps, riggers take down all the structures and equipment. They clear the work area and leave the site as they found it.
 

What qualifications does a rigger need?
 

In Poland, working at height and with lifting equipment is governed by specific regulations.

A rigger needs:

• a current medical clearance for working at height,
• health and safety training, including working at height,
• UDT qualifications (issued by Poland's Office of Technical Inspection) to operate hoists and winches – usually category II W, which covers equipment controlled from the working level, including wirelessly.

These qualifications aren't for life. The certificates have to be renewed: every 10 years for general-purpose equipment and every 5 years for special-purpose equipment.

How we do it
 

For 18 years we've delivered specialist technical support across Poland, Europe, the USA and the Middle East. Rigging is one of the cornerstones of what we do.

Need riggers for your event production?

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