Define what will be suspended
The plot should identify equipment, weights, positions and operating conditions, including cables, accessories and items added later. A screen or banner can also change wind actions. Installation needs a planned configuration rather than an accumulation of improvised decisions.
Confirm with the venue which points are authorised and for what purpose. A point intended for static suspension must not be assumed suitable for lifting. The capacity marked on an eyebolt does not establish the capacity of its fixing or the roof supporting it.
Assess the complete system
The Lifting plan should consider the structure, points, hoists, accessories and load, including the relevant force directions. Multiple supports do not automatically ensure equal load sharing. Compatibility and the consequences of failure require technical judgement from the design lead.
Secondary suspensions, where required, are part of that design. Adding an arbitrary cable is insufficient, and a double-braked hoist does not automatically remove every other precaution. Venue and equipment requirements need to be resolved before installation work begins.
Organise installation, performance and removal
Identify who directs the rigging work and approves changes. Control the area below during lifting and lowering, and prevent conflicting activities. Work at height needs its own protection and rescue arrangements; a load-bearing structure is not automatically an authorised climbing route.
Handover to production should document the approved configuration and its limits. Adding a light, moving a screen or removing a support changes the system and requires review. Prevent unauthorised operation or interference between rehearsals and performances, including access to controls.
Outdoor considerations
Outdoors, check that equipment is suitable for the environment and that wind, ground conditions and stability have been assessed. Adding ballast does not simply convert an indoor tower into an outdoor one. Limits and adverse-weather responses must follow the applicable design.
Include weather monitoring, named decision-makers and the time needed to act. Retain drawings, authorisations, checks and equipment information until dismantling is complete: the risk does not end when the event opens to the public, or when the audience leaves.
