Advice for working on aerial performances

Fit to Fly: A Performers’ Checklist

Fit to Fly is the outcome of a collaboration between Equity, the National Centre for Circus Arts, and a collection of rigging companies and freelance circus riggers. It aims to provide performers working in small “clip and go” venues, (cabaret venues and small theatres / festivals etc.) where there may be a pre-installed performer flying solutions, and little or no rigging support, with information to help them assess the safety of that set up.

This document outlines some of the minimum considerations a performer should take into account before undertaking an aerial performance at a venue. 

What you need to do

Asking venues to provide information about the safety of their facilities is a two way street, and there is also information that you as a performer should be able to supply to the venue in return.

You should always ask for and provide this information in advance of any contract / booking. 

  • You should know the load requirements for your act (in kilos) and be able to clearly provide your rigging requirements.
  • You should have a risk assessment and method statement for your act. This needs to be adapted to the specific venue as risks will be different depending on the individual factors at the site.
  • You should have reports of thorough examination for your aerial equipment, (sometimes referred to as ‘lifting equipment’) and records of inspection for any large items of equipment you use. The law requires thorough examination or inspection to be carried out by a competent person.
  • You should have a Technical Specification (Rider) document outlining what your requirements are in order to perform your act safely and to the artistic standard expected – and making it part of your contract. This should include safety factors for your act as well as practical considerations such as dressing room, toilet facilities, access to drinking water etc.
  • You must have Public Liability Insurance and be sure it is suitable and covers your activities. In particular, if you are undertaking any rigging that may be used by others, you should ensure it covers this, AND THAT YOU ARE QUALIFIED OR EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO DO THIS SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY.

There are things you need to confirm with the venue or producer at the point of enquiry or before you are committed to / contracted for the show. You should also double check these are in place when on site.

What to ask (and what do you need?)

Your safety is always the top priority!

If in doubt about performing safely - DO NOT PERFORM!

Do not be pressured by anyone to use faulty or questionable equipment. Always ask questions.

Notes 

  • LOLER (The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulation 1998) requires equipment used for lifting people to be thoroughly examined by a competent person in accordance with a scheme of thorough examination or at intervals of not greater than six months and a record of that thorough examination (ROTE) to be kept. ‘Lifting equipment’ means work equipment for lifting / lowering loads including that which supports it. A corde lisse attached to a beam without roundsling is not lifting equipment but is in scope of PUWER 1998. A performer on a hoop lifted by a winch would fall under the scope of LOLER 1998 since it is lifting a person. Lifting equipment not designed to lift a person should employ a factor of safety twice that of that normally used for lifting.
  • A Competent Person is defined as someone who has the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to carry out the work safely.
  • Rigging and other equipment for aerial performance, should be designed and installed by someone who understands and has experience of the dynamic forces being applied to them by a circus performer.
  • You should ensure that the person carrying out thorough examinations of lifting equipment has the appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of  the equipment, to enable them to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their
    importance in relation to the safety and continued use of the lifting equipment.
  • With regard to your own equipment, and in particular Circus Equipment, you may feel that your own experience and training, along with the manufacturer’s guidance, is enough to make you competent.
  • You should ensure lifting equipment is thoroughly examined and the ROTE is capable of being produced as a written copy.
  • Work equipment also needs to be inspected but the record for smaller items can be a tag or other simple method. Larger items of work equipment that create a risk, such as a trapeze portique, should have a report on inspection that accompanies the equipment to the site where you are performing.