Rigging Accident in Ringling Bros. Show
As you have probably already heard, 8 “hairialists” fell in a Ringling Bros. Rhode Island show over this past weekend. We are all shocked and send our prayers to the performers and families. We are grateful that every performer is alive and on the road to healing. As you can imagine, everyone in the aerial industry is curious how this rigging accident happened so that we can all question our own rigging and make sure that we are holding ourselves to the highest standards of safety. A Ringling Bros representative has announced that it was a carabiner that broke. The OSHA report will hopefully explain how and why the carabiner broke so we can all learn from the incident.
To put things in perspective, know the weight limits and safety ratings of your equipment. Be sure to inspect your equipment for wear and tear, and inspect the rig daily to make sure everything is in tact. If you notice a carabiner side-loading (for example can easily happen after lowering equipment in from a tie line), stop the show and correct it. Even if fixing a problem is inconvenient or disrupts the flow of a show, just make the correction.
Your safety is of the utmost importance. If you ever feel uncertain of your rigging, weather conditions, endurance, or any other situation that may compromise your safety, do not perform. Never feel pressured to perform if your gut tells you to sit out or double check your rigging.
Below is a link to the Today Show’s coverage of the accident. (Warning: The media sadly sensationalizes the accident with multiple showings, but you do get to see Julianna Hane performing on hoop for a short moment in her beautiful purple dress.)
http://www.today.com/video/