Live Nation, Sound Engineer Charged In Radiohead Stage Collapse
The Ontario, Canada Ministry of Labour has charged three companies and one engineer in the wake of a deadly stage collapse at an outdoor Radiohead show in Toronto last year. The stage collapse, which happened just hours before the show was set to start, left Scott Johnson, Radiohead's drum tech dead and three other stage crew injured.
On Friday, according to the CBC, the Ministry of Labour charged Live Nation Canada Inc., Live Nation Ontario Concerts GP Inc., Optex Staging & Services Inc., and an unidentified engineer with violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Thirteen charges in all were leveled, with 8 against the two Live Nation companies, 4 charges against the staging company and the final charge against the unnamed engineer. Charges against Live Nation entities include allegations that the companies failed to comply with a specific subsection of the act dealing with a building or structure's capabilities in supporting "any loads that may be applied to it."
The engineer is facing a charge of “endangering a worker, as a result of his advice that is given or his certification that is made negligently or incompetently.”
The first scheduled hearing on the matter is scheduled for the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on June 27. – via CelebrityAccess
Assuming responsibility for a live performance is a huge risk you as the engineer take. Some stages are less complex and easy at which do not require a lot of thinking nor worries as it sits low and has sufficient support below to hold the weight of the equipment and the band playing on it. In this instance, the stage was a bit complex and maybe less supported underneath and or the proper measures were not taken to weight balance the stage to get an idea of how much it can withstand. In this instance, the band emanated pretty heavy in equipment and band members that the stage broke or loss it’s sturdiness and collapsed. As an engineer, it is your responsibility to ensure the weight ratio of the stage is kept underneath the weight limit so the stage is capable of withstanding the weight of the equipment and the musicians themselves. The unnamed engineer in this story is in deep trouble as lives were lost for not properly assessing the stage and balancing the weight on the stage with the band members and equipment. Although the member may have not done this intentionally, as the engineer for sound and lighting, you are in charge of the stage. Your due process ensures safety and guarantees the band’s performance on stage safely and efficiently.