Hire and Rental News - November 2014

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19 HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • NOVEMBER 2014
EVENTS in FOCUS
In mid–September there was a
serious accident in the Barossa
Valley when a marquee blew over
resulting in serious injuries to
personnel inside the structure at the
time and prompting intervention by
WorkCover.
Reports from the industry indicate the
unfortunate incident happened at 3pm at
the Novotel Hotel where the marquee was
installed for an exhibition and was in the
process of being fitted out.
It has also been reported the 15m x 60m
long marquee had not been weighted
to the standards approved by the HRIA
and was in fact under-weighted. The
structure had been erected by a non-HRIA
member and apparently did not follow
HRIA approved weighting guidelines. One
person suffered a broken leg, others facial
injuries and many cuts and bruises.
According to sources, there had been a
severe wind weather warning out for the
day. A small pop top marquee blew over at
the Royal Adelaide Show on the same day.
Sources also report there were other
marquees on site that had been erected by
HRIA members that remained in place.
According to National Events Division
President Tom O’Dowd, (Business
Development Manager for No Fuss
Solutions in Victoria) this type of incident is
entirely preventable if industry weighting
guidelines are adhered to.
“The HRIA Events Division has drafted
and released industry specific weighting
Marquee accident results in injury to persons
and industry reputation
guidelines for structures
which have been tested
and approved by structural
engineers and which meet
stringent Australian building
codes. These guidelines were
developed to provide industry
specific and structurally
approved guidelines for
weighting structures
appropriately to enable our
industry to function to the
highest possible standards and
ensure the safety of end-users
at all times,” Tom said.
“When these guidelines are not followed,
that is when unfortunate incidents such as
this one in the Barossa Valley occur.
“A 15m wide marquee with 5m bays
requires 1200kg per leg as a minimum
weight, (according to the HRIAWeighting
Guide). This may vary in line with wind
terrain category, but it would not be
reduced for a marquee in the open.
“Industry recommendations for erecting
and weighting a structure in essence, is
in accordance with the manufacturer’s
recommendations and recommendations
by specified competent persons. It is also
accepted by the industry and by all HRIA
members the HRA weighting guidelines
are to be adopted as a self-regulated
industry standard,” Tom said.
“Having said that, it is also vitally
important persons erecting structures
are aware of the wind terrain category. In
some states an engineer must sign off on
the structure and in Victoria, structures
have to be signed off by a registered
building practitioner. Unfortunately, in
South Australia no such check is in place.
“Something like this puts the whole
industry in a bad light. What the public and
the authorities see is a disaster. This leads
to lack of confidence in the events industry
and puts pressure on the authorities to act
to prevent another such incident occurring.
Often the net result is more red tape and
more rules and regulations.
“The problem with an incident like this is
HRIA members will suffer for something
performed by a non-member who did not
adhere to the approved guidelines.
“It can be difficult after the fact to
ensure this important difference is not
misunderstood by the legislators.”
To view the HRIA Weighting
Guidelines, visit the HRIA website:
A serious accident in the Barossa Valley saw a marquee blow over
resulting in serious injuries to personnel