you don't go to a concert to die
 

industry experts discuss the Indiana state fair incident-

Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse, Five Dead. Now What? | Jim On Light

having spent Manny years of my career building roof systems like this, to watch it fall on the audience was one of the mos horrific sights i have ever seen-

Very sad.

I wonder if they had the same issues as in this post?

Very, very sad. I hope (and believe) that revisions to the building codes will be forthcoming as a result of this. Temporary structures - particularly those associated with temporary events like fairs - have gotten a pass for way too long IMHO. There's going to be a lot more scrutiny of scaffolding, staging, rigging, amusement rides, etc. And there should be.

This shouldn't be happening in 2011. No way. It's up there with the RI nightclub deaths for the "Great White" show for preventable stupidity resulting in loss of life. I just hope that justice is done, the memories of those lost doesn't fade easily and that lasting change is enacted as a result.

This is the industry I work in, really sad. :(

Most of the time failure is due to human error, very rarely from cheaping out on the product used.(This is why I still have a manufacturing job int he USA, Chinese goods do not have the level of trust yet, although they do have some of the OEM market specced with Chinese hardware, its often trashed and aftermarket European/American stuff used instead).

I work in the entertainment industry, and we use stage truss all day long. This was inexcusable. There is absolutely no reason for this to have occurred. In a hurricane sure, but with 60-70 mph gusts, absolutely not.

Show of hands, how many folks here really believe that a temporary stage structure can and should be built to withstand sudden near-hurricane force winds?
Seems like we should be doing that to mobile home parks first.

At the risk of seeming extremely callous the people who attended that concert have access to weather reports just like the promoters do.
They live in that country and are familiar with the storms that can and do pop up there. Just like I am aware of earthquake risks here even though no one can tell me that there's a good chance an earthquake will hit, like they did with that storm.

The promoter came on the PA system before the tragedy struck and announced that a significant storm was on it's way and provided evacuation instructions in anticipation.

If we are to place blame the promoters for not building a stage capable of standing up to a powerful storm, we should also be realistic enough to put at least some blame on those who put themselves in harm's way.

I don't like it anymore than anyone else but fair is fair and honest is honest.

Either we do that, or we just accept that it was a freak act of nature and let it go.
Seems to me like that's a more reasonable was to look at it.

It's true, you don't you don't go to a concert to die.
You also don't walk outside into a tornado or go to the beach to watch a hurricane.

Have to agree with Sam. (that's rare in itself :))

Unfortunately, they do have ratings for those types of structures. So when the winds were measured below their ratings, the company will be sued from here to Timbuktu.

I am good with viewing this as a horrific freak accident.

Is it a freak accident in which a microburst or something exceeded the design limits, or were shortcuts taken to get the stage up in time? I think I'll wait for the investigation...

or the promoter was hoping that it would pass close with no ill effects. if we can get them to do some of the show, we wont have to do a refund-

it all comes down to the almighty dollars

Very sad. And I also tend to agree with Sammy. We would be checking the weather forecast if we had tickets to an outdoor concert and would think twice before going. As mentioned they had forecasted possible severe weather.

I think the same about some of the traveling carnivals that go from town to town with the old rickety thrill rides that are rusty, greasy and shaking as the thing spins around. And seeing some of the characters that work assembling them over and over every weekend......You really gonna let your kid ride on that?

...why does everything that happens in the world need to be someone's "fault"? i guess my view is that reasonable and prudent people do reasonable and prudent things that are aimed at a normal range of circumstances and sometimes the world just slaps you down.

This event is a tragedy, there have been others in many ways and in many areas of human endeavour, yes, please check to make sure someone did not do something ultra-negligent, but given all was reasonably done, well - it happens.

Sammy is right....

D.

One bolt of lightning could have killed a lot more people. Would the promoter be responsible for that?

From my perspective the problem lies with the lawyers. Those injured or killed (family) might not necessarily file a suit, however; they will be searched out by legal firms that specialize in liability cases and encouraged to file to get their "pound of flesh".

You get the right ambulance chaser and he would take it to court on a contingency agreement and yes, he would work to prove fault with the construction union, organizers, town or city that gave the permit, anyone who has anything to do with the concert would be on the list.

It will never make it to court. 90% of the time the insurance companies will just settle it.

True, but then the risk pool gets to eat the cost and the lawyers still get their fee. There will be many frivolous law suits following an accident like this. Sad scenario.

Most likely if the fine print on the back of the concert ticket that was purchased is read it will release the promoters from ANY liability from ANYTHING.

That truss seems to have had zero lateral support I didn't see any guywires. It folded just like if you have a bookcase with no back (shear bracing) on it and pushed it from the side.