Update on the terrible accident at AT&T Center in San Antonio last night, Thursday, April 4, 2013 — the rigger’s name is confirmed as Dean Williams, 43, of Houston. Dean leaves behind a wife and 3 month old baby girl named Lydia.
From KSAT 12 in San Antonio — allegedly, Dean unclipped to move around a beam and fell (bolding is mine):
Berry said the incident occurred just before 2 a.m. as crews were working on the stage after a concert. The man was walking on the catwalk. He had removed his safety harness to move around a beam when fell to his death. The worker has been ID’ed as 44 year-old Dean Williams from Houston.
I’m so sorry to hear of this. Please, for f*ck’s sake, be careful up there, everybody.
I knew Dean very well. He was like a mentor to me. He taught me how to be a stagehand, and then he taught me how to rig. He was one of the most safety-conscious riggers I’ve ever met. If this could happen to him, it could happen to anybody.
Get a y-lanyard if you don’t have one, guys…stay clipped in. I know we all think we’re badasses and we don’t need to be clipped in while we’re moving with 3 points of contact. But this just goes to show you can lose your balance doing the most mundane, everyday shit.
I was a rigger for many years before fall arrest systems existed. We wore no harnesses and had no lanyards and there was no room for complacency. There is still no room for complacency because one wrong move could be your last. Use your gear properly and inspect it regularly, for your life and the lives below you…..pms
Dean was a great rigger and I am sad to see him go this way.r.I.p Dean.
I was a rigger for many years before fall arrest systems existed. We wore no harnesses and had no lanyards and there was no room for complacency. There is still no room for complacency because one wrong move could be your last. Use your gear properly and inspect it regularly, for your life and the lives below you…..pms
This is so sad. I think he was 44 not 43. I’ve had a pin fall out of the ceiling and land about 10 feet away from me before. Stagehand work is very dangerous and all safety precautions should be followed ALL THE TIME!! Not just sometimes. I don’t know why we’re not all forced to wear hard hats while working under riggers. I’m sure it’ll be required one day.
Comments are closed.