How to check a supplier can build safely at your venue

The risk is real: a staging structure fails or someone gets hurt, and you're liable. Your supplier bears some responsibility, but your venue is the stage, your event is the platform, and your name is on the incident report. You need to know before work begins whether the people you've hired have the skills, insurance and track record to build safely in your specific space.

This isn't about trusting their word or their website. It's about running checks that give you hard evidence.

Verify their safety credentials and track record

Start with PSIRA registration. Ask for their PSIRA number and verify it on the PSIRA database yourself — don't accept a screenshot. PSIRA oversees security and related competencies; a staging and rigging company should hold current accreditation. Ask also whether they have a health and safety representative on staff, and request a copy of their health and safety policy. This tells you they've thought about risk, not just slapped something together.

Next, ask for references from three venues of similar size and setup to yours. When you call them, don't ask vague questions. Ask: "Did the setup stay on schedule?" "Were there any safety incidents, near-misses or damage to the venue?" "Did they follow your venue's load restrictions and fire code?" "Would you hire them again?" Listen for hesitation or qualified answers — they're red flags.

Insurance is non-negotiable. Request proof of public liability insurance that covers the specific nature of the work: rigging, structural loads, crowd interaction. Check that the policy is current and that your venue is named as an interested party. If they can't produce this within 48 hours, walk away.

Test their knowledge of your space

Before you sign anything, invite the supplier to visit your venue. This is not a courtesy — it's an assessment. Watch how they move through the space. Do they measure ceiling heights, check beam locations, note load-bearing walls, assess floor condition? Do they ask about your venue's electrical capacity, fire safety protocols and any previous issues? Do they photograph or sketch the layout?

During the walk-through, ask them:

• How would they anchor the staging structure to your floor, and what load capacity would each anchor point handle?
• What's their contingency if a piece of equipment arrives damaged or if weather forces a change in setup time?
• How do they notify your staff if they need to isolate an electrical circuit or block an exit during build?
• What training do their crew have, and who's the on-site supervisor during setup and breakdown?

If they seem rushed, refuse to engage with your questions, or give vague answers like "we'll figure it out on the day," that's your signal to find someone else.

Get safety commitments in writing

Your quote or contract should specify the load limits they've calculated for your venue, the anchoring method, and the names and certifications of the crew members who'll oversee setup and takedown. It should also confirm they've read and comply with your venue's safety manual and emergency procedures.

Ask them to provide a risk assessment or method statement — a document that walks through the setup sequence, identifies hazards (falls, electrical, crowd crush near structures), and explains how they'll mitigate each one. If they hesitate or say it's "not standard," that's a warning.

Also confirm: who's responsible if your venue's fixtures or floors are damaged during the build, and what their insurance will cover.

Once you've checked their PSIRA status, spoken to previous venues, verified insurance, walked the site together and received a detailed, site-specific quote, you're in a much stronger position. You can't eliminate risk entirely, but you can eliminate careless suppliers. When you're ready to move forward with a proven, transparent provider, Strove's verified AV and staging professionals have passed these checks already — you can see their credentials and read reviews from past events.