A Safety Bond (also known as a safety wire or safety cable) is a secondary securing device used to prevent lighting fixtures or rigged equipment from falling if the main fixing fails.
It’s made from steel wire rope and is designed to be looped around the rigging bar or truss, and then clipped securely to the fixture—creating a solid backup if the clamp or primary fixing gives way.
Where are they used?
Safety bonds are used any time equipment is rigged overhead—in theatres, schools, events, and venues. They’re most commonly seen on stage lighting, but should be used with any suspended equipment that could pose a risk if it fell.
Are they optional?
Not in any venue that cares about health and safety.
They’re a basic safety requirement in almost every risk assessment, particularly in education or public spaces. No safety bond? No rigging. Simple as that.
How should they be used?
Loop the safety bond around the bar or truss, never just through a clamp
Clip it to a secure point on the fixture itself—not just the yoke or bracket
Make sure it’s rated for the weight of the fixture
Regularly check for fraying, broken strands, or dodgy spring clips
In summary:
A safety bond is your last line of defence. If the rigging fails, this is what stops things crashing to the floor—and potentially injuring someone underneath.
It’s a small bit of kit that does a very big job.
A safety bond is a small piece of kit that does a big job. It’s your backup plan—designed to stop a lighting fixture or rigged item from falling if the main fixing fails. Loop it around the bar or truss, clip it to the fixture, and you’ve just added a vital layer of protection. Not optional. Not decorative. Just essential.
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