EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Rigging and flying system records for theatres and events
Flying systems, counterweight rigging, and everything that lifts above an audience: LOLER thorough examinations and ABTT codes of practice, evidenced and ready. Papertrail keeps every rig's inspection history in one place, whatever venue or show it's currently in.
No credit card required.
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26M+ inspections, recorded by
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The inspections get done. Proving they were done is the part that costs you.
Every rig's history in one record, wherever the show is
A paper inspection log kept backstage. A touring show that changes venues every few weeks, with its rigging history left behind at the last one. By the time someone asks "when was this last examined," the answer depends on who happens to still be on shift.
Multiple theatres, one system
LW Theatres owns and operates major London venues, including the London Palladium and Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Papertrail.io
PaperBuilt for rigging that answers to more than one code
Schedule Manager
Thorough examination intervals set per rig, each with its own checklist, certificate and list of who's authorised to sign it off, with alerts before anything falls due.
Checklist Editor
LOLER-aligned checklists included, or build your own with the Checklist Editor on Expert and Enterprise. LW Theatres used it to gap-analyse their rigging practices against ABTT's codes of practice and build a structured alignment plan.
Certificates
Every thorough examination produces a shareable certificate, filed against the right rig automatically.
Audit Trail
Clear, timestamped proof of every thorough examination, ready the moment an auditor, client or insurer asks.
Schedule Manager
Thorough examination intervals set per rig, each with its own checklist, certificate and list of who's authorised to sign it off, with alerts before anything falls due.
Checklist Editor
LOLER-aligned checklists included, or build your own with the Checklist Editor on Expert and Enterprise. LW Theatres used it to gap-analyse their rigging practices against ABTT's codes of practice and build a structured alignment plan.
Certificates
Every thorough examination produces a shareable certificate, filed against the right rig automatically.
Audit Trail
Clear, timestamped proof of every thorough examination, ready the moment an auditor, client or insurer asks.
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Checklist Editor
Inspect
Use manufacturer-approved checklists for any equipment type, from lifting gear to PPE inspection records. Build your own with the Checklist Editor on Expert and Enterprise.
Gap analysis and clear ownership, across every venue
“Papertrail enabled us to clearly map our practices against ABTT Section M standards, conduct a structured gap analysis, and implement a plan to align with industry best practice.”
Will Ramsay
Compliance Systems and Sustainability Strategy Manager, LW Theatres
Related modules
Inspection Management
Every rig, flying system and piece of rigging hardware gets its own inspection schedule and history.
Staff Competency
Rigger and flying-operator certifications tracked centrally, alongside who's authorised to sign an examination off.
Incident Reporting
Log incidents and near-misses on flying and rigging equipment, and see the pattern across a run rather than one form at a time.
A touring production's rig history should travel with the show, not stay behind at the last venue
PartnerHub connects your account to the organisations you work with, so they see the records you share, and every update to them, in their own workspace.
Share
Share the rig's live record with whichever venue is currently hosting the show, or with the contractor carrying out its thorough examination
See
They see the full examination history from day one, in their own workspace
Revoke
Revoke access when the show moves on, and reshare with the next venue. The full activity trail comes back untouched
Built around the standards events and entertainment rigging is inspected against
Rigging above an audience answers to LOLER and PUWER like any other lifting equipment, but theatre and events work layers ABTT's codes of practice on top, covering wire ropes, flying and working at height specifically. Papertrail handles both without forcing one generic checklist across everything.
- ISO 27001, British Assessment Bureau (opens cvs.babcert.com)
- LEEA Associate Member
- IRATA International Associate Member
- GetApp Category Leaders 2025, GetApp User Reviews 4.7
- Capterra Shortlist 2025, Capterra 4.7 (opens www.capterra.co.uk)
- Software Advice Front Runners 2025, Software Advice 4.7
Frequently asked questions
Will my team actually adopt it?
Yes. Papertrail is built around the check your team already does: scan the item, work through the checklist, save. When you have a question, our support team's average first response time is under 8 minutes.
How fast can we migrate from spreadsheets or another system?
Your account does not start empty. Papertrail builds new accounts from industry-specific templates, so your account opens with a sensible starting structure rather than a blank one you configure yourself. Bringing your existing rig and equipment records across is a separate step, and we help you do it.
Does the audit trail actually hold up under scrutiny?
Yes. In LW Theatres' own words: "The ability to define user-level access, track actions, and maintain a centralised audit trail has given us the confidence that we're managing compliance in a truly robust way."
Can a touring production carry its rig's compliance history between venues?
Yes. PartnerHub is built for exactly this. Share the rig's live record with whichever venue is currently hosting the show, then revoke and reshare it with the next. The full examination history comes back untouched.
Every rig, every venue, one record
Book a demo and we'll walk through mapping your rigging practices against ABTT's codes of practice, or start for free and set up your first rig yourself.
26 million inspections recorded· No obligation.
Last reviewed on . MJB.