TMB safety training for event production crews

Christophe Lenaerts
Jun 15
7 min read

Stage build and event construction are legally classified as temporary construction work in Belgium, meaning every crew member on site needs a certified basic safety qualification before the job starts.

Why event crews fall under TMB regulations

Event setup is construction work under Belgian law. The Belgian regulation on basic safety training for Temporary and Mobile Construction Sites (Tijdelijke en Mobiele Bouwplaatsen, or TMB) came into force on 15 April 2023, with the transition period closing on 15 April 2024. Since that date, anyone working on a temporary or mobile construction site must hold a basic safety certificate covering at least 8 hours of training.

The critical point that catches many event companies off guard: the build and breakdown of events falls within the scope of TMB regulations. Stage rigging, trussing, set construction, flooring systems, heavy equipment operation, and all the physical infrastructure that makes an event happen are treated as construction activities, not simply "event logistics." This is not a grey area. Belgian sector organisations, including Event Confederation, confirm explicitly that everyone involved in the build and breakdown of events is legally required to complete a basic safety training of at least 8 hours.

We see this directly in our work deploying technical crews across event sites in Belgium. When we arrive at a venue for a corporate conference, a government summit, or a large hybrid production, the site conditions are exactly what the TMB framework was designed to regulate: temporary structures, elevated work, heavy loads, and multiple contractors operating in the same space under time pressure.

What the 8-hour basic safety training actually covers

The TMB basic safety training is a minimum 8-hour programme that must be completed before work begins on site, or within one month if prior completion is genuinely impractical. The training covers hazard identification, risk management on temporary construction sites, working with heavy equipment, personal protective equipment, emergency procedures, and the legal framework governing site safety.

The certificate is valid for 5 years. After that, renewal is required to maintain compliance. Crucially, some equivalences exist: crew members who already held a valid VCA certificate or another recognised safety qualification at the time the regulation came into force may qualify for an exemption or equivalence, depending on the specific situation and timing. This is worth verifying individually rather than assuming blanket exemption applies to your whole team.

Not every person within an AV or event production company falls automatically under the obligation. The determining factor is whether that individual's specific activities on the event site constitute work on a temporary or mobile construction site. A technician rigging a truss system is clearly within scope. The obligation is tied to the activity and the role, not simply to being present on site.

The compliance risk for AV and event production companies

Companies that send uncertified crew onto event build sites are exposed to direct legal liability under Belgian workplace safety legislation. This is not a theoretical risk. Belgian federal workplace safety rules, administered through the Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue, impose obligations on employers to ensure workers have the required training before undertaking regulated activities.

For AV companies, this creates a specific operational challenge. Event production involves a mix of crew roles: technicians, riggers, stagehands, AV engineers, and production managers. Determining which roles fall within TMB scope, tracking individual certificate validity across a crew of 10 or 20 people, and ensuring no uncertified person ends up doing in-scope work on a build day requires active management, not passive assumption.

The reputational risk compounds the legal exposure. High-profile clients, particularly government institutions, international organisations, and large corporates, increasingly audit supplier compliance as part of procurement. An AV partner that cannot demonstrate certified crew is a liability, not an asset.

How 2 Stream approaches TMB compliance

Our technical crew has completed the basic safety training for Temporary and Mobile Construction Sites, meeting the training obligation under Belgian law for crew members whose activities fall within TMB scope. This is a deliberate operational decision, not a box-ticking exercise.

When we plan professional on-location livestreaming for a large conference or summit, our crew is on site during build phases, working alongside riggers, set builders, and venue technicians. The environment is a construction site by any reasonable definition. Having certified crew means we can operate confidently in that environment, communicate effectively with other site contractors, and take appropriate action when something on site presents a hazard.

The same applies to hybrid event productions, where our team manages technical setup across both the physical venue and the digital production infrastructure. Setup days for complex hybrid events involve exactly the kind of multi-contractor, time-pressured site conditions that TMB training prepares crews to navigate safely.

Our position: if your event production partner cannot confirm their crew holds valid TMB certificates for roles that require them, that is a procurement conversation worth having before the contract is signed, not after something goes wrong on a build day.

What to verify when selecting an event production partner

Ask your AV and event production suppliers three specific questions before confirming any engagement that involves site build or breakdown.

First, which crew roles does your company consider to fall within TMB scope, and can you confirm those individuals hold valid certificates? A supplier who cannot answer this clearly has not done the internal analysis.

Second, how do you track certificate validity across your crew? The 5-year validity period means certificates issued in 2023 expire in 2028, but certificates issued in 2021 under a prior equivalent qualification may have different timelines. Active tracking is necessary.

Third, what is your process if a crew member's certificate has lapsed? The answer should involve a concrete protocol, not a vague reassurance.

For organisations planning events in Belgium, particularly in sectors where regulatory compliance is a procurement requirement, such as government, defence, EU institutions, and large corporates, these questions belong in your supplier qualification process. Our client work across these sectors reflects exactly this expectation: compliance is part of the brief, not an afterthought.

If you are planning a production that involves complex site setup and want to understand how we approach safety and technical logistics, take a look at our guide to professional hybrid event production in Brussels for a practical overview of how these elements come together on high-stakes events.

Stage build is construction, and Belgian law treats it that way, which means TMB certification is a legal training obligation for event crews, not an optional professional development choice. Knowing this changes how you qualify suppliers: you now have a specific, verifiable compliance question to add to your procurement checklist before any build-day contract is signed. Contact 2 Stream to discuss your upcoming event and confirm how our certified crew handles the technical and compliance requirements from setup through to broadcast.

Frequently asked questions

Is TMB safety training legally required for event build crews in Belgium?

Yes. Since 15 April 2024, when the transition period ended, anyone working on a temporary or mobile construction site in Belgium must hold a basic safety certificate of at least 8 hours. Belgian sector organisations confirm that the build and breakdown of events falls within the scope of TMB regulations. The obligation applies to the individual worker's specific activities on site, so the determining factor is what that person actually does during the build, not simply their job title.

How long does TMB basic safety training take?

The minimum duration is 8 hours. Training must be completed before work begins on a qualifying site. If prior completion is genuinely impractical in a specific situation, the regulation allows completion within one month of starting work, but the default requirement is before the job starts. The certificate issued is valid for 5 years from the date of completion.

Does every AV technician need a TMB certificate?

Not automatically. The obligation applies to individuals whose specific activities on the event site constitute work on a temporary or mobile construction site. A technician rigging structural elements, operating heavy lifting equipment, or working in elevated positions is clearly within scope. A technician whose entire role is operating a vision mixer in a production control room away from the build zone may fall outside it. Each role requires individual assessment based on actual site activities.

What happens if a crew member's TMB certificate has lapsed?

A lapsed certificate means the individual no longer meets the training obligation for in-scope work. Sending that person onto a qualifying site exposes the employer to liability under Belgian workplace safety legislation. The practical fix is a renewal programme before the certificate expires. The 5-year validity period means companies that certified crews in 2023 and 2024 need to build renewal tracking into their HR and operations processes now.

Can a VCA certificate replace TMB basic safety training?

In some cases, yes. Belgian regulations include provisions for equivalences, and a valid VCA certificate held at the time the TMB regulation came into force may qualify for recognition, depending on the specific situation and timing. This equivalence is not automatic or universal. Individual cases should be verified against the applicable rules rather than assumed to apply across an entire crew.

How do I verify that my event production partner's crew is TMB-certified?

Ask the supplier directly which crew roles they classify as falling within TMB scope and request confirmation that those individuals hold valid certificates. A credible partner will have a clear answer and a process for tracking validity. If a supplier cannot explain their compliance approach, that is a meaningful signal about how they manage other operational risks on your event.

Sources

Belgian Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue — Temporary and Mobile Construction Sites regulation — Primary regulatory source for the TMB basic safety training obligation, including the 8-hour minimum, timing requirements, and applicable scope.
Event Confederation — TMB basic safety training obligation for the events sector — Sector organisation confirmation that event build and breakdown falls within TMB scope and that the training is a legal requirement for involved crew members.