Circus owners across Ireland expressed their sympathy yesterday following the death of a Belarus acrobat during a performance of the Royal Russian Circus in Scarriff, Co Clare, but said they are satisfied with safety standards in the industry.
Although there are currently no universally agreed guidelines or codes of practice, circus owners are subject to risk assessments from both their insurers and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
"All employers and employees have a responsibility to ensure they are operating as safely as possible," said Angus Laverty of the HSA, which began an investigation into the incident last night. "Obviously with circuses there is a higher level of danger involved, but it is still important to minimise the risks where possible."
Mr Laverty said the HSA was content with the standard of safety maintained by Irish circuses.
"The entertainment sector in this country has a good record and there tends to be very few deaths . . . which is why this incident is so surprising."
According to Robert Fossett, technical and artistic director with Fossett's Circus, the majority of circuses conduct regular checks on their safety equipment.
"Safety will always come first - it's in our best interest. Our rule is that everything is checked at least once a week, and then again whenever anyone is in the roof of the tent. The onus is on the artist to make sure everything is in order, and then I oversee that the equipment is safe.
"But the reality is that it's a dangerous profession and accidents happen. Mr Fossett said. "It's like the interest in Formula One - how many people who go are waiting for a crash? It's a very dangerous profession, regardless of all the safety precautions that can be in place."