To assist you in planning your participation in your show, we are certain you will appreciate knowing in advance that union labor will be required for certain aspects of your exhibit handling.
Teamsters are responsible for: floor layout, carpet, drapes, rental furniture, decorating rental items, masking, aisle signs, hanging special signs, and aisle carpeting, unloading and reloading freight, delivery of material to the exhibit booth, installation and dismantling of booths and rigging.

Fork trucks, pallet jacks and other power equipment may be operated by the official contractor only using local union personnel. Please note that the exhibitors are limited to using non-mechanical equipment. Exhibitors are allowed to perform their own material handling from the designated loading area, providing all of the following criteria are met:

1. Exhibit personnel performing the work must be full-time employees (authorized personnel) of said company.
2. Exhibitors may choose to off-load from a company owned truck or rental vehicle, or from a car, van or truck owned by personnel of the company provided the vehicle is co-owned or rental vehicles must be less than 24 feet in length and is performed without the use of a mechanical lift gate.
3. Exhibitors may use only hand-operated equipment, which they have provided; two-wheeled hand trucks and for-wheeled flat trucks are permitted as well.
4. At no time can vendors (A/V, furniture design firm, etc.) unload their items. An approved General Service Provider must be hired by the Licensee to unload/re-load and push in all vendors.

Exhibitors are allowed to set up and/or dismantle their own booths, provided that they use their own company employees. Salesman, clerks and mechanics are all acceptable. Exhibitors are not allowed to bring in outside labor of any kind except for the above mentioned. Exhibitors who wish to employ display houses or exhibit manufacturers to install or dismantle their booth may have supervision of labor sent in from their supplier. Workers of this type cannot physically erect the booth, unless they are members of the appropriate Local Union. Please be sure to submit the required notification/authorization forms (Exhibitor Appointed Contractor Form) provided in this manual.

Move-In Procedures
All Exhibitor move-in is restricted to the facility loading dock. No exhibitor will be allowed access with his or her move-in materials via any other entrance to the facility.

Hand Carry
Exhibitors may hand carry one item, one time, in or out of the facility without having to access the loading dock. Hand-carried is defined as one item that can be easily carried by and individual, without the need for dollies or other mechanized equipment, and usually weight less than 30lbs. Unions claim jurisdiction under all other circumstances.

The fire department has strict regulations governing trade shows. All electrical wiring must conform to National Electric Code Safety Rules. In addition, all draperies, decorations and materials must be flame proofed in accordance with local fire codes.
The use of decorations incapable of being flame proofed is not permitted. These include paper or those products with acetate cellulose or nitrate cellulose contents, decorative greens containing pitch and polyethylene artificial floral decorations. Exhibitor’s products displayed for technical presentation are exempt from the above rules.

The following rules apply regarding flame-retardant treatments:

1. All decorations, drapes, signs, banners, acoustical materials, hay straw, moss, split bamboo, plastic cloth, and similar decorative materials shall be flame-retardant to the satisfaction of the Boston Fire Department and State Fire Marshal.
2. Combustible materials, 3/8 inch or more in thickness, glass or asbestos cloth may be used without flame-retardant treatment.
3. The use of oilcloth, tar paper, sisal paper, nylon, Orlon, and certain other plastic materials that are not flame-retardant, is prohibited.
4. Table coverings used in exhibit halls must be flame-retardant treated, unless they lie flat, and have an overhang of no more than six (6) inches.
5. All materials must be certified by the Boston Fire Department within six (6) months of the event. The Boston Fire Department does not accept certificates from other jurisdictions. Materials may be sent directly to the Boston Fire Department for testing.
6. The City of Boston Fire Code prohibits the use of:
   
   • fabric attached to a ceiling or used to cover any portion of an exhibit.
   • carpet on ceilings, walls, seating products, or as decorative material.

Our work rules prohibit the SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE of tips in cash, product or gifts in kind by any employee (union or non-union). Our employees are paid appropriate wages denoting professional status, therefore tipping of any kind is not allowed.

Customer acknowledges that the show site and surrounding areas are active work zones. Customer, its agents, employees and representatives are present at their own risk.

GES requires the highest standards of integrity from all employees. Please call our confidential Always Honest hotline at 800-443-4113 to report fraudulent or unethical behavior.