Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 2008 - 47

booth, that is a process that can be performed by the general
worker or student. All else is reserved for qualified persons.
For unqualified persons to perform these reserved tasks or allow them to be performed is considered an unsafe condition
which is usually against the law and creates a liability. This is
similar to an unlicensed driver not knowing where the brake
is on his car and hitting someone because he can't stop.
USITT's proactive work in the area of safe electrical
practices laid the groundwork that established the overall
entertainment community's commitment to training, and our
desire to operate within the rules of the land regarding workplace safety. This experience taught us that it was possible,
and produced far better results, to work from within the standards-setting system that is recognized in America rather than
waiting for regulations to be imposed upon us by a system that
isn't particularly sympathetic to our interests.
It was in this same spirit that the Entertainment Technicians Certification Program (ETCP) was created to visibly
elevate our industry-wide commitment to solid safety practices, establish a code of professional ethics, identify groups
of "qualified personnel," and institutionalize the practice of
continuing education following initial certification. Because
there were several work practices that were identified as potentially more life-threatening than others, the decision was
made to move ahead with the fields of rigging and temporary
electrical hookups.

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To initiate and regulate this industry-wide effort, a
council was created from within the entertainment industry
that included representatives of major entertainment professional associations, trade unions from both theatre and
film industries, major employers from the same worlds, and
a few representatives that had no specific affiliation other
than to be recognized nationally as "theatre people."
The working groups and resulting Subject Matter Experts
(SMEs), who labored under the guidance of a firm of
psychomatricians, together developed tests that would
verify the expertise of certificants tested in their chosen
specialties.
One of the ETCP Council's goals has been to provide a
clear way for members of the entertainment industry to meet
the OSHA definition of "qualified personnel." The ETCP certification program evaluates an individual's training, on-thejob experience, and subject matter competence. After five
years the initial certification expires and must be renewed
in order to remain valid. Along with the renewed certification comes the need for and a commitment to continuing
education that covers both skills and awareness/training in
issues of safety and public welfare.
There are currently three certification exams being
offered-one electrical certification and two rigging certifications (arena rigging and theatre rigging). On the opposite
page are summaries of the contents of each of the exams.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 2008
