Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2000 - 68

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SAFETY

From these li~b HHI should create lIro documenl~. The fir~t i~ lhe safety m:ullIal. The core of
this documenl b the policies :U1d procedure~ to
be follOl\"ed for each hazard. and the safetl
training program I\"hich lists each area requiring training. II should also include general information on the safe use of \"arious t\"pes of
equipmenl such as ladders. hand toob. hard
hats. etc. This documem should idemifl the
training required to operate a panicular ~IS-
lem or piece of equipmem and I\"ho is autllOrized to operate the s\"stem or equipment. For
example: "Onl\" authorized persons I\"ho hall'
been trained in the proper use of the theatre
rigging ~I stem shall be allol\"ed to operate it.··
This document. including the policies and procedures it comains. should be kept as shon as
possible. \"el\ fell' things. except extremel\"
technical ones like respirators or fall arrest
s\"stems. cannot be co\"ered on one or lI\"O
pages.
The goal of a safety manual is to presem
information. communicate the facilit\"'s safet\"
polin'. meet legal and procedural requiremems. and sale time. II should be specific and

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RECORDS

Wrillen records should be kept chronicling
I\"ho I\"as trained. lI'hal the\" lIere trained on
and lI'hen the training look place. Wrillen
records are the only I\"a\" to kJIOII' I\"ho I\"as
trained and I\"hat tasks lhe\" I\"ere lrained to
perform. The training program outline becomes pan of the safety manual. Testing is an
imponalll pan of any tmining program..-\ test
tells \"ou if the trainees ha\"e learned the material and will help identify if the training is not
being understood. You should record the test
results and store the tesls so the\" are a\"ailable
if any questions ari e about the training.

common potential hazards in entertainment facilities.

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TRAINI G PROGRAM

The second document in your safety program
is the training program. :\ list or outline of
training topics can be created from the safety
program and hazard idenlification. Specific
training programs for each area must be created. materials must be obtained. and the

training must take place.
Training must be complete and thorough.
I ha\"e seen documents that purpon to be
training programs that are in re:tlity nothing
more than a tour of the facililY and a list of
I\"hat equipment the facility has. Telling people
"Don't hun \"ourself' or "Don't fall in the orchestra pit" is I/ot a safety program or safety
training. II ob\"iousl\" does no harm 10 remind
people to be careful. but such reminders are
not a safety program or safety training.

Everld facilitld will have its unique conditions but these are examples of

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pro\"ide detailed information. bUl should a\"oid
being so lengthy Ihat no one reads it. In general. the safet\" manual should be the size of a
notebook. or e\"en a pocketbook. If safety information changes frequentl\". the safety
manual should conlain on I\" general statements and should reference Ihe location of upto-date sources of information. her\" safety
manual should include information about hOIl
frequentl\" and b\" I\"hal method it is updated. If
something is specifically prohibited in \"our facilit\" it should be so noted. For example:
"Open name shall not be permilled at am1ime
on the stage." ~Iost imponantil'. the manual
should demonstrate the facilitr's commitment
to safet\". For suggestions on specific information 10 include in a safet\" manual. see "Topics
to Include in a Safet\" ,\Ianua!" on page -0.

Falls
Ladders, personnel lifts and aerial lifts
Hand tools
Falling tools and other objects
Electric shock
Compressed gasses (including air)
Fires
Pyrotechnics
Open orchestra pits and traps
Lasers
Loud noise
TO\ic materials (sol\"enls. paillls. adhesi\"es. fumes from
foam CUlling. etc.)
Atmospheric effecls (smoke and fog. etc.)
Burns (hoI lighting instruments. glue guns. foam CUlling.
etc.)
Work locations I\"ith poor or none\istent access to ll'Ork :U'eas
Poor facility and equipmem maintenance
Poorl\" maintained I\"ork surfaces (cal\\"alks. noors. etc.)
Poorly mailllained slairs. ladders (fixed or ponable)
Poorii' or improperly maintained or modified equipment
(aerial lifts, forklifts. personnel lifts, hand tools, spansets,
shackles. slings. etc.)
Poorl\' maintained hand tools

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Improperly designed, installed or maimained syslems
(electrical, rigging, lifts, etc.)
Poorly designed, installed and maintained, or improper,
scaffolds
Equipment being used for a purpose for which it was nol
intended or designed
Improper use of tools and equipment
Lack of proper equipmelll to perform the task at hand
(i.e. not having a ladder of sufficient height)
Lack of a proper afety program
Lack of appreciation of safety requirements and procedures
Incomplete or no training on tasks or on equipment such
as aerial lifts. forklifls. personnellifls. hand tool . rigging. ladders
Lack of proper safety equipment and related training
Lack of sleep or rest
Shifl work (irregular hours and shiflS)
Slress
Inadequate time to accomplish the task at hand safel\'
Weather (thunderstorms, lightning, snow, rain, wind
Driving and road hazards
Co-workers working unsafely
Facility security

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2000