Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2008 - 60

(below) view from the balcony; and (right) a Midas
Verona console in the FOH mix position.

FALL PROTECTION

Yet, in the interests of safety, how could we not make it
a condition? Our upper-year production students have
been required to wear steel toe caps for some time. The
safest decision is, of course, to require steels for everyone, and that is our policy now.
To ease the financial pain, the theatre department
has worked with retail safety shoe suppliers to arrange
a discount for students. We also arrange for group
shoe-shopping trips under the mentorship of senior
students. The beautiful and perhaps surprising result is
that our students proudly to wear their "toes" and they
have built camaraderie around this fashion statement.
Steel toes are compared and discussed during coffee
breaks like any other clothing accessory: "Where did
you get those? Do they come in other colours?"
Resistance to wearing hard hats-mandatory for
crews-also dwindles as the "cool factor" increases.
(One student has never been seen without his.) Students
buy their own hard hats and bring them to all calls. They
automatically reach for them when they know they'll be
doing a lighting hang. Sometimes they put them on "just
in case" and "because you never know." For our current freshmen, it's never been any other way.
Students know now that steel toes and hard hats
on deck, and safety goggles and ear protection in the
carp shop, are absolutely mandatory. In fact, students
are removed from a crew call if they do not have their
safety equipment. Excuses are irrelevant, and grades
can be affected.

The intent of this policy is to prevent falls and to protect all workers, management,
and students from injuries resulting from a fall.
all people using York University Performance facilities must recognize and take
appropriate measures to address work site fall hazards. all workers exposed to fall
hazards greater than 10 ft. (3 m) are to be trained in the appropriate fall protection
measures and are responsible for compliance with fall protection requirements.
The following are some of the work areas and practices that require risk assessment
and fall protection. This list is not exhaustive, it is up to the individual to make an
assessment and react accordingly.
1. Working on any construction platform higher than 10 ft. without
guardrails compliant to Section 26 of the construction Regulation
(O.Reg.213/91).
2. The catwalk when a worker is leaning over or though the guardrails.
3. Portable ladders.
4. The Pit in the ffT
5. The Box Booms in the ffT
6. The Balcony Rail in the ffT
7. The loading floor in the ffT
8. The catwalks in the Burton auditorium
Section 26 of the construction Regulation (O.Reg.213/91) is the basis of this policy
and all items contained in Section 26 are to be considered part of this document.

Training
all workers who will be exposed to risks of falls must present a record of generic fall
protection training to the supervisor of their area. If any person does not have the
appropriate training proper training will be provided.
all workers must read and be instructed on all aspects of this policy. Hands on
training for each situation and device will also be performed by a designated qualified representative of York University Performance facilities. This training will
include written and oral instruction as required by Section 26 of the construction
Regulations (O.Reg.213/91) this training will be kept by the department for future
reference.
for a worker to be properly trained they must have the following and it must be
documented:
1. Proof of fall protection training from a previous source or York University
Performance facilities that satisfies Section 26.
2. Verbal and written training on all fall protection devices.
3. Updated training on any new or changed items.

S U M M E R

2008

theatre

design

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