Transcript Theatre Safety

Theatre Safety, it’s not just for techies!
The learner will identify general rules
of safely working in any stage area
• Insufficient knowledge
• Improper use of tools and facilities
• Failure to safeguard hazardous equipment (use protective
guards)
• Failure to remove faulty equipment
• Carelessness
• Taking unnecessary risks
• Being in too big of a hurry
• OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
• Under OSHA guidelines employers must
•Have written health and safety guidelines
•Inventory all chemicals on the worksite and obtain
MSDS’s (Material Safety Data Sheets)
•Have a formal training program for all employees (or
in our case students)
Must:
• Follow OSHA guidelines
• Provide a clean and safe environment
• Teach and enforce safe work practices
• Train all workers properly
• Inform the instructor immediately and evacuate the building
closing doors behind you as you leave
• When during school hours, exit the theatre out the lobby doors
and go into the front parking lot.
• Meet the instructor to the left of the main driveway under the
palm trees in order for roll to be taken
• Most theatres have a fire curtain to close off the performing area
from the auditorium at the proscenium line
• The fire curtain is used to protect the audience from three
hazards: fire, gasses and smoke.
•The fire curtain will not protect against toxic chemicals
•There are smoke doors above the stage to expel gas and smoke
that rise to the top of the stage house during a fire
• Flammables such as oil based paint, thinner and spray paint
must be kept in the yellow flammable cabinet in the shop
Every theatre should be equipped with
well maintained ABC rated fire
extinguishers in key areas.
•
Theatrical fires are divided into three categories:
• “A” type fires which burn to ash from paper, wood or
organic materials (combustibles)
• “B” type fires which are caused by flammable liquids and
other petroleum based products such as oil based paint,
grease and fuel
• “C” type fires which are current related or electrical fires
• Should never be blocked
• Can not be used to store props, furniture or any other items
• Aisles must never be used to seat audience members to ensure
that they can get to fire exits quickly
• Never wear loose fitting clothing, scarves,
long jewelry or
sandals
•Always wear closed toed shoes, NO FLIP FLOPS
• Tie long hair up or back
• Wear work gloves during a load in, when moving scenery,
when taking out trash and when working a fly system
• Do not wear gloves when working with power tools and
saws
• Always wear goggles, face shield or safety glasses while
using power tools and equipment
• Wash hands in soap and water during breaks, before eating
and after work
• Never wear or listen to personal stereos, iPods or mp3
players while working on stage
•Stage rigging operators must be trained in
•Loading and unloading of counterweights
•The use of spreader plates on the counterweight arbor
•The locking mechanism adjustments
•The proper installation and use of spike marks on the purchase
line
•No one is allowed to use the rigging system unless they have
been properly trained
•Never work alone
• Pockets should be emptied when going on to the grid
• Do not leave tools or hardware loose in the grid
• Before loading or unloading an arbor call, “Clear the rail”
•There should be an acknowledgement from the stage “Rail is clear”
• When the stage is clear the rail operator should call, “1st Electric
coming in” or call whatever line is moving in or out
• When loading and unloading is complete the operator should call,
“Rail is safe” and there should be an acknowledgement from the
stage
• Always use the locking rings when not operating a batten
• Bacterial infections of the skin can be caused by sharing make-up
•Applicators (cotton balls, lining brushes, sponges etc.) should be
used when applying make-up instead of using fingers and hands
•All blood and bodily fluids must be considered infections
•For the clean up of human blood, OSHA stipulates the use of
gloves and a solution of one part bleach and ten parts water or
another EPA approved material
• Replace old make-up regularly
• Clean up after yourself (including cleaning brushes) and put makeup away properly
• Use the proper method of bending the knees, keeping the
body erect and pushing upward with the legs when lifting
objects
• Get help when lifting and moving heavy objects
• Keep the stage, shop and all work/storage areas clean and
swept
• Put away all tools after use
• Unplug all tools when finished using
• Report ALL accidents immediately to the instructor
• Never work alone in the theatre
• When using a ladder, only one person at a time may be on the
ladder, unless the ladder is designed as a 2-person ladder
• Never stand above the safe level on a ladder
• Never leave tools or equipment on top of a ladder
•Running and horsing around are never permitted in the theatre
• ALWAYS ASK IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION. Do not assume that
you can “figure it out”. If you don’t know how to use a piece of
equipment or you don’t understand a regulation: ASK
•The most neglected type of protection for theatre workers is
protective guards on power tools (USE THEM)
• Three most common ways that toxic chemicals enter the body
are:
•Skin contact
•Breathing
•Ingestion
•Avoid breathing vapors from spray paints and other chemicals
• Avoid skin contact with pigments, paints or solvents
• Dust masks prevent the inhalation of dust only!
A dust mask
will not prevent the inhalation of gasses, smoke or toxic
chemicals
• Use a cartridge respirator when working with gasses, smoke
or toxic chemicals
• An excellent way to test for proper ventilation is to blow
soap bubbles in the air. The bubbles should travel up and
away if there is proper ventilation
• Dry ice and stage fog are safe for humans when they are not
constantly inhaled
• Use wood or fiberglass ladders when working on electrics
• Tungsten halogen lamps must not be touched with fingers.
Use
a soft, clean cloth when changing lamps in lighting instruments
• The safety cable is the first thing to be put on and the last to be
removed when hanging lighting equipment
• Three simple ways to prevent burns when using a hot glue gun
are:
•Tape the hot glue stand to the work table surface
•Secure the electrical cord to the table leg
• Bring the power cable from overhead
• When in doubt about how to use a tool ASK
• Hearing loss caused by loud noise in the theatre is
completely preventable by using earmuffs or expandable
foam ear plugs
• The type of noise most damaging to the ear is high frequency
noise of long duration
• The two most hazardous problems that occur during welding
are: ultraviolet radiation and fire caused by hot material and
sparks
• All saws must have a specific dust collection system or shop
vac to clean saw dust
• Report any defective or questionable equipment to the
instructor immediately
• Make sure saw blades, drill bits, etc. are sharp, clean and
regularly maintained
• Recess the saw blade in a saw when not in use
• Tape (using carpet and tape) all electrical cords running along
the stage floor
•Use clamps to hold work in place
• Make sure a switch is turned “off” before plugging a cord in
• Never carry a power tool with your finger on the switch
• Make sure all power tools are “grounded” with a three-prong
plug
• Do not over reach. Maintain proper footing, balance and a
secure grip on the tool you are using
• Never adjust or change bits or blades when a tool is plugged
in
• Never surprise, touch or talk to someone operating a power
tool
There are guidelines posted around
the scene shop. Read them, AND
follow them!