Building a fly system!!?

[headcrab]

I will start off by saying that I am not trying to build a fly system, but that someone who works at my school is. As far as anyone knows, he is not a licensed rigger, he is using components that are not and rated for rigging like standard polyethylene rope and EMT, and he is using substandard methods. For instance, he ran the rope through 1/2" EMT with an insane amount of bending without pulleys so that the load can be flown from a convenient place, which is also a location where the load can't be seen! Also there are two ropes for each pipe so you have to hold both ropes at the same time...
I will report this situation to the administration but if that doesn't stop this deathtrap, where do I go?

[photoatdv]

Assuming that this guy is doing more than raising and lowering a bedsheet backdrop, he's crazy! So to start with what is he rigging from this (not that it really matters... but still I'd like to know)?

2nd, he's nuts! I have seen unrated 'rigging' (non-theatre) fail spectacularly. If I can find it I'll post a picture of what happened to a trebuchet we built last year (using rather large amounts of weight) and you can show that to him. Needless to say on various engineering projects I have proven that 'it looks strong enough' is not always (or even usually) the case (we were following proper safety procedures for this kind of testing... including NOT rigging it over peoples heads!).

Ropes WILL break... especially if stressed by improper rigging methods like no pulleys. Unrated carbiners are plenty strong enough for your keys, but can fail under as little as a 20lb dynamic load. Steel pipe can bend, break, deform, ect. All of these are putting the crew and actors LIVES IN DANGER!

Fly systems are dangerous enough when properly built. I have seen a near miss where someone could have been killed-- with a trained rigger 20 feet away (how the hay this happened is irrelevant). They are DEATH TRAPS when not built properly. Email someone from JR Clancy and explain the setup (in more detail) and I'm sure they will cover their rear with a nice long this-is-ridiculously-dangerous email that you can take to admin.

If admin doesn't work, go to parents, the school board, even the school's insurance company! Parents have a lot of influence when it comes to safety matters. Also send a registered letter to the the risk management officer or an administrator which requires a signature. This should make them nervous because it would make them easy lawsuit fodder if anything happened.

Phase 2 (if the previous doesn't work) call building inspectors, fire marshal (I doubt his 'rigging' is flame retardant), board of education, ect.

Failing all of this (and I really mean try this first) you could call news media. They LOVE people putting kids in danger.

[cprted]

Originally Posted by headcrab

I will report this situation to the administration but if that doesn't stop this deathtrap, where do I go?

Far, far away.

[Footer]

You are on the right track. Get your parents involved as well. I know that sucks to do, but get them involved. Your doing the right thing. Let everyone know exactly how unsafe this actually is.

[headcrab]

I don't currently know what is planned to be hung from these, but I will find out tomorrow. Even worse is that he TIED the rope to the EMT. I reaally expect that to stay in place...

[gafftapegreenia]

Well depending on the knot used it might be acceptable.......in a completely different situation of course.

[museav]

Definitely best to first go through the school administration, maybe with your concerns submitted in writing, and hope they take it seriously. If that does not get satisfactory resolution or response, then possibly to the local building inspector, permit office, etc. You can play innocent, for example saying you were just curious about what was happening and were looking to find out more about it. When they find nothing on record that may result in some questions being asked and start the ball rolling.

While the rigging itself is definitely a concern, another concern may be the actual structure and whether it was designed for the loads and stresses the rigging would impose. An analysis of the structure with the loads being applied to it by any rigging and of the attachment of the rigging to that structure may be required to be performed by a licensed Structural Engineer.

[headcrab]

I found today that for this show at least, they plan to hang muslin backdrops. However, they also seem to intend it to be permanent, in which case they might try to hang heavier things in the future if I don't stop this.

[Van]

Make it stop ! If you need it you can contact me personally and I will forward a letter to your Superintendant or Principal, The same letter I sent to the Band instructor and Principal and Superintendant of a local High School who decided to fly a drum major over the audience with climbing gear.
Innovation on the part of students and faculty, particularly in tough financial times, is great, but in this case it's ill-advised, and mishandled. IMHO

[Sayen]

Take pictures as soon as possible, and use them in your arguments. Photograph the methods used. The people you have to convince don't typically know anything about this sort of thing, and documented evidence goes a LONG ways. Take people like Van up on their offers if necessary.

Try the innocent approach. Email the administration, copy the district lawyer, and link to this thread or another professional resource online. Link the dozens of threads on CB all citing the importance of having this done by professionals. I went through a similar argument recently, and I sent fifteen or so links all to professionals sharing my opinion when I wanted to lock out a local theater's fly system due to significant safety concerns. Attach the photos.

You are likely covered at that point, if you were ever liable as a student, but don't stop since lives are at risk. You can also call local dealers, who are usually more than happy to get involved since they want the business. I know several of our local rigging companies who are more than happy to submit professional emails stating their opinion on such projects.