Theatre Safety Issues

[Dally]

In an update.... I've been going through OSHA regs, and making a list of specific rules that we are breaking, I've also made a list of all of the safety issues I could spot, and am slowly adding more as I find them.
I'm trying to knock the smaller items off the list, i.e. stage weights that are the wrong size for the arbors just smashed on diagonally; I've almost replaced them all with the correct size, still working on the last few to get them off. I'm really just trying to either fix or come up with a cost effective solution for everything.
Which I've mainly succeeded on, all except the wiring. Or un-grounded outlets. I'm turning off the dimmers for my stage plugs because we don't have adapters, or the lights to utilize them anyhow. The wiring is the main issue however, so I'm just working on putting a sound argument together before I present it to administration. So thats about it, slow and steady wins the race is what I hear.
But I'll definately be buying Dr.Dooms book...any resources of other people saying the same thing is always good in an appeal for help.

[DaveySimps]

+1 on the Dr. Doom book. I got it last year, and it is a fantastic resource. Lots of information.

~Dave

[cdub260]

Originally Posted by Dally

...he asked OSHA to do a walk-through and tell him anything that needs to be fixed...

Shortly after our new shop building was completed, we had OSHA do a walkthrough. The inspector found several issues, that we, frankly, would never even have thought about, but overall found our new building to be safe and in compliance with OSHA regulations and gave us suggestions on how to deal with the problems that came up in the inspection. We fixed the issues that were brought up, and now have a safer shop facility because we took the initiative and asked OSHA for their help. The inspector commented that she wished more organizations would do what we did.

[cdub260]

Originally Posted by Van

To quote Schultzie,

" I know Nothing, Nothing"

I believe it was "I know Nothink, Nothink."

[Fireguy551]

I was TD/Ops manager for a university venue that hadn't had any love since the 70s. The best thing I did was make friends with the head of the maintenance department (Janitorial, Electrical, Grounds and General Maintenance) Throwing the heads comp tickets to your show will get you at the top of the friend lists.

For minor repairs that don't require an electrical license or permits offer to get your staff to help in the repair if they get you the parts. I am willing to bet that your building isn't the only sore spot on the campus for the safety department. You should also view your relationship with the campus fire marshal and the safty guy should be a partnership. Sit down the 3 of you and talk about what can be done to fix the building until a renovation can happen. Maybe take the initiative and get some approved vendors in to do estimates on repairs?

Just a couple of random thoughts...

[FMEng]

More and more colleges and universities have an occupational health and safety officer. They are your friend. I would imagine that larger school districts are hiring them, too.

Don't expect overnight miracles on costlier changes, but things can eventually happen once you get onto the budget radar. Budgets are often planned a year or two in advance.

[SHARYNF]

Can you explain the ungrounded outlets? are they standard edison and the ground is not connected or are they two pin plugs?
Sharyn

[philhaney]

Originally Posted by Dally

... lights that they cut the ground off of to make work...

Originally Posted by SHARYNF

Can you explain the ungrounded outlets? are they standard edison and the ground is not connected or are they two pin plugs?
Sharyn

If the theater is old enough, there may be two-prong (same size or one pin wider) Edison outlets in the walls, but my guess here is that someone used a two-prong household extension cord and pulled the ground pin on the instrument to make it fit. I'll bet they nipped the wings off the neutral pin on the extension cord (if it was polarized), too.

[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by SHARYNF

Can you explain the ungrounded outlets? are they standard edison and the ground is not connected or are they two pin plugs?
Sharyn

Receptacles are two-pin Bates females. Rather than drilling a center hole as most would do, users apparently removed the center pin on fixtures' males'.

[dvsDave]

I changed the title of the this thread. The content and advice is too valuable not to be under that the current heading (easier to find).