Safety Issues in the Theatre

[stantonsound]

This is an extension from another board.....

We had been discussing a rather unsafe situation in which a person was flown during a show using a $99 automotive winch, with no safety system in place. To continue a general discussion, what unsafe practices have you witnessed in the theatre and what did you do to stop them, if anything?

[Radman]

The carting around of occupied elevated genies without outriggers happens plenty. I simply refuse to do that, that's the most I can do to stop it. Thats the one that pops to mind at the moment.

[Logos]

Almost every venue I've ever been to has some sort of safety issue that exists because "That's the way we've always done it" The introduction of compulsory risk assessments on all regularly performed tasks in the industry in the UK and Australia has put paid to a great many of these poor practices. They just don't seem to go away though, I was just having coffee in a the coffee bar in a major city hotel here in Adelaide and two guys presumably from hotel maintenance were changing lamps in the decorative lighting using an old fashioned Tallescope (ladder on wheels) that didn't even have outriggers fitted. The coffee bar was full of pro touring technicians waiting for a tour bus who noticeably all moved well away from the scene of operations. The hotel has a couple of convention rooms with lighting rigs and I bet the Tallescope came from there.
Lack of safety harness and of course hard hat usage on stage are also issues that seem to be everywhere.

[DarSax]

We still don't use safety cables. I got $3000 from our student government association, and that's the first thing the money is going towards. Then, sandbags. Then, I'm still figuring out.

[avkid]

We have many two prong(ungrounded) extension cords laying around.

[gafftaper]

Originally Posted by avkid

We have many two prong(ungrounded) extension cords laying around.

That sounds like a problem easily solved with some wire cutters.

[PadawanGeek]

In the youth thing at our church, nobody knows anything about lighting, so they draped the curtains over the lights. BAHHH!!! Not to mention the flaming swords, the kids operating the barely-working followspot, and the flying balls that just about ruined three LCD displays last sunday...

[avkid]

Originally Posted by PadawanGeek

Not to mention the flaming swords

Huh, what, who?
Someone call the Fire Department!

[stantonsound]

How about people using 16 or 18 gauge extension cords from wal mart, or the like, with stage pins put on the end? I have seen many catwalks full of orange and yellow cable. And I will say that there are many theatres that don't use safety cables at all.

[PadawanGeek]

Originally Posted by avkid

Huh, what, who?
Someone call the Fire Department!

Oh yes, they are so much fun!

I just can't wait until we do sparks on the swords during the dubbing!