Note: This thread is an "in general" thread, not an "in my theater" thread.
While I should be writing my huge bio project (see the other thread), I was thinking about OSHA, and similar organizations, and how they apply to students. I know they don't. So I was wondering if you guys feel that they should extend to students. My thought process here is that students (even in undergrad or grad schools) should always have a faculty advisor. That faculty advisor is going where they go etc, so OSHA's rules extend to them. Theoretically if the workplace is safe enough for that faculty member, then the "safety factor" should still be present for every student who uses the space. I can see, however, where in "student run spaces" or places where faculty have handed off control unofficially that these faculty members would not need OSHA coverage. This leaves students with no "coverage", even if theoretical. What about situations where faculty members don't care about the dangers of their workplace? You get the "old guys" the "I've been doing this for 20 years and nothing has happened to me." type, that refuse to comply to rules and sensible safety standards. What then? I don't believe that students (non-employees) can narc-out that employers aren't providing adequate safety measures.
Also, how do you deal with the "politics" of an educational institution? I can see where a student who "narc'ed out" the dept, or those in charge to the administration would quickly fall from grace. What ways around this do students have, I'm really thinking undergrad and graduate programs here.
What are your feelings on OHSA and its jurisdiction? Should OSHA be expanded, or should another government standards organization be created for the well-being of all, not just employees. What about clauses in OSHA, that pick of certain "niche" fields like theatre technician students, who've slipped through the cracks?
While waiting for my fall arrest training to begin, I got an interesting mini-lecture on OSHA. Essentially, paraphrased, the central points were "OSHA has no idea what we do". Also, "Some of OSHA's rules, in our circumstances, contradict themselves, or don't provide standards for combination activities, such as Blue Foam and M.E.K". So, how do we as industry make the best of a system that sounds inherently flawed? How does the educational world work around these issues? What are your thoughts?
"I wan' it clean, and on-topic. Boxers ready, fight!" (I've never even watched a boxing match, so that's probably horribly butchered.)
While I should be writing my huge bio project (see the other thread), I was thinking about OSHA, and similar organizations, and how they apply to students. I know they don't. So I was wondering if you guys feel that they should extend to students. My thought process here is that students (even in undergrad or grad schools) should always have a faculty advisor. That faculty advisor is going where they go etc, so OSHA's rules extend to them. Theoretically if the workplace is safe enough for that faculty member, then the "safety factor" should still be present for every student who uses the space. I can see, however, where in "student run spaces" or places where faculty have handed off control unofficially that these faculty members would not need OSHA coverage. This leaves students with no "coverage", even if theoretical. What about situations where faculty members don't care about the dangers of their workplace? You get the "old guys" the "I've been doing this for 20 years and nothing has happened to me." type, that refuse to comply to rules and sensible safety standards. What then? I don't believe that students (non-employees) can narc-out that employers aren't providing adequate safety measures.
Also, how do you deal with the "politics" of an educational institution? I can see where a student who "narc'ed out" the dept, or those in charge to the administration would quickly fall from grace. What ways around this do students have, I'm really thinking undergrad and graduate programs here.
What are your feelings on OHSA and its jurisdiction? Should OSHA be expanded, or should another government standards organization be created for the well-being of all, not just employees. What about clauses in OSHA, that pick of certain "niche" fields like theatre technician students, who've slipped through the cracks?
While waiting for my fall arrest training to begin, I got an interesting mini-lecture on OSHA. Essentially, paraphrased, the central points were "OSHA has no idea what we do". Also, "Some of OSHA's rules, in our circumstances, contradict themselves, or don't provide standards for combination activities, such as Blue Foam and M.E.K". So, how do we as industry make the best of a system that sounds inherently flawed? How does the educational world work around these issues? What are your thoughts?
"I wan' it clean, and on-topic. Boxers ready, fight!" (I've never even watched a boxing match, so that's probably horribly butchered.)