logan683
Member
Firstly, let me start by saying hello and yes, this is my first post. Not sure how I ever missed this place.
I have a situation and question I would like to post. Basically, it's the email I just sent to ETC, but I am also seeking the support and advice of other professionals and experienced, knowledgeable individuals. I would like to say that I believe it is obvious what my thoughts are about safety and operation in a situation such as this.
Thank you for your input. The email went as follows:
***I am a lighting designer and I was recently working with a community theatre on a show and encountered a situation where I am seeking official manufacturer support and guidance for proper operator safety and equipment usage.
On this particular production, I was asked to come in late to fill in as a spotlight operator. The two Source Four 750 fixtures being used were hung on the top rail of a catwalk, which, if not being used as spotlights (in this particular situation), is perfectly acceptable. However, in such a configuration, myself and the other spotlight operator were having difficulty operating the fixtures in this manner since the pan screws (which I don't think should ever be removed for operation in this manner) had been removed from the yokes which made them extremely jumpy and look very sloppy in operation. Even using the two bolt-on handles did not help this. I did not have an opportunity to fix this upon walking to my station and sitting down as I was not given an opportunity until just before curtain.
The next day, I inverted the configuration of one, intending to do the other, as mounting the fixture in this manner for spotlight usage is acceptable. I lubricated the spud and pan screws, which was reinserted and tightened enough to allow stability yet free motion and was preparing to flip and spin the fixture for accessibility to the iris when I was asked, by a public library theatre employee, what I was doing. I explained I inverted the configuration for safety and operational usage, and why I did such. I would also like to note I was also taught to loop the hook through the loop on the end of the safety cable and clip it on itself for added redundancy, so I also do this every time.
The tech neither inspected the fixture I had inverted nor the other which had yet to be. He suggested we reach out over the catwalk and hold the barrel in one hand for aiming. The catwalk is approximately 20'-25' above the audience and the other spotlight operator had already mentioned multiple times the night before how she didn't like heights and how uncomfortable she was and how the operation of the spotlights (before I was able to begin inverting) made her wonder about safety issues. Yet he suggested to reach out over the audience for extended periods, sometimes 3-5 minutes at a time, holding the barrel to aim. I suggested that wasn't the safest, best operational setup at which point I was asked to leave.
I have a meeting with library management and was simply seeking an official answer as to the following:
Is it preferable and safer to lean out over a catwalk for extended periods holding a hot Source Four 750 barrel, gloves aside, or to invert the fixture and allow operation from an upright position with handles as conventional spotlights typically are?
I know what my safety and operational standards are (I inverted the fixtures and re-installed the handles), but official word would be greatly appreciated. As this is a public library and a Children's show, safety is obviously of the utmost importance and I feel it is very necessary to make sure a public place for art is as safe as it should be, how to make it so, and why it matters so much.
I thank you so very much for your time and any official answer that would be offered as far as safety and operation. ***
I would like to thank anyone that read this and would be willing to offer an opinion or a story or any experience in matters such as the above.
Thank you for the time, I really do appreciate it.
I have a situation and question I would like to post. Basically, it's the email I just sent to ETC, but I am also seeking the support and advice of other professionals and experienced, knowledgeable individuals. I would like to say that I believe it is obvious what my thoughts are about safety and operation in a situation such as this.
Thank you for your input. The email went as follows:
***I am a lighting designer and I was recently working with a community theatre on a show and encountered a situation where I am seeking official manufacturer support and guidance for proper operator safety and equipment usage.
On this particular production, I was asked to come in late to fill in as a spotlight operator. The two Source Four 750 fixtures being used were hung on the top rail of a catwalk, which, if not being used as spotlights (in this particular situation), is perfectly acceptable. However, in such a configuration, myself and the other spotlight operator were having difficulty operating the fixtures in this manner since the pan screws (which I don't think should ever be removed for operation in this manner) had been removed from the yokes which made them extremely jumpy and look very sloppy in operation. Even using the two bolt-on handles did not help this. I did not have an opportunity to fix this upon walking to my station and sitting down as I was not given an opportunity until just before curtain.
The next day, I inverted the configuration of one, intending to do the other, as mounting the fixture in this manner for spotlight usage is acceptable. I lubricated the spud and pan screws, which was reinserted and tightened enough to allow stability yet free motion and was preparing to flip and spin the fixture for accessibility to the iris when I was asked, by a public library theatre employee, what I was doing. I explained I inverted the configuration for safety and operational usage, and why I did such. I would also like to note I was also taught to loop the hook through the loop on the end of the safety cable and clip it on itself for added redundancy, so I also do this every time.
The tech neither inspected the fixture I had inverted nor the other which had yet to be. He suggested we reach out over the catwalk and hold the barrel in one hand for aiming. The catwalk is approximately 20'-25' above the audience and the other spotlight operator had already mentioned multiple times the night before how she didn't like heights and how uncomfortable she was and how the operation of the spotlights (before I was able to begin inverting) made her wonder about safety issues. Yet he suggested to reach out over the audience for extended periods, sometimes 3-5 minutes at a time, holding the barrel to aim. I suggested that wasn't the safest, best operational setup at which point I was asked to leave.
I have a meeting with library management and was simply seeking an official answer as to the following:
Is it preferable and safer to lean out over a catwalk for extended periods holding a hot Source Four 750 barrel, gloves aside, or to invert the fixture and allow operation from an upright position with handles as conventional spotlights typically are?
I know what my safety and operational standards are (I inverted the fixtures and re-installed the handles), but official word would be greatly appreciated. As this is a public library and a Children's show, safety is obviously of the utmost importance and I feel it is very necessary to make sure a public place for art is as safe as it should be, how to make it so, and why it matters so much.
I thank you so very much for your time and any official answer that would be offered as far as safety and operation. ***
I would like to thank anyone that read this and would be willing to offer an opinion or a story or any experience in matters such as the above.
Thank you for the time, I really do appreciate it.