Guidelines
for Addressing
Best
Management Practices
for
Performing Arts Centers/Theaters
Prepared By:
Florida Community Colleges Risk Management
Consortium
February 2005
Guidelines
for Addressing
Best
Management Practices
for
Prepared By:
Florida Community Colleges Risk Management
Consortium
February 2005
Basic Stage Safety............................................................................. 4
Elevated Platforms and
Workspaces...................................................... 4
Elevated Platforms and
Workspaces (Continued).................................... 5
Ladders............................................................................................ 5
Ladders (Continued)........................................................................... 6
Rigging............................................................................................ 6
Rigging (Continued)........................................................................... 7
Fall Protection.................................................................................... 7
Fly Systems Loading and
Unloading ..................................................... 8
Fly Systems Operation........................................................................ 8
Fly Systems Operation
(Continued) ...................................................... 9
Electrical System................................................................................ 9
Electrical System (Continued).............................................................. 10
Lights............................................................................................... 10
Fire Safety........................................................................................ 11
Scene Shop – General Safety.............................................................. 11
Scene Shop – General Safety (Continued)............................................. 12
Clothing and Personal Protection.......................................................... 12
Directing Classes – General Safety........................................................ 13
Theatrical Health and Safety Self-Evaluation
Checklist............................. 14
Appendix A:
Theater Safety Code Reference Sheet............................... 16
Appendix B:
OSHA Standards for Theater Safety................................... 17
|
Claude Edwards, Fire Inspector Palm Beach Community College |
Jan-Hein Phelps, Technical Director St. Johns River Community College |
|
Robie Faucher, Audio Visual Technician Lake City Community College |
Liz Reynolds, Lighting Designer Santa Fe Community College |
|
Joan Fetchen, Director, Performing Arts
Center Lake City Community College |
Owen Reynolds, Technical Director Santa Fe Community College |
|
Bill Gibson, Compliance Inspector Valencia Community College |
Thomas Reynolds, Facility/Conference
Coordinator St. Johns River Community College |
|
Scott Green, Technical Director Daytona Beach Community College |
John Rickard, Assistant Director,
Physical Plant Okaloosa-Walton Community College |
|
Charles Griggs, Coordinator of Safety
& Risk Mgt. Santa Fe Community College |
George Scott, Director Of Facilities Lake City Community College |
|
Steven Harrington, Lighting Design/Master
Electrician Daytona Beach Community College |
Steve Shields, Risk Manager Hillsborough Community College |
|
Bob Long, Coordinator Environmental
Safety Pensacola Junior College |
Danny Taylor, Safety Specialist Tallahassee Community College |
|
Tom Lopez, Dir., Safety &
Security/Risk Mgt. Valencia Community College |
Piper Walton, Loss Prevention Manager Florida Community Colleges Risk Mgt.
Consortium |
|
George Markos, Safety/Risk Manager Daytona Beach Community College |
Chris Wilt, Light & Sound Technician Pasco-Hernando Community College |
|
Robert O’Leary, Technical Theater
Instructor St. Johns River Community College |
|
We would like to thank all of the
participating members for their hands-on knowledge of performing arts
centers/theaters in creating this document for the colleges to adopt as part of
their safety program.
This document is a basic guide and does not cover all situations
encountered in Performing Arts Centers/Theaters. It is a generic document and is intended for
the use of each college to develop their own best management practices.
J. David Klaitz, Executive Director
Florida Community Colleges Risk Management
Consortium
q Conduct daily safety walk-through
inspection.
q Make sure
that all props are safely secured.
q All trap
doors and pits must be adequately marked.
q All
rotating sections of the stage must be marked.
q All
grooves in the floor must be clearly marked.
q All
elevations should be clearly marked, made safe, and constructed by industry
standards.
q Stage
floors should have adequate resiliency, kept dry, and cleared of slippery
materials, and be free of splinters, nails, or worn-out floorboards.
q Backstage
stairs should be maintained in good condition, and the stairwells should be
properly lit.
q All
alleyways should be clear of litter and obstacles.
q The
stairs leading up to any catwalk or elevation should have rails and be marked.
q People
should not be allowed to enter or exit sections of the stage that are moving or
rotating unless absolutely necessary.
q Documented
training must be on file.
q Participants
with special health concerns should inform the event supervisor.
Elevated Platforms and Workspaces
q Training
on all equipment shall be conducted prior to use.
q Standard
railings should guard all areas elevated above 6 feet.
q Standard
railings consist of a top-rail, a mid-rail, toe board, and posts.
q Standard
railings must be able to withstand 200 pounds in any direction on the top rail.
q Guardrails
are needed for wall openings that are 30 inches from the ground.
q All
guardrails should be designed for live load of 20 pounds per foot.
q A cover
or guardrail on open sides must guard all floor openings. If there is only a
cover, when uncovered, the opening must be attended to by a worker. Hinges,
handles, and all other hardware must be flush with the floor.
q If
guardrails are impractical, there should be other mechanisms to prevent falling
such as tape markings.
q Walking
on open beams or sliding down beams that are 15 feet or higher must be done
only with safety harnesses.
q People
will not ride on lifting devices that are not meant to lift humans or on any
other moving device unless allowed by the manufactures operating and safety
instructions.
q Platforms
should be clear of all obstructions, kept free of oils, grease, water, or any
slippery substance.
Elevated Platforms and Workspaces (Continued)
q Metal
pipe railings, top rails, and mid-rails should be 1 ½ inches in diameter.
q If toe
boards are required, they should not exceed 3 inches and bottom clearance
should not exceed ¼ inch.
q If work
is done on thrust outs or other elevated surfaces of over 15 feet (e.g.,
trusses or beams) safety belts and lifelines are needed.
q Participants
with special health concerns should inform the event supervisor.
q Ladder
safety training shall be conducted prior to use.
q Ladders
should always be inspected before use to make sure they are in safe condition.
Any ladders with broken or missing rungs or other defects shall not be used.
q Never
substitute a chair, table, or box, etc. for a ladder. Never place a ladder on a
table or box to increase the height.
q Ladders
will not be “spliced” together to create a longer one.
q All
personnel using a ladder should face the ladder while ascending and descending.
q A stepladder
should be used only in the completely open position, and only climbed on the
side with the steps. A stepladder should not be used as a surface from which to
work. Workers should not stand on the top step.
q Use
wooden ladders or fiberglass because of their increased stability and
non-conducting properties. The ladders should not be painted. This can hide splits and defects.
q Ladders
should be maintained in good condition.
The hardware, fittings, and joints should operate securely and smoothly.
Rungs should be clean of oil, grease, water, or any slippery substance.
q The
ladder feet should be placed on a secure base, and the area underneath the
ladder should be kept dry and clear of debris.
q Non-skid
safety feet should be installed on all straight ladders before use.
q Manufactured
portable wood ladders should have non-slip bases securely bolted or riveted by
side rails.
q Ladder
side rails shall be at least 3 feet above the landing. If this is not possible,
then grab rails should be installed.
q Portable
metal ladders should not be used for electrical work. Metal ladders must be
marked: “CAUTION: Do Not Use Around Electrical Equipment.”
q A
straight ladder should be kept on a level surface and be placed about one
quarter of the length of the ladder from the wall or surface upon which it
leans.
q Straight
ladders should be blocked, tied off, or otherwise secured when in use;
otherwise, an assistant wearing a hard hat should brace the ladder for the
user. For large ladders, two assistants may be needed.
q While
using a ladder, tools and other objects should be secured against falling.
Materials should never be left on the ladder, or dropped or pitched to another
person.
q Genies,
or other hydraulic lift systems can only be operated if all outriggers are in
place.
q OSHA has
specific regulations on tread width and rung distance for fixed ladders. (See
Appendix B.)
q Fixed
ladders over 20 feet in height must be caged.
q If there
are ladder safety devices, then a landing platform is not required. Examples of
ladder safety devices include a wire rope running along the middle of the
ladder or a notched rail device used in conjunction with a friction operated
safety harness.
q Because
fixed ladders rest on a wall, they can be installed at a steeper angle than
portable ladders.
q Participants with special health
concerns should inform the event supervisor.
q Create a log for rig inspections.
q Require continuous training.
q Properly
trained and qualified persons should do the operation, maintenance, and repair
work on rigging equipment. They should be knowledgeable in operation and
functioning of the equipment, safe use, routine maintenance, operation of
safety devices, possible dangers during operation, and emergency procedures.
q All
rigging equipment shall be inspected before use, after alterations, and at
regular intervals.
q Counterweights
should be enclosed with a guard. Passage must be blocked when loading.
q Damaged
or defective slings and ropes must be removed from service. Chains or ropes
should not be shortened by knotting.
q Be sure
all loads do not exceed the safe capacity of the system.
q Follow
safe procedures when loading, unloading, or operating rigging systems.
Unbalanced counterweight systems should be kept on the ground, for example
while loading and unloading.
q Maintain
visual contact of a moving piece at all times.
q Warn
people on the stage and grid before moving any rigged scenery or other object.
q Maintain
control of moving pieces at all times.
q Only
assigned personnel shall have access to suspended work areas such as grids and
catwalks.
q All
hoisting systems should be secured to prevent accidental or unauthorized use.
q Recommend
annual or more frequent certified inspections.
q Participants
with special health concerns should inform the event supervisor.
q Working on a ladder that raises
you at least 6 feet from the floor requires the use of an approved fall
protection system, i.e., a full body harness and appropriate lanyard connected
to a cross-arm strap or other approved building structure. See the theater director or his/her designee
for harness certification and approval on connection points.
q Keep the lanyard from getting
caught by your feet or legs while climbing ladders and stairs.
q When using fall protection
anywhere in the theater, it is required that another person be in the theater
to assist in case of an accident.
q Remove any unnecessary items
from pockets and items that could otherwise fall off before climbing up a
ladder, working in the catwalks, or working near the edge of any abrupt change
in flooring.
q All platforms, stairs, and
scenery should be properly secured, inspected, and approved for use by a
knowledgeable authority (such as the technical director) before using them in
any way.
q People unfamiliar with the
terrain should “walk the set” and/or be shown any hazards before trying to
work, rehearse, or perform.
q Make sure that adequate
lighting is provided in all fall risk situations.
q People using equipment that
impedes their field of vision must have a spotter if they intend to move around
while using that equipment. Spotters should monitor the stage position of
themselves and the equipment operator and stop any filming or other relevant
activity should a potential hazard arise.
q Participants with
special health concerns should inform the event supervisor.
Fly Systems Loading and Unloading
q At least three trained, certified people are required: two on the loading gallery and one supervisor on the stage to test the