Health and Safety

Health and Safety enables the carrying out of unavoidable activities by assessing and reducing the associated risks.  The Health And Safety At Work Act 1974 states “It shall be the duty of any person who erects or installs any article for use at work ... to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that nothing about the way in which the article is erected or installed makes it unsafe or a risk to health" (HSE, 1974 p6).

This is done through a risk assessment "instruction and practice for acquiring skills and knowledge of rules, concepts, or attitudes necessary to function effectively in specified task situations” (Cohen & Colligan, 1998 p 11).

 Stages of a risk assessment (HSE, 2000 P8-10)

1. Identify the hazard 
2. Who might be harmed and how
3. Evaluate risks from identified hazards 
4. Record 
5. Review 

Electrical Safety

Visually electrical equipment needs regular inspecting including ensuring that the plug and lead have an in date PAT (portable appliance testing) (anonymous 2014) . This inspection should only be carried out ‘by people who have the necessary knowledge’ (electrical safety first 2015). 

Sound Safety

'The event equivalent continuous sound level (Event Leq) in any part of the audience area should not exceed 107 dB (A), and the peak sound pressure level should not exceed 140db' (HSE,1999 p90)

If during an event staff are exposed to an excessive noise level employers should 'reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable' (Gov legislation 2005). This can be done through the use of ear protection. 

fig 8

Sound

Public Address systems are made up of five elements : see video for ensemble. 

(Vid 2, Anonymous 2013)

Source (what is producing the sound)

Eg. Microphone

Monitor

Monitors enable musicians to hear the balance of sources and each can be adjusted to musician's preference.

Mixer & Amp

The mixer is used to balance vocals and instruments and send this information to the monitors. An amp amplifies the audio signals from speakers and is normally connected to the mixer .

An XLR cable is commonly used to connect equipment because it helps ‘deliver balanced microphone and line-level signals over long distances’ (Mack 2014). 

'Audio cables are particularly susceptible to electrical interference' (Palmer, 2000 p198). To avoid reduction of sound quality keep electric and audio wires as far apart as possible.

Speakers

Basic types of speaker:

The Full Range - This speaker 'Outputs sound across the complete range of hearing frequencies' (Coleman, 2014 p24)

The Bi Amp and The Tri Amp - These speakers  'require the frequencies fed individually from dedicated amplifiers' (Coleman, 2014 p24)

Normally located at front of house facing audience and/or musician. 

Technical Specifications should indicate what sound equipment is needed for the stage layout.

Lighting/Rigging

What am I lighting?

Looking at 'the setting, the arrangement of the properties, and the grouping and costumes of the actors. These are basic elements that present definite conditions to be blended together, by the distribution of light'(McCandless, 1958 p 39). A lighting plan will show where each light will be and a lighting plot will be used to record the intensity you want. 

Cabling

Lanterns may be rigged at a considerable distance from Circuit dimmers (CD), a patch panel provides flexibility in lighting installation as it allows any lantern on the rig to be patched to any CD.

A control board is linked to the dimmers, which allows the precise adjustments of lights.




 Quality and Colour 

To create the desired size, shape, texture and colour the light must be focused, this can be done by adjusting the orientation of the lanterns.




There are a variety of Lanterns used in stage production all of which produce different effects:

Profile Spot

Wash Light

LED/beam light

LED batten 

Rigging

“Rigging is the process of placing every lantern in a rig according to the lighting plan”(Palmer, 2000)

Types of Rig:

Scaffold

Fig 1


Truss
The vertical bars on the eqipment shown below are known as BOOMS and these provide rigging  positions at the sides of the stage.

Fig 2


Grids

Fig 3



Steps of basic rig:

Lanterns  are connected to the rig by a Yoke and G clamp hooked over a metal bar.

Fig 4                                                        Fig 5                                            Fig 6


The safety chain is attached over the lighting bar and under the yoke.

                                                             Fig 7

Working at height

Working at height (WAH) is defined as any activity in the workplace where ‘a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury’ (Government Legislation  2005). Risk assessments should always be conducted (HSE, 2013).

WAH is very common within the entertainment industry but it ‘must be avoided where possible’ as it caused 29% of fatalities at work in 2013/14 (HSE, 2014).

Staff must have certified training to use access equipment and follow health and safety guidelines, such as:

•  Insuring three points of contact when using a ladder.

(Vid 1 Anonymous 2015)


Employers must ensure that ‘equipment is used only for operations for which…it is suitable’ (Government Legislation 1998).  When providing suitable equipment select  'collective systems which protect many (such as a physical barrier, guard rail, or working platform) above personal systems which protect the individual (such as a harness)' (Unison 2013).

Manual Handling/ Transport

‘Refraining from manual handling where there is a risk will avoid injury’ (HSE, 2006 P) but where unavoidable the following steps must be taken to reduce the risk:

 Risk assessments

• To prevent unbalanced equipment causing injury 'raise it a few inches and pause - there will be little harm if it drops' (Health and Safety Executive, 2006 p23)

 Route planning - Before moving equipment consider:

Removing any obstructions to route

Clearly mark routes for loading vehicle and pedistrians

Use certified machines, with a recent examination, obeying the work load limit.

Ensure appropriate training and supervision:

How to lift safely:


(Vid 3, Anonymous 2013)

To ensure the safe transport of equipment and substances -  'duties are not restricted to the employer's workplace, but could be invoked in relation to a vehicle and the way in which it was driven’ elsewhere (Government Legislation Act 1974).

Bibliography

 Health and Safety 

 anonymous 2014 Available from: http://www.pat.org.uk/pat-testing-regulations/ 10/10/15

Cohen & Colligan, 1998  Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/98-145/pdfs/98-145.pdf (Accessed 6/11/2015)

electrical safety first 2015 Available from: http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/electrical-items/pat-testing-explained/ (Accessed 31/10/15)

Fig 8 - Available from: http://www.seton.ca/giant-protective-wear-signs-hearing-protection-must-be-worn-in-this-area-w2378.html (Accessed 7/11/2015)

Gov legislation 2005 available from: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1643/regulation/6/made (Accessed 7/11/2015)

HSE, 1974  available from  http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37/section/6 (Accessed 7/11/15)

HSE, 2000 Exec, H. S. &, Commission, S. and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (2000) Management of health and safety at work. 2nd edn. Sudbury, Suffolk: Health and Safety Executive (HSE). (Accessed 6/11/2015)

HSE, 1999 Available from: http://www.qub.ac.uk/safety-reps/sr_webpages/safety_downloads/event_safety_guide.pdf (Accessed 7/11/2015)

Transportation and Manual Handling   Available from: http://reflectiveblogmackinlay.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/manual-handling-transport.html  (Accessed 31/10/15)

Work at height  Available from: http://reflectiveblogmackinlay.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/working-at-height.html (Accessed 31/10/15)

Sound

Coleman, 2014  Basics - A Beginner’s Guide to Stage Sound. Cambridge: Entertainment Technology Press.  (Accessed 24/10/15)

Mack 2014 Available from: http://www.ehow.com/about_5090903_xlr-cable.html 10/10/15

Palmer, S. 2000 Essential Guide to Stage Management, Lighting, and Sound. London: Hodder & Stoughton.  (Accessed 24/10/15)

Vid 2, Anonymous 2013  Available from: https://youtu.be/MmHvvf8UKfs 10/10/15 

Lighting/Rigging

Palmer, 2000 Essential Guide to Stage Management, Lighting, and Sound. London: Hodder & Stoughton.  (Accessed 24/10/15)

McCandless S.1958 A Method of Lighting the Stage: available from: https://www.questia.com/read/1054455/a-method-of-lighting-the-stage

Fig 1 -Available from: http://www.eastcoastrigging.com/sg_dance-floor_content/aluminum/picturebox/dullesairport014.jpg (Accessed 29/10/15)

Fig 2 -Available from: http://img.hisupplier.com/var/userImages/2011-08/01/220730703_Lighting_Truss_System_10_jpg_s.jpg (Accessed 29/10/15)

Fig 3 - Available from: http://www.asgstage.co.uk/assets/_managed/editor/image/Cardinal%20Newman%20College,%20Preston,%20Lancashire%202a.jpg ( Accessed 29/10/15)

Fig 4 - Available from: http://shop.centraltheatresupplies.co.uk/ekmps/shops/ctsesite/images/selecon-acclaim-500-650-watt-fresnel-lantern-2222-p[ekm]146x150[ekm].jpg (Accessed 29/10/15)

Fig 5 - Available from: http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxNjAw/z/5wkAAOSw~gRV3prv/$_35.JPG (Accessed 29/10/15)

Fig 6 -Available from: http://www.kamasa.co.uk/items/large/56010_Right.jpg (Accessed 29/10/15)

Fig 7 - Available from: http://www.seleconlight.com/images/stories/Anew/product_tile_images/acclaim_fresnel/safety-chain.gif (Accessed 29/10/15)

WAH

Government Legislation 2005 Available from: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/735/regulation/2/made (Accessed 10/10/15)

HSE, 2013 Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/safety-policy-risk-assessment-template.odt (Accessed 10/10/15)

HSE, 2014 page 3 Available from: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/slips-trips-and-falls.pdf   (Accessed 2/10/15)

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 Available from: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2306/regulation/4/made (Accessed10/10/15)

Unison 2013 Available from: https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2013/10/PoliciesWorking-at-Height-Information-Sheet3.pdf  (Accessed 10/10/15)

Vid 1 Anonymous 2015  Available from: https://youtu.be/fv8W_agW1dM  (Accessed 10/10/15)

Manual Handling

Government Legislation Act 1974 Available from: http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/work-equipment/transport-vehicles#legal (Accessed 10/10/15)

HSE, 2006   Health, Executive, S. and Executive, H. S. &, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (2006a) Essentials of Health and Safety at Work: 2006. 3rd edn. Sudbury, Suffolk: Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  (Accessed 24/10/15)

Vid 3, Anonymous 2013 Available from: https://youtu.be/cdVkzrplugY (Accessed 31/10/15)