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Accident ReportsAccident during assembly of Rigoletto setSTATEMENT FROM OPERA AUSTRALIA:At about 3 pm on 20 August, an accident occurred in the scenery dock of theOpera Theatre, SOH, during the assembly of the Rigoletto set.Unknown to the mechanists involved, one of the columns had not settledproperly into place. While the cladding was being attached to the column,itdropped the remaining few centimetres into its scat.One of the mechanists, Mathew Court, who was standing on the top of thecollar surrounding the base of the column, had his foot caught between thecollar and the cross-bracing of the column when it dropped into place.The end of Mat's big toe was severed and the second toe lacerated. He wasimmediately taken to hospital where surgery was undertaken to re-attach thesevered end of the toe. While the exact prognosis of the operation is not yetknown, he is expected to be away from work for several weeks.The set for Rigoletto is assembled before the start of the Rigoletto season andmoved onto and off stage for each of the Rigoletto performances. It is thendismantled at the end of the Rigoletto season- It is not assembled anew foreach performance. -John Moulton, Technical manager.SHOWSAFE COMMENTS-One aspect of this accident worth considering is that OA uses its sets morethan once, and so they are built to last. Concise assembly instructions for allsets should be supplied (in addition to plans) and identify potential risks inconstruction. It is not clear in this case whether the risk was identified inadvance, or indeed identifiable.For debate on this accident and issues related, go to our Discussion Center.ROCKY HORROR ACCIDENTSYDNEY AUGUST 18th: SHOWSAFE, the Australian Entertainment IndustryHealth and Safety Association, join entertainment industry technicians andperforming arts managements everywhere in sending condolences to thefamily of Dale Jewel who was fatally injured in an accident on the Rocky Horrorset. Dale was the Deputy Stage Manager for the production. ShowSafeunderstands he fell from stage level to the under floor loading dock, throughthe floor while a stage lift was lowered for a scenery change.ShowSafe understand that the four stage lifts at the Star City Showroom canoperate when lowered without safety barriers when in 'performance' mode.Ordinary practice requires that all scene changes and operations wherescenery is flown or raised are rehearsed actions. All stage performancestypically carefully choreograph any mechanical action under normal lightingconditions, and involve all stage personnel.Historically the performance industry is a low risk workplace, where aperformance is run as a disciplined and structured event. All staff andperformers know what is happening, what is to happen, and where theyshould be at any given moment in a production.ShowSafe is in the process of establishing Safety Guidance Notes for theentertainment industry, and will closely monitor investigation of this accidentto ensure that all constructive recommendations which ensue are properlyincorporated into industry practice.For debate on this accident and issues related, go to our Discussion Center.This is food for thought!(Copy form show safe)Joe McCabe