Risk Analysis and Risk reduction
Thu, 24 July 2008, 10:10 amDon Allen42 posts in thread
Risk Analysis and Risk reduction
Thu, 24 July 2008, 10:10 amHow many risks are you aware of when working in a theatre or even being in a theatre onstage or backstage.
Electrocution
Cuts
Broken Bones
Eye damage
Hearing damage
Community theatres have a responsability under the WA Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 and WA OSH Regulations 1996 to provide a safe working environment. There may also be additional responsabilities imposed by local councils.
As an individual you have the same responsabilities.
These following links will provide usefull and productive information:
Why productive ? if you maintain your venue and its equipment to a safe standard, you greatly reduce the setup times for shows and remove a lot of the glitches that may affect a performance.
I did not use the work "accident" as I do not beleieve there is such a thing as an accident, anything that goes wrong is as a direct result of someone being incompetent or using unsafe work practices.!
WA Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/pco/prod/FileStore.nsf/Documents/MRDocument:7379P/$FILE/OccupSftyAndHealthAct1984_05-g0-00.pdf?OpenElement
WA OSH Regulations 1996 http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/pco/prod/FileStore.nsf/Documents/MRDocument:7552P/$FILE/OccupSftyAndHealthRegs1996_06-b0-00.pdf?OpenElement
Risk Assessment (UK) http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/fivesteps.htm
The backsateg Information Guide - Bath University http://people.bath.ac.uk/su2bc/infoguides/index.shtml
ABTT Theatre Essentials http://www.abtt.org.uk/PDFs/Theatre_Essentials.pdf
Guidelines on the Application of the Health (Public Buildings) Regulations 1992 http://www.population.health.wa.gov.au/environmental/resources/Public%20Buildings%20Guidelines%20Final.pdf
Safety Guidelines For The Entertainment Industry (Australian) http://www.entservices.com.au/pdfs/theatrereqs/AustnEntertainmentIndustrySafetyGuidelines.pdf
In the absence of any formal training for amateur theatre technicians, then self education is the way to go.
I suggest you download any of these documents that allow you to, as it is an excellent start to a library and sometimes web resources tend to dissappear.
I always notify actors who walk under ladders when someone is working above them, that it would be a pity to waste all of their rehearsal time, only to miss out on performing because they have been injured during a tech rehearsal, so keep clear and be aware of their surroundings.
I remember well over over
Thu, 7 Aug 2008, 12:23 amI remember well over 20 years ago, when I was a manager of an Electrical Contracting Company. Being invited to the Sheraton for a seminar, thru the Contractors Association & the then SEC.
The main discussion was about proposed changes to the WA Electrical Act. The gist of it was to allow owner builders, to wire up their own homes. Also that Electricians who own up to performing any dodgy work or practise, would be immune from prosecution. Along with a host of other changes, I can't remember now.
These changes apparently took over 5 years to formulate, by Government legal eagles. Which possibly justified their existence or was a ploy by the department to give credence for future budget increases.
After the sparkies dutifully devoured the 5 Star lunch & lubricated themselves sufficiently. All became fired up during the afternoon Q&A session. Which was deemed to be an out of order, so the conveners virtually packed up their new rules & evaporated. The afternoon session was reinstated & carried on in the Lounge Bar. Eventually everyone left none the wiser for the venture, but some what merrier. The upshot was the Department latter advised, couched in the usual drivel, that they would have to think it all out again? "In order to develop new amendments in the fullness of time!"
Could this be what they eventually came up with - But I could be wrong?
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