safe height to perform

Does anyone know if there are any theatre OHS guidelines relating to the maximum height of a platform which a performer can balance on without needing a fall arrest system in place?

As I recall it's one metre, but please don't take my word for it. Some useful previous links (I'm going to start a page in the FAQ for safety resources): http://www.theatre.asn.au/tech_talk/risk_analysis_and_risk_reduction I would suggest checking ALIA which might have more info/resources: http://www.alia.com.au/wordpress/?s=safety. Additionally, you could try the list of links here: http://www.specialevents.com.au/resources/reference.html

I would suggest talking to your state OH&S authority. They will be able to give you an idea. A lot of it is based on common sense and if you do the correct risk assessment and put into place protocols for safe guarding the performer it is amazing what you can do. The size of the platform is one thing that needs to be looked . If you look at some concert stages you will notice that they are over a metre in height but no one is wearing a fall arrest system. So I would suggest talking to the relevant people and do a risk assessment. Any further info do not hesitate to ask me. Stephen Dean Ramblings of a Techie www.theatretechgeek.wordpress.com

Actors are not covered by normal safety regulations, most stages have a 2-3m drop into the orchestra pit with no safety rail across the front of the stage, many Juliet balconies and sets in general would not be legal on a building site.Fortunately there are plenty of actors.The best you can practically do is to have a fall softening arrangement where a potential hazard exists, and have a person waiting to guide actors off stage, it doesn't help that many actors are blind. http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=2716 http://www.blue-room.org.uk/index.php?showtopic=107

I beg to differ - no one is exempt from safety regulations. It is the risk assessment process and control measures that deem whether you under take certain tasks. Where you would not let the general public walk on a platform from where they could fall and hurt themselves. Whereas a performer has assessed and had has lots of rehearsal and therefore is very aware of the risk. If you read the oh&s acts of the various Australian states no-where does it state that certain people are exempt from normal safety regs and to imply that they are is not a good idea to state. As I am studying OH&S and the moment and having written articles on this topic and developed OH&S policies for venues I feel that I can comment on this. I suggest that you talk to the relevant authority and follow their guidance. Stephen Dean Ramblings of a Techie www.theatretechgeek.wordpress.com

wrong,a normal stage has a 2+m drop into the orchestra pit, in a blackout it is a very hazardous place as has been proven many times with artists falling into the orchestra.Any normal safety evaluation would demand a safety rail across the front of the stage, sets routinely have unrailed platforms, but a "safe" set would look ridiculous.So as I said, no stage complies with standard building site regulations and it cannot, unless maybe we fit perspex screens across ever stage, in every theatre, school and church.

Just like to point out that - in case someone isn't wise enough to figure out the obvious - the links above are for a UK site and not necessarily applicable to Aus. federal/state laws.

But is this because people get away with it, or because they're actually allowed? I can count a zillion things that are done in theatre 'because' (of aesthetics, of 'other people do it', etc etc), but that doesn't mean that it's legal OR safe. I would suspect that 90% of the time, things are done simply because it's theatre and we kind of subconsciously expect to have allowances (just as we can get away with discrimination based on looks) and that no one - important - will care. Just because it can/has been done and just because it's aesthetically 'better', doesn't necessarily mean we can and should be getting away with it. (I say this in total ignorance of what the actual regulations say. Just trying to point out that a distinction should be made between what we do, and what we're actually allowed to do) EDIT: Another couple of thoughts just popped into my head. Are there different issues between circus performers and normal stage performers, other than higher insurance premiums? And is there a specific regulation or something that says: if person is performing at X height, then platform must be Y wide by Z deep?

The Safety Guidelines for the Entertainment Industry http://www.liveperformance.com.au/site/_content/document/00000027-source.pdf are a guide that is worth reading. You wont find a definitive document that states the height of any stage platform that is safe to use as Acts and Regulations cannot specifically cover every set design that will occurr. Talk to the venue you want to do the show in and find out how they do their risk assessments. Have a look at professional venues and you wont see any guard rails along orchestra pits or railings in front of rostra. Actors will rehearse on a set so they know where they are, where the hazards are and how to manage them. You may see a kick rail added to a platform, as most actors look out into the audience, not down where they are walking. Any flying is done with the correct lifting harness and set up by a licensed rigger. The clipping on and off is usually choreographed into the show. You will usually see a safety net over an orchestra pit during bump in, bump out and rehearsals, but it is not there for the performance. The crew has to ensure that the stage conditions are as rehearsed, no slippery surfaces, no dark areas due to incorrect lighting cues etc. I saw a show at WAAPA stopped during a fight sequence because the lighting cues were out of sync with the action, it was a good call by the SM and the audience applauded the restart. You have a lot of reading to do, but talk to practical people about how it is done and why. In WA go to the State Law Publishers web site where you can download pdf copies of acts and regulations free of charge. http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/Index.html Search for other states resources. Did you search this web site ? http://www.theatre.asn.au/tech_talk/risk_analysis_and_risk_reduction

As I stated before it is a risk assessment process. Everything has to comply with the regs, it is how you apply those regulations. You have to remember that Standards are not the law unless referred to in the Act. If they are not referred to they become a recommendation or guideline. When I am working with a pit I have a safety net up doing performances and an full safety barrier at other times. If you need to do something that is not covered you need to do a risk analysis. Doing something because it looks good is no defence in a court of law but if you do it and have done a risk assessment and made sure you have provided a lot of safety measures and something goes wrong your butt is better covered. I have often had clients come into a venue with staging units that are made from chipboard that do not comply and I have had to ban them as there is a standard for them. It is also interesting to note that all states seem to having differing regulations which hopefully will be gone soon with the introduction of the federal regs. Here is a link to my article published by CX http://theatretechgeek.wordpress.com/2010/03/22/who-do-i-sue-a-guide-to-risk-assessment-for-venues/ It is good to see healthy debate about safety on this site. Cheers Stephen Dean Ramblings of a Techie www.theatretechgeek.wordpress.com

Not wanting to downgrade the seriousness of the topic, because it is, but I read David's first post as being slightly tongue in cheek :) There are lots of "blind" actors and always plenty more of them ;) It would be great to have Federal regs, the differences between States is a real headache. "Life is too short to stuff a mushroom"

Me, tongue in cheek, about actors, never. For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.

Pity they aren't all....simple, neat and safe (solutions that is) "Life is too short to stuff a mushroom"