Health and Safety

Each hazard has its own precautions, but they all interrelate with each other. Heights and Lighting can be a hazard because there is always a risk of falling off a ladder from a height and hurting your body, Lighting is also a hazard as they are heavy and if they are dropped it can cause harm to you and damage to your body, but also break the light itself, which is expensive to repair. Each hazard has its precautions, but they all interrelate with each other. Heights and Lighting can be a hazard because there is always a risk of falling off a ladder from a height and hurting your body, Lighting is also a hazard as they are heavy and if they are dropped it can cause harm to you and damage to your body, but also break the light itself, which is expensive to repair.

Hazards in Set, Props, and Paint

Hazards can range from the machinery as they have sharp edges which can cause serious harm, Trailing cables which are trip hazards, Excess wood and offcuts on the floor which could pierce the skin or can cause a trip hazard, Tools lying on the floor which are also a trip hazard, machines left on, and spray paints which contain harmful chemicals which can cause toxication and corrosion in the body.

Hazards in Lighting and Sound

Hazards in lighting range from manual handling when lifting the lights out of the flight case and onto the bar. Another hazard can also be looking into the light while it is on and damaging your eyesight. Hazards in sound range from also manual handling and hurting your back by lifting the speaker onto a bar or out of the flight case. Another hazard with sound is damaging your hearing by using too high Hz.

Hazards in Costume

Hazards in Costumes range from sharp objects like scissors, unpicks, sewing machines, needles, and wires, Heavy items that can fall can also be a hazard as they can crush you and be harmful to you, for example, heavy boxes and clothing racks, chemicals in dyes can also be harmful as they can stain your hands and some chemicals in dyes can be harmful to you. As a general precaution, you should always take your foot off the pedal of the sewing machine when not sewing.

Manual Handling

Manual Handling is the process of lifting heavy boxes, it is important that you are lifting heavy boxes properly because it can cause you to hurt, pull, or strain your back. To lift heavy items properly you need to bend down with your knees and not your back and you need to wrap the box with your arms to lift it and move it to wherever you may need it too.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

COSHH is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to their health. Those substances are:

Fumes, Gasses, Chemicals, Mixtures, Dust

PPE - Personal Protective Equipment

PPE or personal Protective equipment is peices of equipment designed to protect you in your work environment.

Helmet

A helmet is one of the most important parts of your PPE, this is because if you injure your head you can cause major damage that could change your life. In a theatre there are many hazards that you need to be cautious of, there could be sets dropped from above or lights being rigged that need to be lowered or adjusted, and wearing a helmet can keep you and others safe. This also means that long hair needs to be tied up to prevent it from getting caught in any equipment.

Face Mask and Gloves

Face masks come into use in the workshop when you are using products with chemicals, masks make sure that your lungs are safe from any harmful fumes or chemicals in the products you are using. Gloves are also useful as they improve your grip on the product you are working on and it keeps your hands and fingers safe from any harmful machinery you may be using.

Ear defenders/ Goggles

Ear defenders and goggles are key PPE in a workshop as there are large machines that could break or small pieces of wood could break off and aim for your eyes, goggles are there to prevent the hazard from damaging your eye site. Ear defenders are also used in the workplace as they protect your ears from high decibels that can cause temporary or permanent damage to your hearing.

Hi vis jackets / Steel cap boots

Hi-vis jackets and steel toe cap boots are the most important parts of your PPE, A Hi-vis is a reflective jacket that is visible so that crew members above or below you can see you in the dark behind or above the stage as you are wearing all black. Steel toe-capped boots are used also backstage as they protect your toes from hard objects that may fall, be dropped, or rollover your feet.