This information is applicable to all members of the theatre community including directors, performers, crew, stage managers, and front-of-house personnel and is designed to follow a production from planning stages to strike.
Pyrotechnics and Fire Code Permits
When open flames or pyrotechnic devices (such as flash pots) are a planned part of
the performance, contact the Safety and Risk Management Office (828-227-7443) a minimum
of 4 weeks before the performance to obtain a fire code permit application. Fire
Code permits from the local municipality are required for open flames and fireworks/pyrotechnics.
Special Effects
Certain special effects should be reviewed to ensure all necessary safeguards are
in place. Contact the Safety Office at the earliest phase of production if the performance
involves the use of:
Knives, swords, guns or any prop weapons
Items suspended over the audience
Pits, trap doors or other changes in elevation
Fog or smoke
Strobe Lighting
Lasers
Rigging or flying performers
Any unusual stage effect which raises safety/health concerns
Props and Decoration
Decorative materials such as curtains, draperies, streamers, fabrics, cotton batting,
straw, hay, vines, leaves, stalks, tress and moss must be noncombustible or flame
resistant or be rendered so with commercially available products. Certain types of
decorative materials may be used only with the approval of the Fire Marshal. Contact
the Safety and Risk Management Office (828-227-7443) if you have any questions about
the approved use of decorative materials.
Structural Issues for Set Design
Any set design which includes ladders, traps, scaffolds, rakes, rigging or other specialty
devices must be approved and inspected by the production crew before each use. Some
rigging guidelines include:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment includes all types of equipment used to increase individual
safety while performing potentially hazardous tasks. This may include eye and face
protection, head protection, foot protection, hand protection, respiratory protection,
or any equipment used to protect against injury or illness
Hand & Portable Power Tools
Crewmembers should use a power tool only after receiving proper training. Stage managers
should review the operation of the equipment, making sure to point out safety features
and guards. Crewmembers should be familiar with the owner’s manual for the tool,
and should know both the use and the limitations of all power tools.
Only trained crewmembers are permitted to use power tools such as mitre saws, table saws, and drill presses. This training must be documented.
Machine Guarding
All mechanical equipment is to be equipped with guards that prevent access to electrical
connections or moving parts, such as belts and pulleys of a vacuum pump. Each worker
should inspect equipment before using it to ensure that the guards are in place and
functioning. Careful design of guards is vital. An ineffective guard can be worse
than none at all, because it may give a false sense of security. Emergency shutoff
devices may be needed in addition to electrical and mechanical guarding. Please reference
the Machine Guarding Program for more information.
Ladders
Ladders are one of the most common tools of the theatre trade. Misuse of portable
ladders can result in serious injuries from falls or, in the case of metal ladders,
electrical shock. Portable ladders must be maintained in good condition at all times,
and inspected at regular, frequent intervals. Whenever possible, ladders should be
hung horizontally on wall hooks in a dry place not subject to extremes of temperatures.
Users can do minor maintenance, like lubricating hinges and tightening hardware.
However, ladder repair is specialized work and should be completed by qualified persons
or the manufacturer. If conditions exist that make a ladder unsafe for use, it should
be removed from service immediately and marked with a warning such as "Dangerous -
Do Not Use". Personnel using ladders are required to take Ladder Safety training.
Chemical Hazards
Most chemical use in theatre is limited to paints and stains. However, if you are
using any new or non-routine product, contact the Safety Office for assistance on
proper use, PPE, spill and disposal procedures.
Housekeeping
Work areas can become congested while constructing the set and while rehearsals take
place. Clutter makes it difficult to move around and can be a fire hazard. To prevent
accumulation of materials, trash should be removed daily.
Storage of Materials
The proper storage of materials in theatre spaces is extremely important to the efficiency
of the production and the safety of the cast, crew and audience. The NC Fire Code
mandates certain storage requirements, such as:
Lifting and Material Handling
Moving and transporting set pieces can be some of the most significant hazards during
set construction. The following tips are recommended to avoid injury while moving
and lifting objects:
Electrical Hazards
Follow these guidelines when working with electrical devices. Many students have
never worked with electricity directly before working on stage.
Ladders & Catwalks
Lighting work sometimes requires working from ladders or elevated surfaces such as
catwalks.
Catwalks are designed with fall protection in the form of guardrails. Guardrails may not be removed, climbed or defeated in any way without additional fall protection practices in place. Ladder and guardrail safety training must be documented.
Cosmetics
Products approved for makeup use have been tested extensively for toxic hazards.
Only these products should be used for stage productions. Old containers of makeup
could contain bacteria and should be thrown away. Wash your face and hands before
applying cosmetics. If you are using makeup from a “communal” make-up kit, use a
clean brush or your clean fingers to apply. Shared makeup should not be applied directly
to your face. These guidelines should be followed for shared makeup users:
Fatigue
Fatigue is a serious safety concern that should be considered during all stage productions.
With performance dates approaching, most crewmembers can become severely overworked.
Follow these simple guidelines to avoid fatigue:
Heat Stress
Theatre spaces are often without air-conditioning and, even if they are air-conditioned,
stage lighting can produce an incredibly hot glow. Add that to the stress and/or
excitement of performing, and cast members are prime candidates for heat stress.
Working in hot conditions may pose special hazards to safety and health.
Drink plenty of liquids during a performance to replace the fluids lost from sweating – as much as one quart per hour may be necessary. Water and/or sports drinks are recommended. Avoid caffeinated beverages such as cola, iced tea and coffee.
Crowd Control
Attendance for an event can be controlled through ticket sales, so overcrowding does
not become an issue. The number of people involved and the nature of the event are
the primary determining factors if security may be required.
Front-of-House Personnel
The house manager and all front-of-house personnel must assist the audience to evacuate
the building safely in case of an emergency. A fire safety and evacuation plan must
be prepared and all personnel should be trained in the duties they are to perform
under the plan. Front-of-house personnel may wish to be instructed in the proper
use of portable fire extinguishers. Fire extinguisher training is available through
the Safety and Risk Management Office.
Exits (Means of Egress)
The means of egress is the continuous and unobstructed path of travel from any point
in a place of assembly to an exit or public way (e.g., sidewalk, street, etc.). All
parts of the means of egress must be available for immediate, emergency use.
Set Deconstruction & Material Disposal
Strike can be a chaotic, hazardous aspect of any production. Care must be taken to
ensure that the stability of set pieces is not compromised as they are deconstructed,
creating fall or crush hazards. Strikes should be organized with individuals assigned
discrete tasks.
Chemical Waste Disposal
Most commonly used organic solvents (e.g., acetone, methanol, toluene, mineral spirits,
turpentine) and paints are considered hazardous waste and cannot be disposed of with
regular trash or poured down the drain. If you have hazardous waste to be disposed
of, contact Safety and Risk Management (828-227-7443) for assistance.