Pre-show H&S checklist

[carosd]

Hi, I have been asked to compile a pre-show h&s checklist following an accident during a show. Has anyone doen anything along the lines of "check fire doors clear, check all lights have safety wires" etc?

 

If you do, then please could you share with me at caroline @ stamp-dod.net

 

Many thanks

[paulears]

There are plenty of check-lists and no doubt we could send you ours. The ones you suggest, however are a little odd. Checking the fire exits would be part of the front of house pre-show checks while queries about lighting would be a backstage task. One thing - check 'safety wires' would be a bit daft. How would you do this? get out the access equipment and give them all a tug? Not very practical. What you should do is assess the risk in your own venue. You mention an accident - what was it? Could it happen again?

 

So you need to consider the kind of thing you need for your own venue. Maybe if you are stuck, just give us your own version and we can put it into shape -but I don't think we can do it from scratch.

 

p.s. make certain you understand the differences in terms - fire exits and fire doors are different things - do you have to check both kinds? Lighting equipment have electrical 'wires', suspension 'wires' and safety bonds or chains. 'Wires' isn't really correct - or at least could be confusing.

[MarkPAman]

Not something I was involved with writing, but have it on my computer:

 

Safety procedure to carry out.

All rostra units properly inter-linked and secured.

Safety rails or other guards securely installed on high rostra.

All flats securely weighted and braced.

Cleating / hinging / battening on set secure.

Adequate backstage passage and lighting.

All cabling to be mechanically and electrically safe.

All lanterns double secured.

All naked flames / pyrotechnics and gunshots notified to the licensing officer.

If scenery is moved then all cast & crew to be notified of changes.

Appropriate equipment available in the box office to deal with liquid spillages.

Full dress and technical rehearsal taken place before first performance.

 

All with tick boxes. The form is signed with time & date for each performance, usually by SM (or member of staff in charge if SM is a student)

Must admit to being slightly concerned by the naked flame bit, but then I've never seen one used.

[w/robe]

All with tick boxes. The form is signed with time & date for each performance,

 

Many of the things on your list should not need checking every day, but if people are signing to say that they have checked every lantern and crawled under every rostra etc. before each performance I hope that the actually have. If not you need to change the check list rather than falsify your records.

 

 

Edited to include PAT testing every cable every day which is what the list says you have done!

[Crew.Steve]

Not something I was involved with writing, but have it on my computer:

 

Safety procedure to carry out.

Full dress and technical rehearsal taken place before first performance.

Is a dress rehearsal a safety procedure. I confess I hadn't thought of it that way, although I suppose the additional movement of cast and materials is a potential hazard.

 

We also include on our check list:

Fire drill explained to cast and crew, and carried out prior to first performance (typically at final dress interval)

Cast and crew registers drawn up and posted (for signing in/out)

SM has read and signed Emergency Book (what to do/who to notify)

 

There is also a formal letter which is sent to all FoH staff (volunteers) explaining the chain of command during a performance, in the event of an incident.

 

HTH

 

Edit Fixed quotes.

[MarkPAman]

Quick edit - This was in responce to w/robe's comments.

 

I think you're reading too much into this.

If the SM is happy that lights for example are within their PAT date until the end of a run, and all safeties are fitted, then if nobody's had the ladder out, they will stay that way wont they?

It's a college theatre, no run is longer than a week. This sheet was given to me after they'd had an "incident" involving a rostra that had moved (note that's the first thing on the list) and I suspect that the crawling does get done!

However as all the shows I get involved with are one offs, I can't comment much more on how it operates on a five or six show run.

[w/robe]

If the SM is happy that lights for example are within their PAT date until the end of a run, and all safeties are fitted, then if nobody's had the ladder out, they will stay that way wont they?

 

YES, as I said most of the things on the list do not need checking every day.

 

But if you tick the boxes, sign your name and date the sheet then you are saying I checked these things on this date.

 

If, God forbid, a safety was not put on a lantern and it fell and hit someone the last person to sign off the show would be responsible even though they could well not been there when the lantern was rigged, they have said that they checked it on that date.

 

I'm not saying that you need to make these checks every day I'm saying you should rewrite your form.

[MarkPAman]

w/robe

 

Do you not think that SM can sign to say that they are happy the checks have been done (by somebody competent to do them)?

If I hire a piece of kit, or borrow it from another department, I'll check for a PAT sticker and trust that. I can then use it for a show and say that all equipment is tested within the last year/6 months or whatever.

The sheet does not say "I have tested..."

 

...........Time passes...............I've now had a coffee and thought about it a little more.....................

 

Now I think your right and the wording could be changed to make it clearer what is meant. I'll pass your comments to the person who wrote it.

[carosd]

Thanks: MarkPAman - that's the sort of thing I was on about, many thanks for that. Sorry Paulears, I'm not a SM - just tasked with finding example lists as a starting point for developing on for the company. If you do feel able to email me a copy, it would also be most appreciated.

Carosd

[Jivemaster]

I think of the RAF Form 700 for flights. The engineers all sign their bit off (mech&airframe, avionics, etc....) Then the Pilot signs the lot accepting the aircraft for flight. So in theatre --set & stage, electrics, Sfx etc all goes to prod/dir/Licence holder for final sig.

 

Some things should be checked each show, some things need to be checked less often.