Market Research

[Jodi.m]

Hello,

My name is Jodi and I am currently studying for a BA (Hons) in Professional Production Skills at Guildford School of Acting. One of our modules in the degree is to create and develop an arts organisation within our relevant pathway. All work and information collated for this forum will be on a hypothetical basis.

For this module I am looking into setting up a business as an independent risk assessor for the theatre industry. I would be very grateful is you could spare a few minutes to answer the questions below.

- Do you think that there is space in the market for a theatre based risk assessor?

- Do you think having a background in theatre makes a risk assessor more desirable?

- Do you or would you employ a professional risk assessor to carry out your risk assessments?

Any other comments would be welcomed.

[the kid]

Yes to all for me.

 

Working in education to have someone to call on who is fluent in both H&S / RA and theatre would be amazing.

 

But space in general, I think most people will be ofay with risk assessments and have them covered.

[gordontech]

I second the kid.

[ojc123]

I too work in education. Although a theatre risk assessor seems a good idea I suspect it would be too expensive for most schools. I'm not sure if a strictly theatre based risk-assessor would be much help in a school hall where theatre is a small part of the activities we do.

I cannot comment on professional theatre which is probably what you're asking.

[Ynot]

- Do you think that there is space in the market for a theatre based risk assessor?

Not really. It does strike me as something that would/could become something of a cash cow for yet another unnecessary 'consultant'.

 

- Do you think having a background in theatre makes a risk assessor more desirable?

Only inasmuch as anyone carrying out risk assessments MUST have some experience in the relevant fields being assessed. You don't need to be expert in all things theatre to be able to make judgments, but you do need to appreciate the different scenarios that could arise and the lengths that many theatre bods will go to reduce or alleviate risks.

And don't forget that a LOT of theatre is VERY risky if not approached correctly. But if done properly the safety record is very good as a rule.

 

- Do you or would you employ a professional risk assessor to carry out your risk assessments?

 

No. Because the best people to assess the risks are most often those charged with executing the tasks. And if those people are NOT capable of making the correct assessments then they should not be in the position of responsibility. (see also answer to (1) above)

[Oldradiohand]

I help out at a local theatre as an occasional volunteer sound op, but I have a broadcast background and an H&S qualification (used to be responsible for risk assessment at my previous employer) so no, yes, no.

[Germaine]

Hi I'm currently working in the west end where I would be shocked to have a show come in that hasn't been risk assesed by a name that everyone recognises (i.e. these sort of specialists already exist). Basically getting risk assesments wrong may mean shows having to close for a period and at a ticket cost of £60'000+ per show that's an expensive mistake to make for the sake of what may be £3'000+. It's can also mean egg upon face and legal action, to quote an example of an incident that happened when a railway worker fell of a ladder a few years ago, the calculated expense of that was well over £150'000, with only a very small amount of that being the settlement.

In terms of those who do the job assessing it, I don't think that's necessarily the best way forward, say you decide to push the boat out for the schools new production of whatever and use dry ice, it's cheap and readily available and makes a great effect. The competent school lighting technician who is very proficent at hanging lamps may never have worked with co2 at all and now needs to go away and consult individuals who all have there own opinions on the best practice of working with this effect. Don't get me wrong the best technicians in the world are basically researchers who work with new technologies and refine them to a state that integrates best with the show. However it's easy in the above instance to miss one vital bit of information and end up with serious H&S issues.

I also think that there remains a bit of a 'macho' attitude in the business and sometimes we need people to read the boring bits of paper and tell us how to do things safer. As for relevant experience being essential to these specialists, absolutely. The worst H&S people in the world are those who mis-interpret the rules to their own ends or just say NO!!. It just allows people to sound of about H&S being nonsense when the reality is H&S legislations saves lives and has greatly improved the standards of work in our industry.

Additionally whenever automation is involved with one of the shows I work on I can usually expect a visit from a man from Zurich insurance who I guess is a risk assesor, basically he's making a judgement call on if he thinks everything is safe enough and will make recommendations for action to be taken if he believes this is not the case.

 

G

 

p.s. all of the above is just my personal opinion

[lightsource]

Would be interesting to see the qualifications of the Risk Assessor, ;)

 

What qualifications / experience are necessary to become 'qualified' :D

[cfmonk]

Nope. Afraid not.

 

I would never get an external person to assess any of our risks (I'm not in theatre but in events). As Ynot said, our risks are assessed by people who actually do the risky stuff! Only sensible way of doing it!

 

Chris

[ojc123]

I found Germaine's post very interesting, coming, as it does, from someone at the other end of the theare spectrum. I am not disagreeing with her, just following up two of her points from my perspective.

 

The competent school lighting technician who is very proficent at hanging lamps may never have worked with co2 at all and now needs to go away and consult individuals who all have there own opinions on the best practice of working with this effect.

 

The worst H&S people in the world are those who mis-interpret the rules to their own ends or just say NO!!.

 

I have to do all the risk-assessments for our school theatre. There are bits I'm happy with and bits with which I'm less happy. I sometimes do have to "just say NO!" because I'm not competent to make the decision and I'm not certain what I'd say to the judge if it went wrong. I think it's better to admit my lack of competence rather than to take an unknown risk. I certainly don't use the H&S card just to prevent good things happening or to make life easier for myself. I think that's what Germaine means.

 

In terms of the original question, If I'm not confident it's safe then we just have to do without because I can't afford to bring in specialist external risk-assessors. On a big budget West End show I suppose you get specialist people in and get the job done.

 

I too had a visit from the man from Zurich when the School became an Academy and changed insurers. He asked a LOT of questions and was happy with what he heard, saw and read. I felt a quiet satisfaction about that.

[Oovis]

In terms of the original question, If I'm not confident it's safe then we just have to do without because I can't afford to bring in specialist external risk-assessors. On a big budget West End show I suppose you get specialist people in and get the job done.

Not all West End shows are big budget affairs.. It's sometimes amazing what can be done with a small purse. West End theatres range from the 2000+ seaters down to 400 or fewer but all need to run safely. Quite often the risk assessments are carried out by the Production Manager.

 

Hi I'm currently working in the west end where I would be shocked to have a show come in that hasn't been risk assesed by a name that everyone recognises (i.e. these sort of specialists already exist).

Hmm.. (sorry Ynot) Prepare to be shocked quite often, then ;)

[ianl]

Would be interesting to see the qualifications of the Risk Assessor, ;)

 

What qualifications / experience are necessary to become 'qualified' :D

 

I would expect a nebosh diploma, probably a iosh member ( or whatever they call the one where you have to prove continuous training)

 

I would also personally want to see a good few years experience in the theatre industry

[richb]

I would expect a nebosh diploma, probably a iosh member ( or whatever they call the one where you have to prove continuous training)

 

I would also personally want to see a good few years experience in the theatre industry

 

 

And that's the key.

 

I will regularly (but not always) use extrernal contractors to undertake the RAs on a large production. When I do, they will be people with many years experience of large budget productions, who now specialise in undertaking this work, and are often able to spend more time on doing it properly and keeping up to date on all the legislation than a harrassed PM might be.

 

This work is always carried out in conjunction with the PM (and other HODs/interested parties), and runs in conjunction with existing policies, RAs and method statements.

 

There are a number of people (albeit a low one) who fulfil the criteria to make there engagement a sensible option...and I have to say that (should budget allow) it can be very good value for money when dealing with some venues/authorities.

 

I found Germaine's post very interesting, coming, as it does, from someone at the other end of the theare spectrum. I am not disagreeing with her, just following up two of her points from my perspective.

 

For the record, and apropos of nothing, I believe Germaine's actually a chap!

[brainwave-generator]

I will try an answer the questions in detail another time, but I feel that the main inhibiting factor with getting somebody from the outside to come in and do Risk Assessments is just lack of familiarity - with the production, with the facility, with the staff.

 

There may be things which on the surface appear safe, but experience proves them risky. There may be things which appear risky but experience proves them safe. These are things which one learns over time spent working in the same place or on the same team, not something which will be apparent to some self-declared "Health and Safety Consultant" who comes in and has a quick look.

 

But it does happen, I know of H&S Consultants who do visit major companies and write their risk assessments. More worryingly, I know of a supplier who fell out with their H&S Consultant by asking the consultant to write the risk assessment as the supplier wanted it, not how the risks actually presented themselves, to make inherently dangerous activities appear to be safe on the paperwork.

[richb]

I will try an answer the questions in detail another time, but I feel that the main inhibiting factor with getting somebody from the outside to come in and do Risk Assessments is just lack of familiarity - with the production, with the facility, with the staff.

 

Whilst I agree that it would be pointless were this the case, if managed correctly the exact opposite should be true.

 

When I have gone down ths route, the person involved has been a part of the process early on, taken part in some workshop visits, had a degree of presence through rehearsals and been onsite for a fit up and tech period. If a PM gets tied up with some issues onstage during a busy production period, it's all too easy for a wig department's needs (as a random example) to be forgotten as they try to cram themselves into an inapporaitely sized and poorly ventiliated workspace.

 

I'd certainly concede that it's not the way forward for everybody, and that many budgets would preclude it even being considered, but I am hapy to be very clear that in my experience it can work better than any other available option, and to everybody's benefit.