Repeated twisting when applying counterweights

[Huwtom]

Our counterweights are currently stored at floor level directly oposite the fly system

Flymen are having to stoop and twist to place the required counterweights into the cradles.

(12.5 and 6.5kg). Up to 40kgs per arbour/ cradle.

Any one using suitable trolleys or storage units for the task?

I am looking to reduce the amount of stooping and twisting required - if possible!

Thank you

[jonathanhill]

Is there a possibility of moving the weights across the gallery so the loaders just kneel down, rather than twist and kneel?

 

It would likely be necessary to install some form of fence to stop weights falling down the counterweight cage.

[Paul Turner]

I worked in a venue that had a loader pull his back, and the solution was 2 loaders, one kneeling down loading the cradle, one passing the weights, + 1 flyman on the fly floor below. costs were normaly passed onto visiting companies in the recharge.

 

Paul

[Giles Favell]

Modern installations have the counterweights stored on 'tables' to avoid this bending down issue as far as is reasonably practical. It is not usually viable to store them on the same side of the gallery as the cradles, as it it usually over-populated to allow for that (and whereas you fully guard the stage side, under these circumstances, it is less easy to fully protect the counterweight frame, which has openings by necessity). No one is likely to want to design trolleys for counterweights to operate on a loading gallery, with all the potential implications, including blocking one of your two means of escape etc.....

It has always been bad practice to 'twist' when loading, for obvious reasons, and is always better to take a step and turn the whole body, even though it is slower.

[Roderick]

The repeated twisting and lifting was pretty much the reason that counter-weight fly systems were banned in Holland years ago.

 

I don't know if there is a real solution to this problem.

But I will look forward to see what people are doing around the world!

[ninjadingle]

We try to use 2 loaders wherever possible, one passing, one loading. This is especially true when loading lx bars (we're rated to 285Kg and often get very close!). The "passer" would then nip back down to fly as needed, or if there was enough staff have a third person flying.

 

Try to rotate your personnel so that you're not loading as often? I found myself on flys almost every shift I worked until I mentioned this, now we're moving around a lot more...