Harness For Truss Walking

[hairyswaff]

Hey All,

Not sure if I should of put this in the 'rigging' section instead so I took a gamble, hope it pays off!

 

I work at a small amateur theatre and about 18months ago we had £50,000 worth of lovely ground support truss. We have zarges and a large scaff tower and stuff but there are still some bits of the rig where I like to hang lights that are difficult to get to using ladders/tower and so we have to do truss working, personally I hate it but I have some monkeys who work for me who lovely nothing more than sitting at the top of the truss.

 

Basically we been asking for the last year for the theatre to purchase some harnesses for us to use because obviously we should have some really if we're doing this kind of dangerous stunt. Anyway the committee (bloody amdram I'm afraid) have continually ignored us however the other night one of the members of said committee (luckily the guy who signs the check) happened to come down during one of our get-ins and almost had a heart attack and so he finally agreed to part with his cash and buy us some.

 

I've used the search function and looked at some previous posts and I think we're looking for a full body harness, that was about all I understood (as a rule if it don't have a plug I don't really understand it). We once had a touring company come down and they had with them a climbing style harness with huge clips on it and they clipped them on the trussing as they climbed up.

 

Basically now I've finished rambling I'm wondering what am I looking for? What is the correct term, where can I get them from and how much am I looking at. Also from reading the previous posts most people have said that really a training course would be needed to learn how to use them, how essential is this and how would we go about getting one? Would it instead perhaps be easier for us just to ban truss walking unless its absolutely essential?

 

Anyone, hope this makes sense to someone other than me and if anyone could help I would be very grateful! Budget wise ain't a problem (this Amdram company has made ALOT of money in the last 3 years which they are finally spending to improve the building and equipment) we are looking for something decent and safe though obviously we'd rather opt for a cheap unknown manufacturer than a designer harness!

 

Many Thanks in Advance

Luke S.

[mikienorth]

Try Lyon Equipment, they should be a very good starting point for all things involving harness, including training.

[ChrisD]

I think most people will agree with me that you should strictly limit truss walking to entirely necesarry moments (Eg training, if you do that kinda thing, and rigging) and you should also have harnesses with fall arrests. I wouldn't work at height without a harness, too risky.

[emj]

Hello

 

Use goggle on this site for working at hight reg's

 

that will tell you why it is not a good idea and why it is last resort, also in your situation that its not a good idea at all

[Jivemaster]

The whole Fall Arrest scene is important. training, attitude, equipment.

 

First WAH is dangerous so in the approach of HSWA minimise the danger and minimise the risk. -- See if you really can eliminate the work at height, then see if you can eliminate the truss walking. A major read of this forum will tell you a lot. Remember that amdram is still work the "pay or not " doesn't relax any rules, infact it gives you extra challenges to prove that each person is competent within the meaning of the act.

[hairyswaff]

Cheers for all your input.

 

Alot of the truss work in my opinion is unnessecary and I think much of the lights could of been rigged from the ladder or by building the tower up to it's maximum height.

 

However, my crew, who I hastened to add I have little control of choosing as the company like to use local people of their choosing, tend to like to show off, this was especially noticable in the last show as the director had a daughter who was always around and whom much of my crew seemed to get on with if you get my drift!

 

Obviously eliminating working at height is not a possibility at all. We do have fly bars on stage however u have to gain height to remove the chains from their storage bags and obviously it is impossible to focus a light at ground level however the fly bars to make it easier and safer when hanging lights but height work FOH and focussing still needs to happen.

 

The theatre is considering banning under 16s from working at height because of insurance however one thing we are proud of id the amount of independent work and experience we give young technicians, actors and designers and we would like to give people as much as experience as possible.

 

 

I think rather than splashing out on harnesses and training it might be better to sit down with my crew and others who use the theatre and make it clear truss walking is only a last resort and that no matter what personal safety must not be compromised. Also it is probably likely that if something is not safe to do with a tower or a ladder then it probably isn't safe and so changes must be made to the design!

 

What do you all think about that attitude or is this all a bit extreme?

[Andrew C]

Get hold of the ABTT CoP on Working At Height. £10. Still in draft form, but they will give you a final version when it is published. At least this was the position at the show.

[Andyb]

After some research, I to came across Lyons.

 

However, I continued searching and found a couple that were a lot cheaper.

 

I have purchased all our PPE from

 

Tacklestore Ltd

Unit S3

Chittening Industrial Estate

Chittening

Avonmouth

Bristol

BS11 0YB

 

They are part of the Loadtite group, and I have had no complaints about there products or service. They are currently having some small full body harness made up.

 

Lee is the sales manager who has been my contact.

0117 938 1600

 

Word of note, don't bother looking for their website, just give them a call. It is currently 'under construction' which cant be a bad thing because it was very poor.

 

Happy shopping.

andrew

[phillipberry]

Hi

 

As most people have said, working at heights is a serious issue. I'm a lighting tutor and spend most of time telling students not to climb our truss.

 

I was also a little confused on if you were in charge. If you are then with out sounding patronising your crew and their safety is your responsablity. If they are failing to listen to you regarding safety then you must find a way of controlling them, even if it means disciplining people.

 

Your right in seeking guidance from others. People you should speak to are Lyon (UK distributors for Petzl), Rope Assemblies and also PCM. PCM do a rigging school, which is a week long up in Liverpool. It's not that expensive, about £250 (please don't quote me on that), it's well worth it as you get 1 on 1 help and also your be learning with people in your same situation.

 

Another piece of advice is to join a local climbing centre. This may sound mad, but their teach you how to use a harness safely and how to climb safely. It will also increase your confidence in climbing and being at heights, as well as improving your strength.

 

Hope that all help.

 

Feel free to contact me for more advice

 

 

Phillip

[Chris Higgs]

A climbing centre may well increase confidence, but the use of 'climbing' equipment (that is to say sport climbing) has virtually no place in a work activity. There are very particular standards that are used world wide for work positioning and fall arrest. Even an amateur theatre will generally be subject to health and safety legislation in this regard.

 

You should check with the manufacturer of the truss that their product is engineered to sustain the force of an arrested fall, especially since you say it ground supported. This force could be as much as 6kN if you are using lanyards of any length (2m is often supplied where 1m would be better) and will typically be outside the load bearing capabilities of many lighting trusses.

 

The use of fall arrest systems forms part of a 'safe system of work' and should involve correct specification, provision, training, inspection and probably some enginering input in order to satisfy legal and insurance requirements, notably rescue planning and equipment.

Another killjoy post...

 

The ABTT code of practice covers only temporary access equipment, the use of trusses is not something we felt should be covered in such a document.

The manufacturer's advice and your employer's existing safety policy should cover such activity if it is undertaken at all.

HTH

[Rob]

Just to reiterate...

 

PPE should be a last resort if there is no other way of minimising the risk. In using PPE you open up a whole can of worms as you need to ensure that all your staff are suitably trained and competent and that you have a rescue plan in operation.

[Jivemaster]

Few of us can eliminate working at height, BUT, we all HAVE TO REDUCE the risks and hazards. Firstly by reducing the number of WAH jobs then by reducing the number of people who work at height, then for those jobs where WAH is truly necessary a safe sstem of work including training proper tools and then proper protective gear. Even a ladder is a means of access rather than a work platform.

 

You as manager will be held responsible even for volunteers. Anyone who is tempted by a pretty girl and is inclined to show off needs FIRING as they will put your entire crew at risk. Once the correct PPE is there and in correct use then you still think through every movement and how to do it safely.

 

Any truss climbers who do not use their skill and PPE correctly need to be fired also. and refusal to use tools or ppe according to instruction as Fair grounds for dismissal

 

Go through the last show rig and see for yourself how many bits could have been done at deck level or with correct WAH kit done more safely than by truss walking. See if anything that really needed trus walking would have been wrong if rigged from a safely accessed part of the rig.

[Ken Coker]

Thank goodness for Chris Higgs!!

Forget about your harness until you :

 

1. Work out whether your structure will take the load of you falling off it.

 

2. Work out how you are going to rescue the poor sod who comes off. (See a variety of other posts on suspension trauma)

 

If you have to do dangerous things to rig a light, the light is in the wrong place..........and I speak as a lighting designer.

 

Cheers

 

Ken

[Stewart Newlands]

Monkeys is the word I suggest you review your practice to fall in line with:

 

Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 735 The Work at Height Regulations 2005

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20050735.htm

 

HSE Guidance note:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf

 

Otherwise someone may be in for more than they had thought even if no one has a fall.

 

but I have some monkeys who work for me who lovely nothing more than sitting at the top of the truss.

[Jivemaster]

Though amdram you are all AT WORK - just unpaid. You are required to observe statute law and regs and ACoPs in the same way as any company and its staff.

 

You are at Work so sport or leisure kit and standards may not be relevant.

 

You have to have jobs done by or supervised by competent people but you have no idea who is trained / certificated / experienced.

 

Keep OUT of the trussing as much as possible. try to use only access machine accessible rigging places. If you are NOT up you Cannot fall from height.

 

If there really is something that MUST be done by working at height. Devise a safe working method, including fall scenarios and fall rescue procedures, -- IF you cannot do this you cannot work at height.

 

If you act without due care and dilligence your insurers will not help you when you need them!!!!!!!!

 

Respect Chris Higgs