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Looking for fall protection advice

  • 1.  Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-18-2017 15:51
    I am trying to find out the fall protection requirements for a two story stage set of a house. The second floor of the set shows a bedroom but has no handrails or fall protection in place due to the fact the audience needs to see the set and the actors to be able to move around without any harnesses or cables attached. This doesn't set well with me, but I am also new to the theater industry on the safety side of the house.
    Is this type of set typical and is there any way to provide fall protection for the actors while on this second floor set?

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    Douglas Stretch
    Fire and Life Safety Officer II
    Illinois State University
    Normal IL
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  • 2.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-19-2017 07:09
    Two stories without some sort of handrail is definetly not right. Honestly from my perspective a hand rail is the easiest since you can't like you said put crash mats in the middle of the stage. It's usually something like over 3ft high needs some sort of rail.

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    Dan Mellitz
    Technical Director
    St Andrews School
    Barrington, RI
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-19-2017 12:10
    Hi,

    The question you have raised is addressed in the ANSI Standard E1.46. I have attached a copy and would recommend reading it in its entirety although sections 5.1.3.2 and 5.2 seem to address your questions.

    This document, and many others, were developed by the Entertainment Services and Technology Associations's Technical Standards Program and are available for free download at esta.org (look for the TSP tab). As you are likely aware, ANSI standards do not carry the force of law but are considered as expert opinion. Any standard that addresses the peculiar needs of live entertainment is of great value.

    In addition to the current standards, ESTA is working with the Event Safety Alliance in the development of standards
    for venue and audience safety.

    Thanks,

    Dana

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    Dana Taylor
    MSD of Mt. Vernon
    Evansville IN
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 03-31-2022 16:03
    ESTA has requested that their documents not be posted in the EdTA forums, so we have removed the attached ANSI Standard E1.46 PDF. The most up-to-date documents from ESTA, including this standard, can be found on their published documents webpage: https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/documents/published_docs.php

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    Arista Hageman
    Website Product Manager
    Educational Theatre Association
    OH
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-19-2017 12:58
      |   view attached

    Safety standards – as provided by Dana – mostly recognize the nature of theatre. Actors and technicians (and/or their parents, in the case of minors) usually have to accept that a theatre is not an inherently safe place and take precautions accordingly. It's usually ok to have no handrails during performances. For rehearsals, and other use of the stage while the set is up (painting for example), rail holders, removable rails and cover plates as applicable should be built into the set. They must still meet weight bearing requirements and also height requirements.

    As well as looking at the ANSI standards each theatre should also find out what is the Fall Protection standards for their state, and for their specific school district. OSHA safety rules also apply to employees of the school, but should also be adhered to by everyone.

    I have attached a sample high school theatre Fall Protection Plan that I have used in high school theatres before. Of course, every theatre is different, and state and district requirements may differ, so while anyone is welcome to use this as a template, they should be sure to adapt it to their facility and consider having their district attorney or risk management officer approve it.



    ------------------------------
    Beth Rand
    High School Theatre Operations Coach

    Next HS Theatre Management Training for Drama Teachers online course: Fall Session starts Sept. 11. Spaces still available.

    Author of "High School Theatre Operations" and "High School Theatre Safety Manual" and several more books on Amazon.

    www.PRESETT.org
    Westminster, CO
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    Fall Protection Plan Sample.pdf   239 KB 1 version
    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-19-2017 13:29
    Edited by George Ledo 08-19-2017 13:45
    This is one of those issues that "should" (how I hate that word) be looked at during the set design phase, not afterwards, because so often the solution can be built into the design.

    I've been a set designer for over thirty-five years and have done several two-story sets, including one for a high school a couple of years ago. The location of the story (a downtown street in a small, old American town) lent itself perfectly to creating a second story that included railings, because they could be there as part of the architecture. All it took was some research into old American small towns and their buildings, and the director and I agreed to this concept before the design was finalized. The same set included a second-story balcony in a character's house, and the railing was designed as part of the architecture of the house.

    Looking at the set from the audience, the railings were perfectly in character with the story and did not distract as an add-on.

    Other two-story sets have had small (low) pieces of furniture at the leading edge to keep the actors back. In one case it was a toy chest that was in the script, and in another it was a small trunk that would be in an actor's dressing room because the scene was in a dressing room.

    As Beth said, theaters are "not inherently safe" places, and that needs to be understood by anyone who works in one. But most of the time the solution to a safety concern can be thought about up front and incorporated into the design.

    You may want to check out my blog post on research as used in set design: https://setdesignandtech.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/research-is-an-investment-not-a-luxury/

    ------------------------------
    George F. Ledo
    Set designer
    www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
    www.georgefledo.net
    http://astore.amazon.com/sdtbookstore-20
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-21-2017 06:42
    As people have noted above, low furniture works well as a protection, I have incorporated cut through walls in the design as well.
    Another important step to take is marking edging, and to have the director understand that blocking needs to be safe on this surface, also all actors need to understand that safety is in their best interest.

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    Jerry Onik
    V.P. Theatrical Supplies and Equipment
    Omaha NE
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-22-2017 07:33
    Also a toe kick of only a few inches high will help keep an actor from walking off the edge when facing the audience. I have used two-story sets like his many tims. There was always missy a few inches above the floor.

    Scott Hasbrouck
    shasbrou@aol.com
    720-353-3227


    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-23-2017 23:22

    I'm going to dissent in the idea of a 'toe-kick' (toe board, kick plate) will offer any fall protection without an associated railing.  If someone is that close to the edge of the platform (or stage) and is moving towards the unprotected edge, then this may serve to trip them and send them head-first to the level below.  'Tis better to go feet first then to go head first.

    If you are trying to use tactile senses to ward-off people from the exposed edge, then installing a 'rumble strip' like they have along highways is a better bet.  A series of 3/4"-1" half-round bars spaced about 2-3" apart across the floor of the platform starting at least 3/4 of a body height back from the edge would clue someone in, and if they tripped it probably will leave more than 1/2 of their weight on the platform.  If more than 1/2 of someone's weight (i.e. above their center-of-gravity or COG *) is hanging over a railing or the edge of the platform, gravity will make them fall over the railing / edge.

    * Ah!  A great opportunity for a STEAM physics lesson and a STEAM Biomechanics lesson!  It is easy to show someone their center-of-gravity.  Have them lie down on a board (2x12 plank) that is as long as they are tall.  Lift one end up and slip a 1" round dowel rod under them near their waist line (for starters) then gradually roll the board along the ground until the board is balanced and only touching the dowel rod.  That is their center-of-gravity.  Add heavy work shoes and redo.  Add a backpack full of books and redo.  Add a heavy Stage Lighting Instrument about chest high.  Add a heavy steel Stage Rigging Counterweight at about chest high.  Do this with both tall people and short people so everyone gets the idea of where their center-of-gravity is with and without equipment in their hands.  If you are going to do this with everyone in the class, then start with the tallest person first and measure everyone in decreasing height order so you can keep trimming the board shorter as you go.  This can be very informative to everyone when you compare the location of their unique center-of-gravity to the various railing heights you have along catwalks, stairs, and balconies.  You may see that some people are not fully protected buy railings due to higher COG and they should be extra cautious when around them.  It should also show them how holding a stage rigging counterweight or light fixture makes them top-heavy and more prone to falling over a railing.  Great teaching moment!



    ------------------------------
    Erich Friend
    Theatre Consultant
    Teqniqal Systems
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-24-2017 19:14

    One good purpose for a kick plate ('toe-kick') is to stop things falling off a platform onto the head of someone below. During a show an actor might need to set a prop down, and accidentally kick it just as another actor walks underneath. During set construction/repair or strike a techie might need to set down a hammer, and accidentally kick it just as someone walks underneath. A kick plate can help prevent (key word – help) an object falling on another person. Other than that, as Erich says, I'd be worried about someone tripping on it and going over head-first.



    ------------------------------
    Beth Rand
    High School Theatre Operations Coach

    Next HS Theatre Management Training for Drama Teachers online course: Fall Session starts Sept. 11. Spaces still available.

    Author of "High School Theatre Operations" and "High School Theatre Safety Manual" and several more books on Amazon.

    www.PRESETT.org
    Westminster, CO
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-21-2017 07:20

    The ESTA ANSI standard that Dana posted, and Elizabeth's paper are both good references, so definitely start there.  You have choices to make:  Yes, you can put the actors up high, however, you must protect them.  Otherwise, don't put the actors up high.  That part is black and white.  No gray area at all.

    You wrote: "The second floor of the set shows a bedroom but has no handrails or fall protection in place due to the fact the audience needs to see the set . . ."

    I don't buy this "due to the fact the audience needs to see the set".  Seeing the set and performers is not mutually exclusive to having fall barriers.  It makes a convenient 'justification', but it is not a rational one.  Railings, nets, bars, transparent walls are all ways to achieve this and can be creatively integrated into the set design.  Railings and nets can be very thin as long as they satisfy the strength requirements (generally capable of withstanding a 250 lb force in any direction).  1/8" diameter steel bars or wire rope cables can do this if properly secured across the span they are protecting.  They can be painted matte black to minimize the light reflected.  Clear barriers can be constructed from strong acrylics (Lexan, etc.).  Or some combination of the two.  Maybe a wire rope cable spanning the platform opening at 44" above the upper platform floor with 1/4" acrylic panels secured between the cable span and the edge of the elevated deck?  Whatever you concoct, TEST IT with a 250 lb sandbag swinging into it (multiple times!). If you don't want your audience to notice the railing, then treat your fall protection 'railing' as if it was a scrim:  Light behind it, not directly on it, and the audience will barely see it.

    You wrote: "and the actors to be able to move around without any harnesses or cables attached."  So tell us more about the activity going on.  Are you certain that they are dancing in circles around each other?  Could this be re-blocked to eliminate the circling?  If so, outfit the costumes with fall protection harnesses (real ones, not rock climbing gear from the local sporting goods store) and sew in opening(s) for connecting the dorsal (back) anchor points.  Install automatically retracting fall protection cable reels to 5000 lb load-rated anchor points at the gridiron level (or ceiling).  Train the performers to 'clip-in' as they enter the raised platform, and choreograph their moves so they don't get tangled-up in each-others' lines.  Cirque du Soleil and other Broadways shows do this all the time.  Any minor visual element about this that might be considered 'inconvenient' should be met with: "well, it's less inconvenient than a funeral or a wheelchair".  The audience will accept it as a necessary part of the show.

    Another alternative is to use "fall restraint lanyards".  These are different than 'shock absorbing fall protection lanyards'.  Fall restraint lanyards are special cables that are connected between the performer's fall protection harness dorsal ring and a point upstage that prevents them from ever reaching the critical point from which they could fall.  I have also seen Cirque du Soleil presentations use these, too.  Rather than trying to save someone that is falling from crashing to the floor below (that is what the shock absorbing lanyards and self retracting cable reels do), you prevent them from ever falling in the first place.  Always a good plan!

    And finally, check all the fall protection gear before each rehearsal and each show.  Failure to inspect the equipment is what caused the Spiderman actor to fall 30 feet and end-up in a hospital for 6 months.  This is serious stuff.  Treat it as such.

    Here is a side note to consider, too:  Your elevated set piece that looks like a bedroom probably has walls.  Are these wall capable of withstanding a 250 lb load, too?  The last time I checked, painted muslin cloth stretched over a 1x3 pine frame won't satisfy this requirement.  You need to build a real fall protection barriers behind fake walls!



    ------------------------------
    Erich Friend
    Theatre Consultant
    Teqniqal Systems
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: Looking for fall protection advice

    Posted 08-23-2017 09:07
    ​Thank you to all of your responses on this subject. You all have provided me with some very good resources for future issues as this. Just so you all know, the performing arts department has scrapped the plans for this set and are working on something else. Your insight has definitely prepared me for future challenges with this type of set.

    Thank you very much and very much appreciated! I hope you all have a Great Day!

    ------------------------------
    Douglas Stretch
    Fire and Life Safety Officer II
    Illinois State University
    Normal IL
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


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