Hello-This long delayed reply is also long. I'll also upload a document with my reply. Please contact me if I can help with further info or guidance.
Stage fog and haze; health effects and exposure monitoring.
March 15, 2020
Bill Reynolds; bill.reynolds@yale.edu
A brief overview of issues, concerns, and mitigations related to the use of stage fog and haze in theatrical productions.
First, some definitions:
- Smoke: the cloud of gases and dust that is produced by burning something; the gray, brown, or blackish mixture of gases and suspended carbon particles resulting from the combustion of wood, peat, coal, or other organic matter
- Fog: many small drops of water floating in the air; a cloudlike mass or layer of minute water droplets or ice crystals near the surface of the earth.
- Haze: an aggregation in the atmosphere of very fine, widely dispersed, solid or liquid particles.
What is stage fog and haze?
- Composed of liquid droplets suspended in air.
- Type of Effect (fog or haze) is determined by the droplet:
- Size
- Concentration
- Distribution
- Visible stage fog can consist of droplets of:
- Water, water vapor
- Mineral oil
- Glycol products
Health effects:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and other agencies studied and recommended exposure guidelines for stage fog and haze. Health effects identified from these studies and interviews with exposed actors and singers determined:
- Exposures to glycol stage fog or haze is associated with mucus membrane irritation:
- Respiratory, throat and nasal symptoms, hoarseness, and vocal cord inflammation.
- Exposures to mineral oil stage fog or haze was associated with irritated throat symptoms.
The NIOSH studies conducted from 1990 to 1994 recommended:
- Relocate fog and haze machines to avoid exposing actors to direct exposure,
- Minimize the amount of fog and haze used in productions.
- Only use the fog or haze fluids approved by the manufacturers.
- Glycols used should be "food grade" or "high grade".
- Heat the glycol-based fog fluid to the lowest temperature needed.
A study conducted by ENVIRON in 2000, initiated by Actors Equity Association (AEA), concluded:
- Exposures to glycol and mineral oil should be limited.
- Glycol peak exposure should not to exceed 40 mg/m3
- Mineral oil peak exposure should not exceed 25mg/m3
Actors Equity requires these guidelines be followed for AEA productions. AEA and Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) maintain documents, guidelines, exposure monitoring protocols, and equipment details related to stage fog and haze.
The motion picture industry and Canada implement a list of products that may not use to create stage fog and haze:
- Known human carcinogens including any particulates of combustion, including tobacco
- smoke;
- Fumed and hydrolyzed chlorides;
- Ethylene glycol and Diethylene glycol;
- Mineral oils;
- Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons including petroleum distillates;
- Hexachloroethane and Cyclohexylamine;
Exposures related to minors:
- ESTA (AEA) stage fog and haze exposure guidelines apply to adults, ages 18 to 64, not to children.
- 2020 negotiation among Georgia Department of Labor (DOL), Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), entertainment industry safety professionals, and others developed Acceptable Standards for minors exposed to atmospheric fog and Haze.
- Maximum exposure time based on age:
- 0 - 2 zero minutes
- 2 – 9 30 minutes
- 6 – 16 60 minutes
- 16 – 18 90 minutes
- Exposure must be monitored so as not to exceed ESTA (AEA) limits.
- Reference: ACTS Facts Newsletter, vol. 34, No. 02; and,
- Georgia Department of Labor, Employment of Minors in Entertainment, Minors and Atmospheric Smoke: Acceptable Standards.
Summary:
- Exposures to stage fog and haze in theatrical productions do have health effects.
- Guidelines have been developed intended to limit the level of exposure to mitigate the health effects. Access these and other related documents at:
- ESTA/ANSI standards at ESTA Technical Standards Program, https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/index.html
- AEA Guidelines and stage fog related documents, Theatrical Smoke and Haze Regulations, https://actorsequity.org/resources/Producers/safe-and-sanitary/smoke-and-haze/
- Stage fog and haze research documents and a sample policy for stage and haze use in productions, located at the eResources for the book, Safety and Health for the Stage, https://www.routledge.com/Safety-and-Health-for-the-Stage-Collaboration-with-the-Production-Process/Reynolds/p/book/9780815353263
- Some types of stage fog or haze fluids should not be used.
- Stage fog or haze should only be produced onstage using reliable equipment (listed and labeled, such as UL), only in accordance with the equipment manufacturer's instructions, and only with a fog or haze fluid specifically designated for the equipment.
- Exposure monitoring in compliance with AEA Guidelines can be accomplished using the protocols developed for AEA productions.
- At least one state, Georgia, has implemented legal requirements to limit a minor's (under age 19) exposure to stage fog and haze.
- Serious consideration should be given to eliminating stage fog and haze exposures in productions with minors.
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William Reynolds
Branford CT
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-14-2020 11:28
From: Kevin Goff
Subject: Haze vs Fog Machines
Doing Into the Woods and I'm looking at whether I should get a haze machine or a fog machine. I see benefits in both, but I also worry about setting off alarms with both of them. That's the last thing you want in the middle of Last Midnight.
I would love to have some general fogginess in the woods, especially in act 2. Mostly I'd like to have some smoke or fog around a couple of the more magical moments of the play.
Would love some feedback!
Thanks!
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Kevin Goff
Theatre Teacher - Mountainside High School
Beaverton School District
Beaverton OR
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