Arbor Day is Time to Check Your Arbors

Your Counterweight Arbors are stressed-out.  Make them feel better by giving them a thorough check-up.  Doctor's Orders.

Things to check:

Top Plate Connections:

• Make sure that all the screws, nuts, and bolts, are tight.
• Check the Hauling Line rope to see that is secure and not worn.
• Check the Lift Line Terminations to see that they are all secure.

Not Good Example . . .

 Check to see that Spreader Plates are accessible and Weight Locking Rings are in-use.

Not buried like this . . .

Check to see that the rods nuts are tight:

Tight nuts are good to keep your rod in place.

And check to see of the lower rope connection is properly tied-off:

Note the thimble to keep the rope from abrading on the lower arbor eye.

Keep a good eye on your arbors and watch for loose parts!  If something gives-way it could be deadly!

Every Day is Arbor Day in the Theatre

UK Training Opportunities for Health & Safety in the Theatre

RB Health & Safety Solutions, a UK based service company is now offering two courses focused especially on the unique needs of the theatre worker.

The first course is an all day session that addresses First Aid in the theatre environment.  It will cover topics from the regulatory and medical aspects so you will know what you can do, what you must do, and what you shouldn't do.  From burns and ban-aids, to resuscitation, shock, and transport of the injured, they will get you certified for 3 years.

More info at: www.rbhealthandsafety.co.uk/firstaidfortheatres.html

Their other training is only 3 hours, and it covers AEDs (Automatic Defibrillator Devices) so you can zap heart attack victims the right way and get their ticker beating again.
More info at: www.rbhealthandsafety.co.uk/aedfortheatres.html

Both of these courses can be invaluable for those working Front of House or Back of House.  Injuries and Heart Attacks can happen to Staff, Performers, and Guests at any time, so be prepared to come to their aid.  As a part of the theatre you need to be able to help those that have been injured.  Everything form a twisted-ankle to an electric shock can happen, not to mention serious falls, and injuries of all sort from tools.

For those of you that aren't in the UK, look-up your local Red Cross or Health and Safety training providers to get similar courses.

www.RedCross.org                www.AmericanHeart.org

Grip Like a Gorilla

The ergonomics of loading counterweights place your hands at risk of being crushed and  banged about pretty badly.  You need to both protect your hands from outside abuse and to keep a good grip on those steel bricks lest you let one slip away and kill someone below.

Showa-Best Glove Company has a good solution to that problem.  Their S-Tex 300 and S-Tex 350 work gloves have rubber or nitrile palms for good grip, and they come in a safety neon yellow your buddy on the Loading Gallery doesn't forget where your hands are and plop a 20 pound brick down on one or both of them.

Showa-Best Glove S-Tex 300

Besides being bright and grippy, these gloves have a very high puncture resistance rating, tear resistance rating, and blade cut rating, so they can be very handy (forgive the pun) around the shop when handling glass, sheet metal, and replacing saw blades (NOTE:  never wear gloves when actually using a power saw or power drill - one snag and it'll pull your hand right into the blade or bit).  The open mesh back keeps your hands cool, too.

More info at:http://www.showabestglove.com/site/products/detail.aspx?style=S-TEX300 and http://www.showabestglove.com/site/products/detail.aspx?style=S-TEX350

Get a Grip