Risk Management for Rigging from ProSoundWeb

Andrew Martin, the originator of ATM Flyware, wrote a good guide for managing your show rigging assets in the March 28, 2013 edition of ProSoundWeb.  The article provides a short overview of Risk Management Guidelines and provides a series of example graphics to show you specific points of concern to watch-out for.

Example of SpanSet / Round Sling Inspection Points

The article can be found here:  www.prosoundweb.com/article/hanging_out_risk_management_for_rigging

Las Vegas Review-Journal investigates unresolved death of stagehand

We all know that it takes time for incident reports to be processed and published, however, this has come to a frustrating end for the mother of stagehand and UNLV student Vicente Rodriguez after he died on May 20, 2009.  Rodriguez was killed when he fell about 40 feet from the attic structure of the Hollywood Theatre in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

Due to state regulations and a mis-handled investigation, the worker's family probably will not receive any compensation, or even apologetic acknowledgement, for the preventable death.  In a very revealing video interview and well-researched article by Las Vegas Review-Journal writer Joan Whitely, it becomes painfully obvious that the deck is stacked against workers in Nevada when it comes to safety and the enforcement of safety regulations.  The article and video can be found here:
http://www.lvrj.com/news/osha-not-reviewing-death-of-stagehand-114707049.html?

The article also includes a link to a a well-presented graphic that depicts the scenario that lead to the fatal fall.  The graphic can be downloaded as a PDF.  Take this opportunity to share this information with your staff, students, and co-workers so that they might all learn how this tragedy occurred and don't place ourselves or others in this type of situation.

Fall protection gear only works if the users have been properly trained in the application of the equipment.



Spidey goes splat.

December 20, 2010:  Actor / stunt double Christopher Tierney was said to be in serious condition with cracked ribs at Bellevue Hospital Center on Tuesday after falling about 18 to 30 feet (depending upon the report your read)  from a platform into a pit.  The accident happened during a Monday evening performance of SpiderMan: Turn Off The Dark at the Foxwoods Theater in Times Square, New York.

The production has also been plagued with other technical issues that has delayed it opening and, at $65 million and counting, is the most expensive Broadway show in history.  This was the fourth injury on the special-effects-laden show, and the most severe.  Earlier, two stuntmen / dancers had injured themselves in a “slingshot” type stunt, one breaking both his wrists, and another suffering a foot injury.  During the first preview performance of the show an actress suffered a concussion when she was struck in the head with a rope.

The performer's Fall Restraint Lanyard can be clearly seen moments before the incident.

The incident occurred near the end of the show when the bridge set piece comes down and MJ (Mary Jane) is lowered on a rope from the edge of the bridge into a pit that is out of sight from the audience's view.  As she decends on a rope, he was to lean over the edge and look down followed by a black-out.  Unfortunately, the fall restraint lanyard failed and the performer lunged over over the side of the elevated platform.  Soon after the audience saw SpiderMan take the unexpected plunge, the stage manager's voice was heard over the PA, and informed the audience that there was going to be a pause in the show.  The theatre stayed dark for a minute or two, and then they called the show and brought the house lights back up.


Here you can see the loose lanyard trailing behind the performer as he goes over edge. 

Coming from the pit where the actor fell, a voice, which was believed to be lead actress Jennifer Damiano's, was heard screaming.  As audience members left the theatre, at least one ambulance and fire truck were seen.

Actors' Equity Association, the labor union representing American actors and stage managers in the theatre, released its third statement December 21 that stated:  "Actors' Equity Association worked today with the Department of Labor, OSHA and the production to determine that the cause of the accident at last night's performance of Spiderman was, in fact, human error.  Further protocols are now being implemented, including redundancies recommended by Equity, the DOL and OSHA, to address this situation as well as other elements of the production.  [Actors'] Equity [Association] continues to vigilantly monitor the production for the safety of its members."

State lawmakers and safety advocates met with crew and cast members of the troubled Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," which will resume its performances Thursday night.
The meeting addressed the need for better theater oversight following the hospitalization of an actor who fell during a recent performance.  "This is a workplace and they are entitled to a safe workplace," said New York Assemblyman Rory Lancman, who chairs a state subcommittee on workplace safety. "Clearly there were shortcomings."  "While we appreciate that 'Spider-Man' is pushing the envelope . . . workplace safety is not something that can be achieved by trial and error."  Lancman said earlier that the show could proceed if it met advisory recommendations.

Lancman said those concerns include providing sufficient rehearsal for understudies performing aerial or tethered sequences. All performers involved in aerial work must also attend seminars or those sequences may be removed from the show, according to a written statement.  There must also be sufficient crew and stage management to run the show safely, Lancman added.  Also, the tether attached to the Spider-Man double will be shortened so the actor is not as close to the end of the platform.

The company canceled its Wednesday matinee and evening performances to review the new safety measures recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the New York State Department of Labor, said company spokesman Rick Miramontez.

State Sen. Eric Adams told reporters Thursday that he is introducing a bill that would create a task force charged with examining safety regulations in New York theaters.

Update: 2011-03-10

US Department of Labor's OSHA cites Spider-Man Broadway musical production company following injuries to cast members
NEW YORK – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued 8 Legged Productions LLC, the production company for the Broadway stage production of "Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark," three serious violations of workplace safety standards following four separate incidents late last year that resulted in injuries to cast members of the musical.

OSHA began its investigation of the incidents that took place at the Foxwoods Theater, located at 214 West 43rd St. in Manhattan, after receiving a referral from the New York State Department of Labor. The incidents resulting in employee injury happened on Sept. 25, Oct. 19, Nov. 28 and Dec. 20, 2010.
From the investigation, OSHA alleges that employees were exposed to the hazards of falls or being struck during flying routines because of improperly adjusted or unsecured safety harnesses. An additional fall hazard stemmed from unguarded open-side floors that lacked fall protection. Finally, the company failed to shield employees from being struck by moving overhead rigging components.
These conditions resulted in the issuance of the three serious citations, with a total of $12,600 in proposed fines. OSHA issues a serious citation when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The employer, 8 Legged Productions LLC, has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to meet with the OSHA area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Manhattan Area Office; telephone 212-620-3200. To report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/.

A Long Way To Fall - Ladders Without Cages

This is a legacy ladder which was installed before OSHA even existed. However, that does not exempt the owner from correcting the situation. Ladders of this height must have an ANSI standard cage around them and a fall protection device installed.

Fall protection can be provide in two ways:

a.) There can be a continuous cable or track that runs the length of the ladder (usually up the centerline) with a special trolly attachment that ties to the front of the worker's fall protection harness.

b.) There can be a retractable fall arrest lanyard secured above the top of the ladder way that attaches to the back of the worker's fall protection harness.

Since the worker has to transfer backwards from the ladder onto the catwalk near the top, the retractable fall restraint would probably be the safer solution. Otherwise, the worker would be required to attach a secondary lanyard to the catwalk fall protection anchorage point before he could disconnect the front trolley and he would have to do that while standing on the ladder.


At the top of the ladder you can see that there is a fire sprinkler pipe crossing the travel path of the worker. This would have to be repositioned to provide proper clearance for the ladder cage. Right above the sprinkler pipe is the end of the Loading Gallery catwalk, which would also have to be moved back to allow a clear passageway. Fortunately, I had on my hard-hat when I climbed this ladder -- when I reached the sprinkler pipe I hit my head hard enough to dislodge the inner suspension. Had I not been wearing the hard-hat it could have knocked me out or made me lose my grip on the ladder.

A secondary problem with this stage design is that a full fly house really should have a Lower Loading Gallery in addition to the Upper Loading Gallery. The Lower Loading Gallery is typically situated about 10-12 feet (~4m) below the Upper Loading Gallery so that weights can be added / removed from the counterweight carriage (arbor) when the batten is about the height of a backdrop and/or scenery flat.

Of course, once the ladder has a cage around it and the end of the catwalk is repositioned, it will need a safety gate at the catwalk to keep someone from inadvertently stepping-off into the open hole. Something like this (from a different facility):

If you look closely you will see several interesting items in this picture:

• On the left side (on stage), there is a railing that meets the 4" sphere rule (as if there was going to be a baby crawling around up there !? I guess they figured it was OK if the baby crawled under the safety gate . . .). There should be a steel plate or mesh that extends up about the 18-24" level to prevent the unused ( stored) counterweights from spilling over onto the stage floor below. Also note the 'stored' counterweight left along the off-stage side of the catwalk as a trip-hazard.
• The on-stage side railing is also about 40" tall, enough to keep you from falling over it. A 42-48" railing would be more appropriate here.
• On the right side (off stage, toward the counterweight arbors) there are railings at 8", 24", and 40". Just enough of them to keep you bonking your head as you try to man-handle the counterweights. There is not any OSHA required fall protection anchorage to allow the worker to wear a fall protection harness and safely lean-over the railing and do their work.
• The floor of the Loading Gallery is fabricated from open pattern bar grate, which acts like a cheese grater on your knees when you kneel down on it. It is also open weave, so any grit on your shoes gets scrubbed-off and drops onto the crew working below you. A better solution is to have a closed floor decking (sheet metal) that has a dense rubber mat on it. This provides a non-slip surface, is quieter when setting-down counterweights, and keeps the grit from raining down on those below.
• And the coup de grâce is that there is not an Index Strip Light at this level, so you are working in the dark (all that light you see is from the camera flash). There wasn't any emergency lighting packs either, so if you get caught up there in the dark, good luck getting down!

As a side note, it is always good to paint the working surfaces facing the catwalks a light color like white. This is good for floors, railings, uprights -- everything. If the masking drapes are all properly positioned, no one will see the catwalk from the audience seating area. Place glow-in-the-dark marker tape along all gate and floor openings so you can find your way out in the event of a total power failure.