Chutes and Ladders

Ladder wells can be dangerous places, as they are a transition point from a stable work space and a location where you are on uneven footing and must use your hands as well as your feet. In the picture below you can see a ladder-to-catwalk transition that does not meet the ANSI standard / OSHA required railing arrangement. You have to climb between the railing and the toe board (kick-plate) to make the transition. It is really quite awkward, and therefore, dangerous.

Here is a ladder transfer platform that is clearly marked and has a spring-hinged safety gate.

PS Doors Safety Gate

This is a gravity-hinged safety gate.

Intrepid Industries DG series Safety Gate

As mentioned in other posts, it always a good idea to have both emergency lighting (i.e. 'frog-eye' battery-powered light packs) and photoluminescent marking stripes along your catwalks and ladders so when the lights go out and your battery-pack fails, you still can find your way to the ladder - and down it.

Resources:

Intrepid Industries (www.intrepidindustries.com/Index_Gates.htm)

PS Doors (http://psdoors.com/safetyProduct.php?item=LadderSafetyGate)

ANSI A14.3 - "American National Standard for Ladders−Fixed−Safety Requirements"

OSHA - U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration – "Regulations 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D (Walking-Working Surfaces)"

PIP - Process Industry Practices document "STF05501 - Fixed Ladders and Cages"

Jumpin' jack flash(light)

I know, I just had a blog entry for Pelican's photoluminescent flashlights, but they have yet another cool tool.  Every Stage Manager and House Manager's workstation oughta have one of these:

Pelican 2480 ELS Emergency Lighting Station houses a Pelican MityLite 2440PLB Flashlight (with a photoluminescent body).  A tail switch for easy, one hand operation fires-up this 21 lumen 5-LED array powered by alkaline/titanium cells that provide 90 hour burn time and shelf life of about 7 years.

Here's the odd part:  You can't find these item on Pelican's web site because they have discontinued this particular model.  However, just plug 'Pelican 2480 ELS'  (for the plastic station holder), or 'Pelican MityLite 2440PLB' (for the flashlight) into a search engine and you can find-out where to snag them.

Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs. Blocking-up the scenery, messin' up my mind.

Or so says the Five Man Electrical Band.  "Do this.  Don't do that. Can't you read the signs?"  Well, when the lights go out, it can be difficult to see exactly where everything is.  So the next time you're in the market for EXIT signs, NOTICE signs, CAUTION signs, DANGER signs, or any other informational signs, think about purchasing photoluminescent signs.  The look 'normal' in the light, and they keep on glowing when the lights go out.  Better quality signs will keep their glow for 12-24 hours.

Resources:  Just enter "Photoluminescent Signs" into a search engine and you'll get about a bazillion hits.  You can start with the vendors I've mentioned over the past week or so, too, as they are some of the major players in the market.

KCACTF Region 6 - Safety Workshops

The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival will be holding an event in Amarillo, Texas (home of the Big Texan Steak House) at the Globe News Performing Arts Center on February 23 thru 27.  Info at: http://www.kcactf6.org/

I'll be presenting two Theatre Safety Workshops:

• Friday at 2:00 PM we'll talk about the House Manger's role in Theatre Safety
• Saturday at 1:30 PM we'll talk about the Stage Manger's role in Theatre Safety

Play Safe!

I'm about to the end of my rope...

What would we do if we didn't trip over rope in the dark, or get clothes-lined by it?  Probably have a few less rope burns.  Don't try rigging with this photoluminescent rope (but it's just a matter of time before someone does make some stage rigging worthy rope), but it might be handy for lashing stuff together backstage.  Or maybe that ghostly looking hangman's noose . . .

Resource:

RealGlow (www.realglow.com/Photoluminescent_rope.htm)

Don't be bored with the baseboard

Baseboard material that has a photoluminescent strip molded right into it.  Good stuff in hallways, restrooms, dressing rooms, lobbies - just about anywhere you don't want to stumble-around in the dark.  This is particularly handy for new construction or renovations, as you generally are going to have a baseboard anyway, so you might as well do it right from the get-go.  The nice thing about having it built-in is that it won't get scuffed-off or scratched-up.

Resources:
Safe Glow (www.safeglow.com/PhotoluminescentProducts.LowLevel.Hallway.html)
Glow Tech (www.glowtechinc.com/glowing_baseboard_strip.htm)

Tread lightly

It's one thing to have a well marked step nosing so that you don't miss the edge of the step (see previous post here), but is really helps to have something underfoot that glows so you can find it in the dark, too.  This is the EdgeGripGlo fiberglass step nosing plate by FibreGrid Limited.  It has traction grit embedded in the fiberglass binder and is photoluminescent.

Resources:
Balco IllumiTread (http://www.balcousa.com/files/7589_BAL_stairflyer_II_scn.pdf)

EcoGlo (www.ecoglo.us/emergency-lighting-products/stair-nosings-c-268.html)

FiberGrid Limited (www.fibregrid.com/edgegrip_info.php?bc=Edgegrip Standard)

SafeGlow Non-slip Stair Tread Cover (www.safeglow.com/Products.Stair.Products.Pro.html)

Zero International TractionTread Glow (www.zerointernational.com/pdf/PhotoluminescentBrochure.pdf)

GBC Safety Glow Stair Tread Cover (www.gbcsafetyglow.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=1&category_id=1&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=104)