Article Published in the “New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal News”

School Stage Safety: School Stage and andAuditorium Auditorium Safety: Rigging Rigging ByBy Joann Robertson, CSP, CPCU, ARM Joann Robertson, CSP , CPCU, ARM Coordinator of Risk Management of Risk Management Coordinator Some of the most overlooked, yet significant, safety the school most overlooked, yetinsignificant, Someinofyour hazards building occur a place yousafety hazards in your school building occur in a place are least likely to look for them – on the stage and inyou are least likely to look for them – on the stage and in the the auditorium. Losses can be catastrophic, however, auditorium. Losses can be catastrophic, however, with with proper maintenance, training, and inspections, proper maintenance, training, and inspections, you you can minimize the risks. To assist NYSIR subscriberscan minimize the To assist NYSIR in managing risk,risks. this article about stagesubscribers rigging is in managing risk, this article about stage rigging is the first in the first in a two-part series addressing stage and a two-part series addressing stage and auditorium safety. auditorium safety.

TypesofofRigging Rigging Types

Counterweight Systems Counterweight Systems The most common type of stage rigging in schools The most common type of stage rigging in schools is is manually operated counterweighted rigging system. thethe manually operated counterweighted rigging system. The popularity of this system stems its lower The popularity of this system stems fromfrom its lower cost, flexibility, its ability to allow scenery cost, its its flexibility, andand its ability to allow scenery and and curtains to fully enhance performance. However, curtains to fully enhance the the performance. However, counterweight systems require trained operators counterweight systems require trained operators to to use keep the the sysusethem themsafely. safely.The Theoperator operatormust must be be able able to to keep tem balanced, counterbalancingweight weightmust must system balanced, (the (the counterbalancing match weight of the scenery, curtains and lighting match thethe weight of the scenery, curtains and lighting equipment), operation. equipment), for for safesafe operation. Rigging systems generally operate like elevators, with Rigging systems generally operate like elevators, with weights that balance the load. The loads are attached weights that balance the load. The loads are attached to pipe battens that support the lights, scenery and to pipe battens that support the lights, scenery and curcurtains. Each batten is connected to an arbor, by tains. Each batten is connected to an arbor, by means means of a steel aircraft cable which is threaded of a steel aircraft cable which is threaded through “Loft through “Loft Blocks” and a “Head Block” and finally Blocks” and a “Head Block” and finally to a “Counterto a “Counterweight Arbor”. Counterweight Arbors weight Arbor”. Counterweight Arbors ascend and ascend and descend along vertical steel rails and descend along vertical steel rails and require manila require manila “purchase” lines looped through “purchase” lines looped through “Floor Blocks” that are “Floor Blocks” that are then moved by hand. then moved by hand. The “Floor Blocks” must be firmly The “Floor Blocks” must be firmly secured to the floor. secured to the floor. These “Lift Lines”, as they are These “Lift Lines”, as they are known, are locked in known, are locked in place by “Rope Locks” ensuring place by “Rope Locks” ensuring that each batten can that each batten can be locked at the necessary height. be locked at the necessary height. Motorized Systems Motorized Systems A motorized rigging system usesuses winches to liftto lift loads. A motorized rigging system winches loads. It’s safer complex to operate than a It’s safer andand lessless complex to operate than a countercounterbalance system, but cost, the cost, approximately balance system, but the approximately three to three four times the of cost of counter-balance systems, fourtotimes the cost counter-balance systems, makes makes an unpopular choice for schools. it an itunpopular choice for schools.

Keeping KeepingRigging RiggingininWorking WorkingOrder Order

Administrators should be aware of the for for Administrators should be aware of potential the potential problems so so they cancan discuss stage safety intelligently. they discuss stage safety intelligently. problems Excessive noise, fraying/flattened wires, or bent pipe pipe Excessive noise, fraying/flattened wires, or bent battens indicate thatthat a problem exists. When problems battens indicate a problem exists. When problems

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operator should shouldlower lowerthe the are are suspected, suspected, aa responsible responsible operator system until it can be properly evaluated. system until it can be properly evaluated. Rigging systems systems suspend suspend hundreds Rigging hundreds of of pounds poundsof of equipequipment directly over the heads of everyone on stage ment directly over the heads of everyone on stage and and backstage. To prevent accidents, rigging should backstage. To prevent accidents, rigging should always always be routinely inspected and maintained to prevent be routinely inspected and maintained to prevent catacatastrophic system failure. Stage rigging needs to be strophic system failure. Stage rigging needs to be checkedto to ensure ensure that: that: checked •• Parts Parts are are lubricated lubricated •• Ropes are they have Ropes arenot not frayed, frayed, stretched, stretched, nor nor do do they dry rot have dry rot • Cables are in good condition and properly connected Cables are good condition •• Weights areinproperly securedand properly connected •• Pipe battens are not bent Weights are properly secured • Pipe battens are not bent How frequently is rigging inspection required at school How frequently is rigging at school stages? New York State inspection Education required Department, stages? New York State Education Department, (NYSED), regulations require annual visual inspections (NYSED), regulations require annual visualand inspections by a qualified Code Enforcement Official the by a qualified Code Enforcement Official and the

Director of School Facilities, and and inspections everyevery five five Director of School Facilities, inspections years by abylicensed architect/engineer. Consider adding years a licensed architect/engineer. Consider your stageyour rigging to the annual so that list adding stage rigging toinspection the annuallist inspection Facilities, inspections every five it isDirector never There alsoand are companies so thatoverlooked. itof is School never overlooked. There also arethat compayears by a licensed architect/engineer. Consider willnies perform of your stage equipment. that an willinspection perform an inspection of your stage your stage rigging to thedepending annual list Theadding costs will vary, depending on size andinspection complexity equipment. The costs will vary, on the size so that it is never overlooked. There also are compaof your riggingofsystem. An approximate price An range and stage complexity your stage rigging system. that will price perform an of inspection of your stage nies of stage inspections isrange anywhere frominspections $250 - $1,000 approximate stage is anycosts willone vary, depending the about size andequipment. the process takes about day. from The $250 - $1,000 andfull the processon takes where and complexity of your stage rigging system. An one full day. Inspection Reports and Records approximate price range of stage inspections is anyFollowing the professional survey of the stage rigging from $250 - $1,000 and the process takes about where Inspection Reports andshould Records system, an inspection report be prepared which one full day. Following the professional rigging includes the entire stage, from survey the flooroftothe thestage ceiling, system, an inspection report should be prepared and all parts between. The report should be submittedwhich Inspection andfrom Records includes the Reports entireand stage, the floor to the ceiling, listing all deficiencies supported with photographs Following the professional survey of the stage rigging and all parts between. The report should be submitted and/or video. This report should be shared with system, an inspection report should be prepared which listing alladministrators deficiencies and with photographs appropriate andsupported staff for review of includes the entire stage, from the floor to the ceiling, This report should be shared with approtheand/or written video. proposal and to schedule necessary and alladministrators parts between.and Thestaff report should be priate for review of submitted the written follow up actions. listing all and deficiencies andnecessary supportedfollow with photographs proposal to schedule up actions. Careful record keeping in a stage file,be one for each and/or video. This report should shared with approstage in the building, should contain the following items: priate administrators and staff for review of written Careful record keeping in a stage file, one forthe each proposal and to schedule necessary follow up actions. stage in therecords building, should contain the following • Maintenance items: • Previous inspection reports Careful record keeping • Maintenance records in a stage file, one for each • Copy of stage manual stage in the building, • Previous inspection should reportscontain the following items: • Copyinformation of stage manual • Contact for stage contractor • Maintenance recordsfor stage contractor Contact information • Pictures • Previous Pictures inspection reports • stagenoted manual • LogCopy of problems Log ofofproblems noted • Contact information for stage contractor Information on stage curtains • Information on stage curtains • Pictures Records of all communications regarding the system • Records all communications regarding the system • Log ofofproblems noted • Information on stage curtains Training and Instruction Training and Instruction • Records of all communications regarding the system Proper training should be provided to any staff member Proper training should be provided to any staff member who works backstage. Untrained operators pose a seriwho works backstage. Untrained operators pose a Training and Instruction ous danger to others. Although there are no national serious danger to others. Although there are no national Proper training should be to any member standards with respect to provided qualifications forstaff operating a standards with backstage. respect to qualifications for who works Untrained operators pose a sericounterweight rigging system, there is operating a reasonable a counterweight rigging system, there is a are reasonable ous danger to others. Although no national expectation that supervisors willthere understand safe pracexpectation that supervisors will understand safe standards with respect to qualifications operating a Students tices and instruct students appropriately.for practices students appropriately. Students counterweight rigging system, is aofreasonable need toand beinstruct educated about the there hazards operating need to be educated about the hazards of operating expectation that supervisors safetopracstage equipment, supervised will andunderstand never allowed perstage equipment, supervised never allowed to Students tices and instruct studentsand appropriately. tasks. form dangerous perform tasks.about the hazards of operating need dangerous to be educated

A stage-rigging contractor may be able to provide additional training, including teaching operators how A stage-rigging contractor may be able to provide to avoid common operator errors and what sights or additional training, including teaching operators how A stage-rigging contractor be able to and provide sounds may signal trouble. may Warning signs operatto avoid common operator errors and what sights or additional training, teaching operators how ing manuals should including be provided backstage. Posted sounds may signal trouble. Warning signs and operating to avoid common and what hazards sights orand signs should warnoperator users of errors specific rigging manuals should betrouble. providedWarning backstage. Posted signs sounds may signal signs and general stage safety rules, such as tying back operathair and should warn users of specific rigging hazards and ing should be provided Posted not manuals wearing loose-fitting clothesbackstage. when working backgeneral stage safety rules, such as tying back hair and signs should warn users of specific rigging hazards stage. Proactive rigging operators are the first line of and not wearing loose-fitting clothes whenback working general safety rules, as tying hair and defense stage in preventing stagesuch accidents. backstage. Proactive rigging operators are the first line not wearing loose-fitting clothes when working backof defense in preventing stage accidents. stage. rigging operators are the to first of Special Proactive thanks to the following for contributing thisline article: defense in preventing stage Sales; accidents. Sal Barbera, Young Equipment Dennis Sheridan,

Special thanks to the following for contributing to this DiBello, article: Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District; Jeremy Sal Barbera, Young Equipment Sales; Dennis Sheridan, NY Fire-Shield; Young, JRfor Clancy Company; Helen Special thanks toTom the following contributing to this article: Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District; Cannistraci John Gwardyak, Rye Dennis City School District. Sal Barbera,and Young Equipment Sales; Sheridan, Jeremy DiBello, NY Fire-Shield; Tom Young,Jeremy JR Clancy Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District; DiBello, Company; Helen Cannistraci John Gwardyak, NY Fire-Shield; Tom Young, JR and Clancy Company; Helen Rye City School District. Cannistraci and John Gwardyak, Rye City School District.

equipment, supervised and never All stage rigging users should understand that they are areto perAll rigging users should understand thatallowed they tasks. and and form dangerous responsible for for identifying evaluating hazards and and responsible identifying evaluating hazards be be familiar withwith the operations manual. Supervisors familiar the operations manual. Supervisors All rigging users should understand that they are must be present to oversee students at all must be present to oversee students attimes. all times. responsible for identifying andauditorium evaluating hazards Community groups using the auditorium should be beand Community groups using the should be familiar with operations manual. Supervisors instructed not not to operate the stage rigging system instructed tothe operate the stage rigging system must beassistance presentoftotrained oversee students at all times. without assistance personnel. without of trained personnel. Community groups using the auditorium should be instructed not to operate the stage rigging system without assistance of trained personnel.

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