When working with installs and portable systems, your personal safety is very important.  You want to make certain you take certain precautions to protect yourself and others.  This can include many different types of equipment and actions but let’s just hit some high points.

Safe and in the air or hurt and on the ground?

Imagine working with a crescent wrench 20’ in the air on scaffold hanging a light on a piece of truss free hanging by two rigging points.  The truss is swaying slightly with every adjustment.  This throws off your perception of standing still so you try to compensate for the movement.  The the scaffold is unsteady while a coworker climbs and you are out of balance from allergies affecting your inner ear.

The truss sways and you take a step backward.  You are too close to the edge and then you step off the side, but just as the ground can be seen past the walkboards, you feel a tug on your back.  Is it your co-worker who is still climbing?  No, it is the harness you attached to the truss when you got to the top.

Safety harnesses are inexpensive tools that can save you thousands in hospital bills from painful fall.  Even low heights.  There are many types, sizes and prices.  Make sure you choose the right one for you.  If you need help selecting make sure you ask for help.  I recommend Flexible Lifeline Systems.  They helped me figure out which harness I need to order that would work best for my situation.

Interesting question: Why do we tie a wrench to our tool belt to keep from it falling but yet we won’t tie ourselves to something that would keep us from falling?

Recommended company: Flexible Lifeline Systems

http://www.fall-arrest.com/default.asp

Ah my eyes!!!

Who can work on what they cannot see?  This is often overlooked and easiest to help prevent injuries with simple eyewear.  Hot solder, small pieces of wire, and debris from working on things overhead can cause simple irritation to injury.   So wear some eye protection.  This way you can see to read the meters on your soundboard, focus your projectors, and make the lights show sync perfectly with the band.

Electricity – Caution = Pain

We deal with hundreds of amps of power in an installations.  Some really large lighting rigs can use up to 400 Amps of 3 phase power (1200 amps total).  Always make sure you turn off power before you work on anything.  Once you turn it off check it with a meter so you can be certain.  I once worked with a guy adn asked if we should turn the power off and he said “that’s a good idea!”  The electrical panel was hot at 250 Amps!

Tip: If you must work on hot electrical connections, you must be certain to take the necessary safety precautions.  Talk to an electrician if you have any doubts.

It’s hanging over your head too

Rigging safety should be considered whenever you hang anything.  the last thing you want to do is have something fall.  A good rule of thumb is 5:1. Basically whatever your rigging you want it to be able to hold 5 times more than it really weighs. This includes everything from the equipment to the rigging frame, cables, and bolts.  Also check with local building codes to determine if there is a requirement for additional rigging for earthquake safety.

Tip: When hanging lighting fixtures, and other equipment to truss or pipe, use safety cables.  The bolts that hold equipment in place to these structures can become loose and must be tightened periodically but a safety cable can help prevent damaged light or worse a hurt person.

Aesthetic safety tip

Use a mat of some sort to protect the desk, carpet or other furniture you are working on.  This will help prevent hot solder, soldering irons, heat guns and other tools from damaging surfaces.  A $3 mat can help you save thousands in replacement costs.

Revelation of the title

Safety is to protect you.   You want to live longer and enjoy life without injuries that could be prevented.  So be safe.  Take care of your self and others.  I want you around for many years to come so we can enjoy the show together!