Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1989 - 22

Consulting Services in:

ACOUSTICS and
TIIEATRE TECHNOLOGY

Twichell Auditorium, Spartanburg, SC

PETER GEORGE ASSOCIATES, INC.
40 Prince Street
New York, NY 10012·3431 / (212) 334·9700

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HOFFEND &SONS, INC.

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ENGINEERS, MANUFACTURERS
AND INSTALLERS OF:
Counterweight Rigging
Motorized Rigging
Point Hoist Systems
Computerized Rigging Control Systems
Stage Curtains and Tracks
Acoustic Drapery Systems
Orchestra and Stage Lifts
Turntables
Orchestra Shells
Fire/Safety Curtains
Movable Auditorium Canopies
Aircaster Towers and Platforms
Loudspeaker and Lighting Bridges
34 EAST MAIN STREET
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716 - 229 - 5998

TD&T'

SUMMER 1989

about hazards often appear slight. The comments I continually run across are: "If it comes to the job or safety, the
job is first and safety has to go," ''I'll take my chances," "I
don't want to be blacklisted or out of work." Deep-seated
fears-of losing our jobs, positions, images, futures, recognition, and salaries - have scuttled many safety programs.
And when the inevitable catastrophes occur, the interest
in risk management seems to rise, only to abate again.
The longer we delay in dealing wi th risks, the further
bellind we become. Our old methods are constantly merging with new technology, presenting new areas of risk and
concern. So our task, our drudgery, our responsibility is to
apply risk management systems to our artistic, aesthetic,
technical hum-drum world to benefit us and to train new
generations of theatre practi tioners in the successful
avoidance of hazards.
Our ultimate goal must be the development of written
policy statements that are clearly stated and fully supported. Formulated by experts in management and technology using data acquired from carefully observing every
aspect of the work site, these policies must be fully incorporated and comprehended by all who work in the field.
No one can be exempt, and administrators and supervisors
must be legally responsible for seeing that they are read
and observed. The policy statements should be posted
conspicuously and signed by the top administrator, leaving no questions about the risks involved and the procedures available for managing them.
But to effectively formulate such policies, we must first
have a clear understanding of the risks involved-all of
them, item by item, practice by practice, building by
building, employee by employee. We must reckon with
every aspect and factor of the production, the facility, the
crew. Because more than 90 percent of our problems can be
attributed to human error, the qualifications and experience of our employees and coworkers must be rigorously
scrutinized.
We also must identify those people in our systems who
refuse to efficaciously tackle the health and safety problems and who will not reduce and control the risks. They
can often be easily identified by the excuses they give: "It
costs too much," "We'd have to have fewer productions,"
"They'll close us down," "Safety last - our jobs come first,"
"Hey, they're only kids," "That's the way it's always been
done," and the classic "We've never had anything
happen - yet." It never occurs to these people that, operated under such misguided assumptions, the workplace
becomes a giant crap shoot. They are gambling with their
lives and the lives of other people, people they don't even
see or know: husbands, wives, children, family members
of their coworkers. This is vicious ignorance, and it must
be purged.
Once the risks have been identified, we must assess
those risks and their real consequences. Through rigorous
research, we must obtain a solid, comprehensive knowledge of hazardous technologies, and we must search for
sufficient evidence upon which to base objective prudent
judgments. Training, individual study, workshops, research, and course work are often necessary elements in
developing our awareness and our decision-making abilities. The best assessment of risks can often be informed
through carefully observing the day-to-day work. Look for
clues that can point to larger risks. Seek out the total
information, not just that which pleases you or which
omitS some valuable pieces of data.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1989