The investigations as to how each collapse happened are still underway. It is always easy to look back and speculate that this or that could have prevented something. Hindsight is 20/20. We can point fingers all day long and find someone or something to blame. While we look for the causes, however, let’s focus on learning from the mistakes and preventing these kinds of events from happening in the future.
The attention right now is on rigging, staging and judgment calls on when to cancel events when bad weather rolls in. But lots of accidents happen throughout the year, not just at outdoor events in the summer — from pyro malfunctions catastrophic falls to stagehands sustaining less critical injuries. The old adage — “The Show Must Go On” — needs a corollary — “as long as it can go on safely.” Safety should be our primary concern across any type of production. Cutting corners and making do with improper equipment can be more costly than making curtain.
A number of safety standards and practices are currently under review. These revised standards aim to prevent accidents and make our working environment safer. The revisions may lead to tougher regulations, more double-and-triple-checking, and yes, more grumbling. But once again, safety has to be our number-one priority. If an additional safety check takes 30 more minutes, it is a small price to pay for not making the headlines with another stage accident.
One of my favorite slogans from the 1970s cartoon Schoolhouse Rock, “Knowledge is Power,” could not be more true. Not every stagehand will have a detailed knowledge of every aspect of how a rig operates. But they should be equipped with knowledge of general safety guidelines before their first show. And two sets of eyes is always better than one. If everyone is on the lookout, problems can be identified and accidents prevented.
We may not be curing cancer, but what we do is dangerous. Hundreds of thousands of spectators unknowingly put their trust in us, not only to provide a safe environment, but to put on a spectacle and entertain them. Our fellow stagehands and entertainers on stage rely on everyone doing their job and making sure the stage is safe.
As an industry and as a standard, we must all be mindful of safety and best practices. Be on the lookout and don’t be afraid to speak up about a concern you have. The worst thing that can happen is that you get guff from a veteran saying, “Mind your own business.” They may brush it off, saying they know about it, or that they’ve done it that way and not gotten hurt in the past, or that it is supposed to be that way. Listen to the objections, but also realize that sometimes it is your business — you may have brought up a legitimate safety concern, and by sticking to your guns you might just prevent a serious accident from taking place.
So don’t be afraid to speak up and help prevent an accident. And also be sure to invest your time and money in understanding our business. Attend safety seminars. Become an ETCP-certified rigger and/or electrician. Invest in books about safety practices and how the industry operates. Not only will our workplace be safer, you will increase your value to the industry and yourself.
All of us at PLSN send our condolences to the families of the victims. We’re also mindful of IATSE Local 30 out of Indianapolis, who lost a fellow comrade, Nathan Byrd, the spotlight operator who died after falling with the rigging in the Aug. 13 stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair. We’re grateful that IATSE 30 has stepped up to administer a fund addressing the needs of Byrd’s immediate family, his two teens, age 13 and 15. The fund is assisting with Byrd’s funeral expenses and the teens’ basic needs. Checks should be made out to IATSE Local 30/Disaster Relief Fund and sent to:
IATSE Local 30/Attn: Byrd Family
1407 East Riverside Drive
Indianapolis, In 46202-2037
More information is on IATSE Local 30’s website, www.iatse30.org.
