Tech Theater - Safety Quiz #1

Most common mistake in set construction

measuring and marking something wrong - measure twice, cut once

Fire Exits

never block these; a blocked fire exit could lead to the theater being shut down during an impromptu inspection from the local fire department

Horseplay in the Theater

horseplay can never be tolerated; theater is not a playground

Carpenter/Framing Square

used to lay out two pieces of wood at a right angle

TriSquare/Speed Square

used to mark a square line across wood; most of the marks you will make will be 90 degrees, or square marks; pull the edge of the square up against the edge of the wood tightly, then mark the wood; mark arrows pointing to the line, and mark an X on the scrap, the part you won't be using

Chalk/Snap Line

used to mark long, straight lines; simply mark the two points you want to connect, shake up the chalk line, pull out the line and put the line on the two marks; pull the line tight, and snap the line; brush away excess chalk with a small brush

Level

used to see if something is perfectly horizontal or vertical; lay a level on it's side horizontally and move the leve up and down to get the bubble in the middle of the vial to see if something is level; lay a level on it's side against something vertical to check if it is plumb

When to Wear Work Gloves

wear them when there is a possibility of getting splinters, rope burn, or if you're working with lights; wear them during load-in, set strike, taking out the trash, handling deliveries, and working a fly system

3 Tool Categories

- measuring and marking tools - cutting and shaping tools - joining tools

Fire Curtains

Closes off the performing area from the auditorium; many theaters have this

What to Wear in the Theater

Don't wear loose-fitting clothing or jewelry, pin back long hair; never wear sandals; wear work gloves Loose-fitting clothing, jewelry, and long hair can be a very serious problem in the theater. If a shirt tail is hanging out and you are working with a power tool, the blade or bit of the power tool could become tangled in loose fitting clothing, and you would be pulled into the moving blade or bit. The same thing could happen with jewelry or long hair. If you have long hair, be sure to pin it up and out of the way

Music in the Theater

Never use personal stereos or play music at high volumes while you're working in the theater; if there's an emergency you want to be able to hear so you are aware of it (a wrench being dropped from a ladder)

Ladder Safety

Only have one person at a time on a ladder, don't stand above the safe level, make sure the ladder is rated for the weight of the person climbing it, and never leave tools on top of a ladder

Name one of the biggest safety issues.

Picking the right tool for the right job.

Who should you always follow the direction of?

Technical Director

Flameproofing

always use fabrics that have been treated with this

Storage Safety

don't stack things so they are unstable and might fall; lumber should always be stored horizontally to keep it from warping, and large pieces of scenery should be stored vertically or slightly tilted for easier access

Fire Extinguishers

every theater should have these available in key areas; they should be working and regularly tested; use multipurpose ones (ABC rated)

Dust Collection System

should have one in place wherever the shop is when building on stage w/out one check and regularly clean the flameproofing of your curtains (sawdust build up on curtains can lead to a fire hazard); also check lighting dimmers and have electricians clean them regularly (sawdust build up in dimmers can lead to fire hazard)

Tape Measure Use

when you use a tape measure, first look at the wood you're marking and cross out old lines; hook the end of the tape over the end of what you're measuring and have someone hold the end of the tape to keep it form slipping off and flying back at you; pull the tape out till its several inches past your desired mark and lock the tape measure; roll the tape measure to one side so you can put the edge of the tape on the wood and make your mark; then reach out and grab the tape, release the lock, and retract the tape slowly; if you let it fly back, the metal edge of the tape can cut your finger

Fires

with all the electricity used on stage you should always be prepared for the possibility of a fire, especially in the performing area.