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ABTT Theatre Show Presents High-flying Solutions
ABTT Theatre Show 2005 (15th & 16th June, Royal Horticultural Halls, London) will present a variety of advanced products designed to enable safe working at heights.
The new Work at Height Regulations apply the same restrictions to working at heights below two metres as have long been required at greater heights. To ignore the risks of falling, no matter the distance, potentially puts theatre technicians in serious breach of Health & Safety regulations. Over two-thirds of all injuries from falls are from heights below two metres. As the industry’s leading UK technical association, the ABTT (the Association of British Theatre Technicians) has embraced the issue and will launch its draft for consultation of its Code of Safe Practice when Working at Height at the ABTT Theatre Show in June.
Chairman of the ABTT’s Safety Committee David Adams explains: “Whilst designers can achieve much to reduce the need to work at height by careful planning, nevertheless there remain occasions, such as focusing luminaires, when it is essential in our industry to work at height and this cannot be avoided. Therefore our code of practice is designed to outline ways of achieving safe practice. Assessing the risks of the task and selecting the most appropriate method of access can assure maximum safety. Training is essential. Access equipment must be maintained and serviced in line with the manufacturer’s instructions and the frequency of its use. The ABTT welcomes the new Regulations which are long overdue and which should cause no significant problems for the well-run venue.”
If the need to work at height cannot be eliminated, a secure means of access is essential. The HSE emphasises that the use of a harness should always be a last resort as harnesses present their own safety hazards.
One solution currently being introduced to theatres nationwide is the French-manufactured mobile access platform – the ESCA 2000. Distributedexclusively by ESCA 2000 UK Ltd, headed by Steve Jefferies, the key to its success lies in its unique triangular footprint and its ability to be moved safely by the operator whilst working at height.
The ESCA 2000 achieves stability by virtue of its 4-point contact with the floor whilst the rigger’s working platform is well within the footprint of the base. It promotes safe working and allows the platform, which will withstand weights up to 250 kg, to be positioned directly under or adjacent to the job to be carried out. This negates the need for any unsafe over-reaching – a key issue raised in the HSE’s new Regulations.
ESCA 2000’s Steve Jefferies commented: “After many years of research and development, we are now convinced that the ESCA 2000 meets most of the requirements in theatre and conferencing applications. It is easy to erect, store and maintain, which has promoted its success as a reliable, robust and cost effective solution. It offers complete flexibility in working at height practices. We’re looking forward to showcasing the range at the ABTT Theatre show .”
The Tallescope, offered in the UK by Manchester-based Aluminium Access Products, provides an enormously flexible platform for all theatre, college and arts centres. Providing a valuable asset to any venue where working at heights is a prerequisite; they are predominantly deployed by lighting technicians. Tallescopes on the stage area and can be configured to allow safe access up to 10 metres.
Boasting unparalleled training, on-site support and service inspections, Aluminium Access has supplied Tallescopes to venues nationwide including the ENO, the Ambassadors Theatre Group, the new Scottish Parliament, Bill Kenwright Productions and the Barbican.
Aluminium Access Products’ Bob Deakin explains: “We are constantly adding to our training and support facilities and will be launching an in-depth service and inspection manual on DVD at the ABTT show in June. It is vital that our Tallescopes are maintained and serviced to ensure their on-going safety so as to meet the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act.”
London based theatrical chandlers, Flint Hire and Supply, will showcase the German-manufactured Zarges Skymaster ladder at ABTT 2005. Whilst ladders may often be considered very unsafe, the Zarges Skymaster conforms to the EN131 industrial safety standards and boasts the strength and support that ensures stability up to seven metres in height whilst carrying up to 150 kg load.
Approaching a sell-out position, this year’s ABTT Show promises to be the most exciting yet, with a host of new product launches dedicated to providing advanced solutions for contemporary theatre applications.
4th April 2005
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