When preparing for a live performance, health & safety is of paramount importance. If something goes wrong it could have potentially major consequences; equipment could break, the performance could be ruined, or people could even be injured. Here’s just a few of the things that need to be considered.
Noise
Particularly loud audio can be a danger to your hearing, ~30 minutes of audio above 85dB can cause permanent damage, and even a few minutes of 100dB can cause permanent damage. This can be mitigated by investing in some protective earplugs and making sure that the audio isn’t at dangerous levels for an extended period of time.
Trip Hazards
Cables and wires are a common hazard to everyone on stage, tripping over risks physical injury and equipment damage. To avoid this it is advisable to tape down all loose cables, tie them together where possible, light the stage so performers can watch their footing, and generally just be as careful as possible.
Physical Strain
RSI is repetitive strain injury caused by repeating the same action over and over and over again, it can lead to limited movement in the joints – a real threat to instrumentalists. To avoid this, warming up and taking breaks are a good idea.
Another hazard is strain from lifting heavy things, either incorrectly or without needed assistance. It is important to keep your back straight while bending at the knees, and if something is too heavy for one person then seek assistance.
Electric Shock
Electric hazards can cause major injury/damage. Liquids should be kept bottled to avoid splashing and damaging electronics. All electronic devices should be PAT tested annually to ensure they are still in working order, as faulty electronics are always a danger.
Crushing
Crushing, whilst not particularly common, is still a real danger. Rigging must be secured tight to ensure nothing falls down, potentially causing serious injury to anyone in the venue.
Curtis Mayfield Case Study
Curtis Mayfield was a highly influential and politically-minded soul artist with a career spanning more than thirty years before one event changed his life. In 1990, Mayfield was performing outdoors in Brooklyn, NY, when a gust of wind dislodged some unstable scaffolding, causing lighting equipment to fall and land on him, leaving him paralysed from the neck down. The singer’s son described the accident as a result of “gross negligence” on the part of the concert promoters.
This awful incident is especially tragic when we consider that properly executed health and safety checks along with due care given to the rigging could’ve prevented this from ever happening. It is a jarring reminder of the importance of health and safety.