Policies

Toward the end of maintaining a safe and productive work environment, all student workers in the Center for Theatre and Dance are required to abide by the following rules:

  • At no time may potentially hazardous work take place without the direct supervision of the appropriate faculty or staff member.
    • ​For lighting and sound crews, the Lighting and Sound Supervisor must be present and aware of all potentially hazardous work activity.
    • For carpentry crews, the Technical Director and/or the Scene Shop Supervisor must be present and aware of all potentially hazardous work activity.
    • For properties crews, the Scene Shop Supervisor must be present and aware of all potentially hazardous work activity.
    • For scenic art crews, the Scenic Art Mentor must be present and aware of all potentially hazardous work activity.
    • For costume crews, the Costume Shop Manager must be present and aware of all potentially hazardous work activity.
  • The following activities are potentially hazardous and are expressly forbidden without appropriate and direct faculty or staff supervision.
    • Operating lifts, ladders, or scaffolding.
    • Working at a height above the stage or house floor.  Working in any location which requires fall protection.
    • Operating any power tools, including handheld or battery-operated power tools and soldering equipment.
    • Handling potentially dangerous chemicals or compounds including (but not limited to) aerosol paints and compounds, adhesives, shellac, dyes (in liquid or powdered form), and solvents.
    • Using the dye room in the Costume Shop.
  • If you are a supervisor, all work calls must be approved by your faculty or staff supervisor and posted via electronic distribution and physical posting on the Call Board at least 24 hours in advance of the call.
    • ​Work calls that require no Technical Theatre Practicum student crews or potentially hazardous work (such as sound system balance) are permissible without direct faculty or staff supervision, but your supervisor must be notified of the call electronically 24 hours in advance of the call.
    • Failure to notify your faculty or staff supervisor of a work call regardless of hazard potential is considered egregious irresponsibility and will result in not only grade reduction but possible disciplinary action.  Do not undertake a work call without your supervisor's knowledge and consent.

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Policies

See below for specifics
  • Student workers who are performing tasks at height are required to wear appropriate fall protection.  The following are instances requiring the use of fall protection:
    • When working at height in a powered lift (Genie).
    • When working in scaffolding, students must wear a full-body harness and be secured to an anchorage at all times.
    • When working outside the handrails in the Clark Theatre (above the pipe grid) students must wear a full-body harness and be secured to a self-retracting lifeline.
    • When operating a followspot in the Clark Theatre or the Hoerner Theatre front of house (not the spot booths) students must wear a full-body harness and be secured to an anchorage while operating their light.
    • When using an extension ladder on the house booms in the Hoerner Theatre students must wear a full-body harness and be secured to a self-retracting lifeline.
    • When working in a focus chair, students must wear a full-body harness and be secured to an anchorage at all times.
  • If you are uncomfortable working at height in other situations, accommodations can be made to provide you with appropriate fall protection.
  • Student workers who are performing tasks in areas of potential inhalation hazards are required to wear appropriate respiratory protection.  Respiratory protection comes in two types:
    • Dust masks cover the nose and mouth and protect against the inhalation of particles, such as sawdust.  Dust masks must be worn when:
      • Operating power saws.
      • Working in the scene shop or theatres when power saws are being operated.
    • Respirators are form-fitting personal protective equipment which filter out particles and fumes.   
  • If working in any area where you desire respiratory protection, ask your student supervisor or a faculty member and it will be provided.
  • Student workers who are performing tasks in areas where other workers are overhead are required to wear hard hats.  Theatre Production and Design majors and students enrolled in Technical Theatre Practicum are required to own hard hats. 
    • Working on stage beneath a lift, ladder, scaffold, or focus track.
    • Working on stage or in the house when other workers are performing tasks at height, such as:
      • The Clark Theatre catwalks.
      • The Hoerner Theatre midrail, loading rail, and grid.
      • The Hoerner Theatre front of house.
    • Working on stage while the Hoerner Theatre counterweight fly system is in operation.
  • All students involved in the use of prop weapons must be trained in proper use, maintenance, and storage of prop weapons.  Weapons training will be provided by the Scene Shop Supervisor and the Stage Management Mentor.
  • At no time is a prop firearm to be left unattended.
  • When supply of a consumable item is nearly depleted, it is the responsibility of the individual using the last of a consumable item to report to their student supervisor or appropriate faculty or staff supervisor.
  • Faculty and staff supervisors shall keep a "par" count of necessary materials with hazard potential associated with inventory tallies.  In this way we can reorder in a timely fashion and eliminate shortages of necessary supplies.