Fall From Catwalk Kills Lighting Technician
Theater safety is a serious issue. Guest blogger, Erich Friend knows theater safety! He has the following to say about a recent incident involving a theater technician and fall from a catwalk.
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WEST PALM BEACH, Florida A lighting technician, Fenton "Andy" Hollingsworth, was killed Thursday, December 3rd after falling from a 30-foot-high catwalk. The incident occurred at the 300-seat Marshall E. Rinker, Sr. Playhouse, part of the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.
Police and fire officials say that about 2 p.m., Hollingsworth, 27, slipped as he stood on the catwalk, installing lights on a truss.
Co-workers heard and saw him fall, Police Lt. Tom Hale said.
"He was not breathing when we arrived," police said spokesman Chase Scott.
Andy Hollingsworth was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center, where he died.
Both the Kravis Center and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating the incident.
The 16 catwalks in the Rinker's light truss are each eight feet long by 20 inches wide and there are several railings. A facility technical plan can be found here.
Hollingsworth had worked for the center since April 10, 2007. Shannon McShane Hollingsworth said she did worry about her husband's safety.
"He always promised, and told me, he was always careful. We always made sure he had new shoes with new rubber soles" she told reporters. It was unknown if he was wearing any fall protection equipment when he lost his footing and fell.
"We're vigorously investigating the cause of the accident," Kravis Center Chief Executive Judy Mitchell said. "As always, we're very concerned about the safety of our employees. Andy was a wonderful young man and a valued employee who will be greatly missed by the entire family of the Kravis Center."
This post contributed by:
Erich Friend
Principal Consultant
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817-249-4024
Teqniqal Systems, LLC are Theatre Consultants with a broad background of knowledge in evaluation, design, planning, construction, and operational uses for a wide variety of venue types. Erich Friend brings over 35 years of experience to his practice so that assembly spaces, theatres, and sports facilities can have the safest and most user-friendly tools to collaborate, produce, and entertain. Systems design services includes Audio, Video, Projection, Lighting & Dimming, Rigging & Drapes, and Control Systems while guiding Architects and Engineers in the myriad of details of Theatre Space Planning, Technical Power Distribution, Acoustics, Noise Control, Sightline Studies & Seating Layouts, and Specialty Millwork. Facility Safety Assessments and Inspections of Entertainment Rigging Systems provide clients with the training and documentation needed to meet NFPA and OSHA Safety Standards while working in the context of the show production environment.
I think the safety of entertainment workers is often neglected. There are tight deadlines, they work in small numbers and they work on very specific tasks that have no set procedures.