The Health and Safety Guide for Film, TV and Theater

by Rossol, Monona

• ISBN13: 9781581150711
• ISBN10: 1581150717
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2000-10-01
• Publisher: Allworth Press

Summary

This guide, formerly titled "Stage Fright: Health & Safety in the Theater",as been updated and expanded to address the unique health and safetyroblems that threaten anyone working in the entertainment industries - film,elevision, theatre, theme parks, circuses, parades, firework displays, andeyond. Monona Rossol exposes the hazards of theatrical paints, theatricalakeup, pigments, dyes, plastics, solvents, woodworking, welding, asbestos,og and other special effects, and offers practical solutions to theseangers. The book outlines precautions to take against hazardous materials,ecommendations for proper protective equipment, steps to comply withxisting health and safety laws, safety checklists for shops and classrooms,trategies for accommodating workers with disabilities, and agencies andrganizations to contact for help.

Author Biography

Monona Rossol is a chemist, artist, and industrial hygienist. She is the founder and president of ACTS (Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety), a not-for-profit corporation based in New York City dedicated to providing health and safety services to the arts. She writes a monthly newsletter on government regulations and research that affect the arts and theater, and she has published numerous articles in professional journals. She is the author of five books, one of which, The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide, won a 1996 Choice Outstanding Academic Book Award from the Association of College and Research Libraries.



She was born into a theatrical family and worked as a professional entertainer from ages three to seventeen. She enrolled in the University of Wisconsin where she earned a B.S. in chemistry, an M.S. majoring in ceramics and sculpture, and an M.F.A. with majors in ceramics and glassblowing and a minor in music. While in school, she worked as a chemist, taught and exhibited art work, performed with University of Wisconsin music and theater groups, and worked yearly in summer stock. After leaving school, she performed in musical and straight acting roles in Off and Off Off Broadway theaters and cabaret.



As an artist, she was in the first glassblowing courses taught at the college level by Harvey Littleton. Her ceramics, sculpture, and blown glass have been exhibited in more than forty group and four solo shows. She is a voting member of the American Society of Testing and Materials subcommittee (ASTM D-4236) that sets toxicity labeling standards for art materials



As an industrial hygienist, she worked seven years as a research chemist for the University of Wisconsin and a year with an industrial research laboratory. She has been a full professional member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association since 1984, and the health and safety director for Local 829 of the United Scenic Artists since 1995.



In 1980, Rossol developed and taught the first two college-level "Health Hazards in the Arts" courses in the United States at the University of Wisconsin. She has now taught these courses throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia. She taught the first recorded "Right to Know" OSHA training for theater in 1986 at La Cage Aux Folles in the Palace Theater in New York City, and specializes in OSHA training of art and theater workers and teachers in the United States and Canada.



Rossol is a sought-after lecturer and consultant in the United States, Canada, Australia, England, and Mexico. She lives in New York City.

Table of Contents

Read Me: An Introduction	xvii
Hazards
Health v. Safety Hazards
Health and Safety Standards
Why the OSHA Regulations?
Training Requirements
Unions
Using This Book
The Way It Is	1	(4)
Haste: It Doesn't Have to Be Safe, It Has to Be Tuesday
Unsafe Conditions: Jury-Rig and Hope It Holds
Bad Attitudes
Macho: It's Alive, Well, and Living in a Theater
Horseplay: Only for Horses and Jackasses
Cast Party Mentality: Damn the Strike, The Party's on
Impaired Judgment
Drugs and Alcohol: The Barrymore Mystique
Chemicals in Products: The Hidden Enemy
Medications
Lack of Sleep or Food: We'll Stop When We Drop
Psychological Stress
Working Alone: It's 2 AM--Do You Know Who Is in Your Venue?
Unqualified Workers: I'll Try Anything Once
Lawlessness: Rules and Regs Are for Other Folk
Safety: It's the law	5	(8)
Occupational Safety Rules
Which OSHA Is Your OSHA?
Two Sets of Laws
Applicable OSHA Regulations
Hazard Communication
Respiratory Protection
Personal Protective Equipment
Ladders
Fall Protection
Scaffold Regulations
Powered Industrial Lifts
Emergency Plans and Fire Prevention
Medical Services and First Aid
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
Occupational Noise Exposure
Lead in Construction
Lead in General Industry
Asbestos in Construction
Electrical Safety
Hazardous Waste Operations/Emergency Response
Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Housekeeping
Sanitation
Machinery Rules
Welding, Cutting, and Brazing
Confined Space
Biological Hazards
Compliance
Our Materials: How They Affect Us	13	(8)
Basic Concepts
Dose
Time
Short-Term or Acute Effects
Long-Term or Chronic Effects
Cumulative/Noncumulative Toxins
The Total Body Burden
Multiple Exposures
Mutations
Fetal Toxicity
Allergies
How Chemicals Enter the Body (Routes of Entry}
Skin Contact
Inhalation
Ingestion
Are You at Risk?
How Much Is Too Much?
Occupational Illnesses
The Skin
The Eye
The Respiratory System
The Heart and Blood
The Nervous System
The Liver
The Kidney
The Bladder
The Reproductive Effects
Reproductive Hazards	21	(8)
What Do We Know?
Pregnancy
Birth Defects
Toxic Effects
Chemicals in Our Materials
Solvents
Metals
Estrogenic Chemicals
Other Chemicals
Common Sense Precautions
Labels	29	(8)
Labels and the Law
Types of Labels
Terminology: Reading Between the Lies
Biodegradable
Water-Based
Contains No VOCs
GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe)
Nontoxic
Nontoxic Art Materials
Natural
Use with Adequate Ventilation
Industrial or Professional Use Only
Material Safety Data Sheets	37	(10)
What Are They?
Where Can I Get Them?
Who Needs Them?
Where Should They Be Kept?
What Do They Look Like?
Required Data
How to Read MSDSs
The Responsible Party
Date of Preparation
Identity of Ingredients
Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Registration Numbers
Trade Secrets and Proprietary Ingredients
Air Quality Limits
Evaporation Rate
Acute and Chronic Effects
Carcinogenicity
Releases and Spills
Control Measures
Plans, Programs, and Personal Protection	47	(12)
Emergency Plans
Medical Response
First Aid
Eyewash Stations
First Aid Kits
Bloodborne Pathogens Training
Personal Protective Equipment
The Regulations
Gloves
Face and Eye Protection
Hearing Protection
Other Protective Equipment
Protective Equipment Rules
The Air We Breathe	59	(8)
Air Contaminants
Gases
Vapors
Mists
Fumes
Dusts
Smoke
Exposure: How Much Is Too Much?
Standards
What Are TLVs?
Do All Chemicals Have TLVs?
Are TLVs ``Safe'' Limits?
How Do I Use TLVs?
When Has the TGV Been Exceeded?
Home Studios: High Exposures
Respirators	67	(8)
Types of Respirators
Dust Masks Are Respirators
When Should Respirators Be Used?
OSHA Regulations
Fitting Respirators
Fit Check
The Real Fit Test
Beards
Saving the Beard
Choosing the Right Cartridge or Filter
Standards
Chemical Cartridges
Particulate Filters
Selection Criteria
When Air-Supplied Systems Are Needed
Respirator Care
Where to Buy Respirators
Ventilation	75	(10)
Types of Ventilation
Comfort Ventilation
Industrial Ventilation
Types of Local Systems
Providing Clean Air
Standards
Air Purifiers
Designing or Renovating Ventilation Systems
Steps
Liability
Defining System Limits
Is the Ventilation Working?
Special Ventilation for the House
Solvents	85	(12)
What Are Solvents?
Solvent Toxicity
Skin Contact
The Eyes and Respiratory Tract
The Nervous System
Damage to Internal Organs
Reproductive Hazards and Birth Defects
Explosion and Fire Hazards
Chemical Classes of Solvents
Rules for Choosing Safer Solvents
Rules for Solvent Use
Paints, Inks, Pigments, and Dyes	97	(8)
What Are Paints and Inks?
Oil-Based
Water-Based
Pigments
Inorganic Pigments
Organic Pigments and Dyes
Benzidine Pigments and Dyes
Anthraquinone Pigments and Dyes
Bronzing and Aluminum Powders
Identifying Pigments and Dyes
Color Index
Rules for Using Paints, Ink, and Dyes
Plastics and Adhesives	105	(12)
What Is Plastic?
Hazards of Plastic Resin Systems
Polyester Resin Systems
Organic Peroxide Initiators
Other Ingredients
Precautions for Using Peroxide Initiators
Urethane Resin Systems
Natural Rubber
Hazards of Rubber
The Cause
What Is Latex?
Who Reacts?
Precautions to Use with Rubber Products
Silicone Mold-Making Materials
Epoxy Resin Systems
Other Resin Systems
General Precautions for Two-Component Resin Systems
Finished Plastics
Heating and Burning
Dusts
General Precautions for Finished Plastics
Adhesives and Glues
The Shops	117	(8)
General Shop Safety Rules
Special Shop Precautions
Prop Shops
Electrical/Lighting Shops
Film Processing/Cleaning Labs
Costume and Wardrobe Shops
The Hazards
Bloodborne Pathogens
Secondhand Costume Sources
Special Dye Hazards
Fiber Hazards
Mold and Other Biohazards	125	(4)
Molds: Nothing to Sneeze At
What Are They?
How Do They Hurt Us?
Cleaning Up Mold
Other Biological Hazards
Hantavirus
Pigeon Waste
Legionnaires' Disease
``Tetanus, Salmonella, etc.
Carpentry	129	(6)
Wood Dust Hazards
Why Is Wood Toxic?
Diseases from Wood Dust
Exposure Standards
MSDSs Needed
Wood Treatments
Plywood and Particle Boards
Wood Shop Precautions
Ventilation
Respiratory Protection
Machine Safety
Other Wood Shop Hazards
Vibrating Tools
Noise
General Precautions for Woodworking
Medical Surveillance for Woodworkers
Welding	135	(8)
Basic Rules and Regulations
The Standards
Training
Training and Liability
General Fire Safety
Safe Shop Design
On-Site Welding
Good Housekeeping
Electrical Safety
Compressed Gas Safety
Health Hazards
Radiation
Radiation Eye Protection
Heat
Noise
Fumes
General Precautions
Dressing for the Part
Ventilation
Respiratory Protection
From Start to Strike	143	(12)
Fall Protection
From Harness to Anchorage
Rails and Nets
The Stage: A Special Problem
Stairs
Training
Scaffold Regulations
Powered Industrial Trucks and Lifts
Rigging Systems
Irregular Surfaces
Ladders
Electrical Safety
The National Electric Code (NEC)
Lighting
The Strike
Other Safety Hazards
Location Hazards	155	(6)
Common Hazards
Structural Hazards
Fire Safety
Emergency Exits and Escape Routes
Changes in Elevation
Electrical Hazards
Garbage and Toxic Chemicals
Bathroom Facilities
Drinking Water
Eating and Drinking Facilities
Lead Paint
Asbestos
Treated Wood
Pest Control
Stress from Heat or Cold
Carbon Monoxide Exposure
Enclosed or Confined Spaces
Environmental Hazards
Summary
Asbestos	161	(8)
Sources in the Past
Sources of Asbestos Today
How Much Is Too Much?
Asbestos-Related Diseases
Asbestos Regulations
Remove, Isolate, or Encapsulate?
Insulated Wire
Theater Curtains
Gloves
Other Sources of Asbestos
Asbestos Substitutes
Fog, Pyro, and Other Effects	169	(14)
Health Studies
Lawsuits and Compensation
Exposure Standards
EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) Standards
Threshold Limit Values (TLVs)
Fog and Smoke Machines
Types of Effects
Haze
Fog
Low-Lying Fogs
Mists
Fog Chemicals
Water
Glycols and Glycerin
Oils
Other Atmospheric Effects
Inorganic Chloride Fumes
Real Smoke
Dusts and Powders
Mineral Dusts
Organic Dusts
Natural and Synthetic Fibers
Miscellaneous Chemicals
Pigments and Dyes
Fragrances
Pyrotechnic Effects
Pyro Chemicals
Emissions
Health Effects from Pyrotechnic Smoke
Other Special Effects
Rules for Using Special Effects
Theatrical Makeup	183	(12)
Lead and Mercury
Hazards to Wearers
Hazards to Makeup Artists
How We Are Exposed
Skin Contact
Inhalation
Ingestion
Skin Diseases
Acne
Allergies
Irritation
Cancer
Eye Diseases
Infections Transmitted
Label-Reading Tips
Consumer Makeup
Professional Makeup
``Not Tested on Animals''
Natural Ingredients
Use As Directed
Cosmetic Ingredients
Minerals
Vegetable Powders
Oils, Fats, and Waxes
Dyes and Pigments
Preservatives
Art Materials
Special Effects Makeup
Nail Products
When Skin Trouble Strikes
General Rules for Makeup Users
Additional Precautions for Makeup Artists
Teaching Theater	195	(8)
Safety Laws and Liability
Duties
The Administrator's Role
Training Young Students
Special Students
Training Teachers
High School and College Student Training
Adult Student Training
Other Training Laws
Documentation of Training
Outline of Theater HAZCOM Training-29 CFR 1910.1200
Safety and Americans with Disabilities	203	(6)
Health and Safety Issues
Undue Hardship
Direct Threat
People with Allergies
Reproductive Hazards
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)
Other Applicable Laws
Emergency Egress
Summary
Bibliography and Sources	209	(10)
Annotated Bibliography	219	(6)
Index	225