Mounting lasers on stage

[norty303]

So your statement that its illegal to use a ladder for anything other than putting up scaffolding isn't strictly true then? Just need to be clear for the benefit of other readers who may not be so up on H&S regs/guidelines as it's often the chinese whispers that lead to people saying daft things relate to H&S.

[platinum]

This reminds me of the times I've had to use a 30' A-frame ladder to rig projectors in a venue that has bouncy wooden floors.

Every time somebody walked near the ladder, I'd pitch in that direction.

SKETCHY! Ironically they can't have scissor lifts in there due to the floor.


I wonder what it would take for that venue to be in compliance with some of these UK laws...

-Jonathan

[mliptack]

Jonathan... what's wrong with rickety ol' A-frame ladders?

Honestly, I love them! The first time I was 40' in the air on an extension ladder (in a theater for a focus) the guys on the ground were telling me stories of when they put it up, but not high enough and when the guy was about half way up the flexing of the ladder caused it to slip off the I-beam and fall. Luckily they were between rows C and D and the seats caught the ladder. The guys fall was slowed by the ladder slowly breaking apart as it bent to the ground. He walked away.

Regardless, I think just a manlift doesn't always constitute as safe, just like Jonathan said. Sometimes you have to use a ladder at a particular venue because the weight of a lift (which are ungodly heavy).

-Max

[DMills]

The fact that that projector weighs 60Kg changes things somewhat as well, if I was rigging that off a fixed bar or truss you can bet the bugger would be going up on a block and tackle fixed above the hang position, with someone on the deck taking the weight while I did the clamps up.

And yep, RIDDOR probably gets honoured more in the breach then the observation when it comes to near misses.

I actually have a fixed grid in one venue at 8.5M above a semi sprung floor, that is a barrel of laughs to access (even the bloody scaffold tower wobbles). Unfortunately floor loadings are an issue because a self propelled boom would be just so lovely.

Regards, Dan.

[mixedgas]

If you ruled you could not use a ladder for any tasks in the US, the unions and industry both would attend your political funeral.

Steve

[mliptack]

If you ruled you could not use a ladder for any tasks in the US, the unions and industry both would attend your political funeral.

Steve

Haha thats what I was thinking. Any gig I do, I usually have a manlift, but ladders are tossed in with "Just in case."

There are just so many places where ladders work much better, especially when say, someone is in the manlift and needs help somehow. GRAB A LADDER!

[Stoney3K]

There are just so many places where ladders work much better, especially when say, someone is in the manlift and needs help somehow. GRAB A LADDER!

Everybody knows you're going to need to call the rental company at that point. "WE NEED ANOTHER MANLIFT, STAT!"

(Somehow I'd think it would be more prudent to call the fire department in such a situation, and gently ask them if they can bring a truck in...)

Somehow I also wonder what the H&S would say about venues that are too small or have no way of rolling in a Genie or scissor lift. Not every hall has double doors that are over 8ft tall and have level access or a ramp to the street. I've been lugging many a flightcase up stairs...

[mliptack]

Its funny you mention that. I work for a lighting company, about 2 months ago, while driving around my work my co-workers and I spotted a Fire Truck for sale! We thought, how perfect?!?! We could finish a focus in a few minutes with one of those. We could even replace the water tanks with Icee's, soda, and for after work beer!

Manlifts & Doors.... yeah that can be tricky, especially when the lift is too old to fold down the basket due to rust. Luckily we have a smaller non-self-propelled unit we use, that can just be tipped down albeit, it needs a few strong hands to do it.

I've been on many gigs when a manlift dies, and many times its not a pretty sight, work can come to a standstill, especially if it is blocking a vital traffic route. I've only seen one ladder break down! The fiberglass was cracked, we tossed it and bought a new one.

Manlifts are amazing, don't get me wrong, but I can count far too many times when I had to bring out a ladder to help someone in a manlift, or simply the job was easier to do with a ladder.

Finally 3K you said you had to lug many flightcases upstairs... I did a John Mayer gig, in wisconsin a few years ago. There was ONE small elevator (meant for guests - NOT equipment) in the building. On load out, one truck (of two 53' trailers) was about finished being loaded, when the elevator stopped working. (Luckily w/o equipment in it). Within about 10 minutes we had a system of ropes literally tossing road cases down 2 flights of stairs. Feeder cable, moving lights, speaker cabinets... you name it and it went flying down those stairs. It was quite a sight to see... pretty darn cool

Oh yeah, try stopping a case of 200' 4/0 feeder flying down stairs...

[JeroenVDV]

Somehow I also wonder what the H&S would say about venues that are too small or have no way of rolling in a Genie or scissor lift. Not every hall has double doors that are over 8ft tall and have level access or a ramp to the street

Event halls without double emergency doors?!

[Stoney3K]

Event halls without double emergency doors?!

I've had a few situations where the emergency doors were single, or where we had double doors but the doors were raised with respect to street level, and you needed to go down a few steps. But those venues are pretty small compared to the venues you're probably going to hang a multiwatt laser in.

In most venues such as exhibition halls, you've got enough access to wheel in your van, trailer or any piece of equipment (scissor, manift) you're going to need, though.