Running Your Theater: Safety

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Safety

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Theater Administration
Forum Name: Running Your Theater
Forum Discription: General questions about how to make it work
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5122
Printed Date: 5/03/24 at 11:39pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Safety

Posted By: robin1365
Subject: Safety
Date Posted: 7/09/11 at 10:57am

How do other theaters handle volunteer safety? Do you allow volunteers to hang/adjust lights using a harness, use tall ladders, etc? Or, if you have paid staff, do they have to do that? Do you require them to sign any type of waiver?

Ideas welcome!

Replies:

Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 7/10/11 at 6:37pm

We have volunteers using a somewhat tall ladder. The theater we rent requires at least two people to be involved. We've got insurance and don't ask for waivers. I guess someone could probably make an issue out of it but I don't know how else we'd get the lights hung. I don't know anything harnesses. We've used people from three local colleges and universities as well as several other local theaters and no one has used a harness or mentioned it. What are the details about how that works?

Posted By: museav
Date Posted: 7/11/11 at 9:54am

This is they type of thing that it seems best to get an attorney involved as the laws vary and there are many aspects to consider. My understanding is that most releases and liability waivers are likely to be worth the paper their printed on if something does happen. The underlying issue is that the group is obtaining something of value from volunteers without correpsonding compensation, therefore it is difficult to be released from all liability, especially if you are coordinating or directing the efforts, assigning the tasks, providing the equipment and so on.

Someone performing a task that requires specialized knowledge or training that they use in their normal work may also be difficult to classify as being a volunteer effort while asking someone to do something for which they neither have nor are offered the appropriate training could be considered negligent.

There is also the inverse side of this where the group or venue may be harmed by the actions of volunteers.

So talk with your insurer and an Attorney and find out how to best address this for your specific situation.

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Brad W.