HockeyDad Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Watching Bluecoats this year was a thrill. Then I'll be darned if, about halfway through one viewing that parental instinct kicked in unexpectedly. Geeze, those ramps are HIGH. What if a member falls off one of those? They could really hurt themselves. And then, darn it again, the work place industrial safety instinct kicked in. If these members were not volunteers, but rather employees of the Bluecoats, OSHA regulations would require them to wear fall protection at those heights. Can you picture harnesses and lanyards? Well, I'm glad nothing ever happened (as far as I know). But, imitation is a strong force in the marching arts. How many high school bands will be using ramps this fall or next? Anybody have any thoughts on how the safety aspects of "going vertical" could be addressed? Heaven forbid someone should topple off one of these ramps and get seriously injured. That would change perspectives on using this type of equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfield Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Well, let's first identify some differences such as, for instance, drum corps MM's aren't "volunteers", they're customers. They pay for an experience. If that experience includes risk, then they actually pay for it. High school kids are students of municipal school districts that are governed by a different set of rules. I seems completely out of the question to me that a HS band director could get permission from its school administration/BOD to put kids vertical like drum corps did this season. Drum corps protect themselves with detailed contracts that limit liability; I'm pretty sure there is no such protection available for school districts. IMO, I don't think we need to find ways to protect them at those heights because they likely wouldn't be allowed up there in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbass598 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 BOA and other organizations have rules about prop height and hand rails, etc. I believe those ramps would not be legal in BOA because they were over 6 feet high with no hand rails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 One poster was concerned about the mm's being "20'" above ground while on top of the CC stagecoach. They might think the BC mm's were 25' high on those ramps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HockeyDad Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share Posted August 17, 2016 Well, let's first identify some differences such as, for instance, drum corps MM's aren't "volunteers", they're customers. They pay for an experience. If that experience includes risk, then they actually pay for it. High school kids are students of municipal school districts that are governed by a different set of rules. I seems completely out of the question to me that a HS band director could get permission from its school administration/BOD to put kids vertical like drum corps did this season. Drum corps protect themselves with detailed contracts that limit liability; I'm pretty sure there is no such protection available for school districts. IMO, I don't think we need to find ways to protect them at those heights because they likely wouldn't be allowed up there in the first place. Well for OSHA if you have paid employees the rules apply to you. If you don't they don't. I'll bet you one gentleman's handshake that some marching band out there uses ramps ala Bluecoats this fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PamahoNow Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 BOA and other organizations have rules about prop height and hand rails, etc. I believe those ramps would not be legal in BOA because they were over 6 feet high with no hand rails. Academy's prop had rails and the Bride still fell off ... every performance. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KVG_DC Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Academy's prop had rails and the Bride still fell off ... every performance. I laughed.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legoman Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Crown had MMs STANDING on their stagecoach while it moved. No harness or railing. I personally don't have an issue with it because I know the amount of practice that goes into everything, and that helps minimize risk. I just don't want to see things get to the point where bureaucracy gets in the way of design. How long until we can no longer toss weapons because they become projectiles? Or what about demanding shorter rehearsals? Less frequent/distant shows? Expensive oversight fees and regulations can kill DCI, and I obviously don't ever want to see that happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c.l. Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I thought you were HockeyDad, not SoccerMom? Ha, I'm just kidding. It is an interesting thought, kind of brings to mind that dangerous Spider Man Broadway show a few years ago. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fsthnds Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 WGI already has rules in place when performers are above/off the ground (I believe 6' is the magic #) which requires some form of fall protection. Railings, harnesses, and rubber mats are some of the ways to provide fall protection. DCI, for their own liability, should have similar rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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