[SML] Teaching technical theater and OSHA

[Stuart Wheaton]

Replying to my own post...

Perhaps you need to recharacterize the theate as a teaching laboratory 
for the theatrical arts  Or similar.  In educational terms it is no 
different from a sculpture studio or a chemistry laboratory.

By concretely tying it to an educational mission to create employment - 
ready graduates of a technical theatre program instead of as a wood and 
metal working shop supporting the theatre product you might get the 
facilities person to see the light.

Stuart

On 9/10/2019 11:27 AM, sdwheaton via Stagecraft wrote:
> One might inquire if a similar idiotic rule is being pushed on the 
> sciences?  Students cannot mix chemicals together! Students cannot 
> perform a physics experiment!   No working with lab animals!
>
> It seems to me that this facilities person is singularly unfit for an 
> academic institution.
>
> Stuart
>
>
>
> Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
> -------- Original message --------
> From: "Dougherty, Jim via Stagecraft" <stagecraft at theatrical.net>
> Date: 9/10/2019 2:18 AM (GMT+09:00)
> To: stagecraft at theatrical.net
> Cc: "Dougherty, Jim" <jdougher at middlebury.edu>, Kate Caffrey 
> <mcaffrey1 at framingham.edu>
> Subject: [SML] Teaching technical theater and OSHA
>
> From a colleague, Kate Caffrey, working at Framingham State University 
> in MA:
>
> "We are trying to grow our Theatre concentration at Framingham State.  
> A new director of facilities has been hired and she refuses to let 
> students and faculty use lifts, tools, etc. to build sets, hang 
> lights, etc.  She also refuses to let any professionals we hire from 
> the outside use any of Framingham State's equipment/tools do these 
> duties. She claims they must bring their own tools, lifts, etc.  She 
> says that she is abiding by OSHA's rules.
>
> I have worked in theatre professionally and in Higher Ed for a number 
> of years and have never run into anything like this.  I am now in a 
> position where I need to find "proof" that other schools teach skills 
> to students - allowing them to hang/focus lights, build sets, etc.
>
> I am wondering if you could send me something brief that explains how 
> Colleges/Universities/Community Colleges across the country (the 
> world?) are allowed to teach students these hands on skills and remain 
> OSHA compliant?"
>
> If anyone has supporting experience or evidence to help out, please 
> contact Kate directly at mcaffrey1 at framingham.edu.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jim Dougherty
> Middlebury College Theatre Dept
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> For list information see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
> Stagecraft mailing list
> Stagecraft at theatrical.net
> http://theatrical.net/mailman/listinfo/stagecraft_theatrical.net
>
> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> 
> 	Virus-free. www.avg.com 
> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient> 
>
>
> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>
> ____________________________________________________________
> For list information see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
> Stagecraft mailing list
> Stagecraft at theatrical.net
> http://theatrical.net/mailman/listinfo/stagecraft_theatrical.net
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://theatrical.net/pipermail/stagecraft_theatrical.net/attachments/20190912/84bf3a34/attachment.html>