<div dir="ltr"><div dir="auto">Always an interesting topic. If there are employees near out and if the fall hazard is greater than 48", OSHA requires protecting employees from the hazard. (I thought there was a place in OSHA that required a guard at 30", like the building and fire codes, but can't find it. Related: reports of OSHA rules not allowing the typical 3" gap between channels on gridirons. Beware.)<br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">NFPA 101 Life Safety Code requires:</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">12.2.11.1.6.1<br>Guards shall not be required in the following locations:<br>(1) On the audience side of stages, raised platforms, and other raised floor areas such as runways, ramps, and side stages used for entertainment or presentations<br>(2) At vertical openings in the performance area of stages<br>(3) Where the side of an elevated walking surface is required to be open for the normal functioning of special lighting or for access and use of other special equipment.<br>12.2.11.1.6.2 *<br>Where a guard is ordinarily required but not provided in accordance with 12.2.11.1.6.1(1) or 12.2.11.1.6.1(2), a written plan shall be developed and maintained to mitigate the fall hazards of unguarded raised floor areas and vertical openings on stages.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">And the annex offers this explanation:</div><div dir="auto"><br>A.12.2.11.1.6.2<br>The written plan should identify the unguarded areas and should include precautions and provisions to mitigate the fall hazard. Such precautions and provisions might include the following:<br>(1) Training<br>(2) Choreography<br>(3) Blocking<br>(4) Rehearsal<br>(5) Restricted access to the stage<br>(6) Restricted access to unguarded edges<br>(7) Warning lights<br>(8) Audible warnings<br>(9) Tactile edges<br>(10)Warning barriers<br>(11)Signage<br>(12)Temporary barriers<br>(13)Personal fall protection<br>(14)Fall restraint<br>(15)Spotters</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I have routinely insisted on a net or a tensioned wire grid just under the pit filler on all my projects. I like the TWG because it protects the people installing and removing the filler. On one project, discussing with the rigging foreman supervising the installation, he noted he had just come from a project where one of his crew was injured installing the pit filler. Not quite what I meant by "installing" but work.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Before too many more years I hope to put requirements in IBC/IFC similar to the NFPA.<br><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, May 20, 2024, 1:53 PM Kristi R-C via Stagecraft <<a href="mailto:stagecraft@theatrical.net" target="_blank">stagecraft@theatrical.net</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div></div>
<div dir="ltr">Yes - Pit nets are ubiquitous and an excellent solution. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Joe Menhart at InCord is the resident expert. Tell him I sent you.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Kristi RC</div><div><br></div>
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On Monday, May 20, 2024, 10:35:49 AM CDT, Jeffrey Kanyuck via Stagecraft <<a href="mailto:stagecraft@theatrical.net" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">stagecraft@theatrical.net</a>> wrote:
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<p>Hello All,</p>
<p> Hitting the orchestra pit net situation. We have a new theater designed for us with a movable orchestra pit.
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<p>The designers did not feel it was needed to have a net for while the pit was down. They said they have only done it for cruise ships when there is a real change of something going into the pit by accident.
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<p> We actually had someone fall into our other theater’s pit last spring and luckily it had a net.
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<p> Isn’t a pit net a standard for the industry? Or is it like hand rails where once the performer is “used” to the situation they can be removed or even less than that?</p>
<p> I am concerned that with a new theater we aren’t hitting appropriate standards of safety with this if we don’t have a net.</p>
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<p>Jeff Kanyuck </p>
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