SAFETY LAWSUIT SERIES – CASE # 3

​Ahoy there!  Let’s talk SAFETY!
 
This is the third in this three-part series of real-life court cases involving safety incidents in theatres on cruise ships.
 
Be sure to read about CASE # 1 at:  https://www.cruisetechies.com/cruisetechies-blog/safety-lawsuit-series-case-1
 
Be sure to read about CASE # 2 at:  https://www.cruisetechies.com/cruisetechies-blog/safety-lawsuit-series-case-2
 
This third lawsuit is a reminder that the performers’ safety comes first.  As a lighting designer I would like nothing more than to accentuate something with a light cue or blackout, but not when it puts the performer’s safety at risk.  This is a great example of this situation.  It’s also a great example of when the house staff needs to make announcements about flash photography…. Read on MacDuff…

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On March 2, 2014 on another cruise ship, an acrobat and her partner were hired to do a routine of moves in/around a cloth sling that would be lifted by rigging from the stage to a height of 15-20 feet.  The lights changed from spotlights to black light despite repeated request from the two performers to keep the lighting level high enough to see the hand holds.  The Plaintiffs also did not honor the performers' request to tell the audience to refrain from taking flash photos.  A camera flash and the darkness caused the performer to miss the hold and she fell 12 - 15 feet.  I was retained in January of 2016, deposed August 1, 2019.  It settled sometime later with confidentiality.
 
Thanks, once again, to Monona Rossol for sharing her theatre safety expertise with us! For a plethora of information about theatre safety, be sure to check out her company at https://www.artscraftstheatersafety.org/ 
 
Please Like and Comment – I’d love to hear about your experiences too!  What safety issues have you experienced?  What happened?  Thanks!
 
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