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07 May 08 - 08:09 AM (#2334767) Subject: Health & Safety & the MC From: Mr Red a current topic of interest to a group running a ceilidh series. I would instruct the caller (in our case) to be aware and make intelligent decisions, based on their experience and superior vision of the venue. Fee Lock reckons to know where the fire exits are before she gets on stage. And I don't think that is at all excessive - she and I want to know that info and I'm not a caller. They are the one person who the audience (or dancers) are looking to and taking notice of, (alledegely, usually, mostly). The caller should have public liability insurance, and clauses therein would stipulate something about due diligence. The organisers should have insurance (we have) which would demand same. The venue would also hopefully have the same and, in our case, local government would demand observances of yet more niceties. Reputation comes way down the list after the usual folkie considerations of the folk they are entertaining, but it should be there. The point is the person given the job of controlling the assemblage from the stage has a responsibility in, no small part, in preventing problems and if that means emptying the venue until punters can conduct themselves (as a mass) safely then I would support that person 100%. With dances mayhem can grow and is obvious but concerts have to have chairs strapped together because of the mayhem in panic mod, and tie wraps don't answer all that problem. I for one would prefer a concert/session/etc was stopped by a responsible caller/MC. Grudgingly, at the irresposibility of fellow punters. And take a dim view of organisers that felt anything other than sadness that the action was necessary. Lets face it - we look both ways when crossing the road, because of enormity of the consequences when we get it wrong. Mob behaviour is far more unpredictable................ |
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07 May 08 - 08:46 AM (#2334799) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Raggytash I've got a better idea, why not scrap the dance and stay at home. Just think of the dangers you'll be avoiding, driving, walking in the street, meeting with other people, especially those who smoke and drink, the exercise is probably bad for you, you may strain something or have a heart attack, you'll avoid the chance of contracting contagious diseases, viral infections, nits and the music could damge your hearing, the increase in andorphins could result in all sorts of trauma. Stick to reading, no on second thoughts that might damage your eyesight. If we do need protection could someone please protect from the Nanny State! |
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07 May 08 - 09:05 AM (#2334821) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Mo the caller What is Nany State-ish about the caller taking reasonable precautions, and thinking in advance about contingencies that she hopes will never happen? The dancers will be unaware of this planning, unless it is needed. I get the feeling that this thread is an answer to some other thread. Either that or the first few posts have got lost. |
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07 May 08 - 10:58 AM (#2334924) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Leadfingers OK - Helath and Safety DOES get a bad Press , but there are precautions that DO need to be taken to avoid unnecessary problems ! |
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07 May 08 - 11:02 AM (#2334930) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Effsee Aye, way to go! Risk Assessments, Safety Cases, Permit to Work ,et al...all in triplicate of course! |
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07 May 08 - 01:18 PM (#2335022) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Mr Red No lost threads - maybe brain cells. Just wanted a few comments well in advance of needing them. (Nov) A good caller (or MC) won't tell you until you need to know. Though I have noticed the in-flight announcements creeping-in. Nanny State is a response to the litigious society. If you don't want either, should we educate the general public in the art of taking responsibility for their own safety, and being less greedy? As an engineer I prefer to deal with what "is", in advance, not what can be argued as if it isn't so. |
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07 May 08 - 01:24 PM (#2335031) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Raggytash I do not deny that sensible precautions need to be in place, I work in small part with Health & Safety issue in my employ, but 99.999% recurring is COMMON SENSE. The most sensible advice I have for if a building is on fire is get out of it quickly and orderly, the first is easy to achieve the second is impossible and no amount of information prior to the event is going to deter people (who once they realise they are in danger) from going hell for leather to the nearest exit. Effsee has I think hit the nail firmly on the cranium. |
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07 May 08 - 02:26 PM (#2335078) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Rasener Raggy That reminds me of when I used to teach IT as training manager at a training company in Basingstoke. I always said In the event of a fire, you grab the chairs and smash the windows out. You then form a human ladder down to the ground floor, so I can climb down to safety. That always brought a laugh :-) makes me smile even now. Les Worrall |
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07 May 08 - 07:46 PM (#2335315) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Bonecruncher Maybe I am being naive but I would have thought it perfectly normal for any person, when entering a strange room, to note the location of exits and fire extinguishers, in case it should be neccessary. Colyn. |
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08 May 08 - 01:50 AM (#2335453) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Mo the caller The thing that I find a problem is young children on the dance floor. The sort that toddle through the dancers to find Mummy, then are allowed to wander off again. It amazes me that parents don't see it as a danger, and are blind to hints and mild requests. Most dancers are not looking at that level, so could trip. I've not seen any accident caused like that (says she, tempting fate). One thing I'm wary of, since someone in the bottom set fell and broke a bone, is the tendency for sets to spread down the room and squash the end set. Espescially in dances like Barley Reel with an 'Arch at the bottom, cast and lead up' figure. |
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08 May 08 - 04:01 AM (#2335513) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: GUEST,Suffolk Miracle In my personal experience: Number of dancers injured by fire at dance = 0 Number of dancers injured by halfwits in Cumberland Square Eights tying to turn a basket into a helicopter = quite a lot. How about warnings for that? |
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08 May 08 - 04:03 AM (#2335515) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: r.padgett 1 find the toilets 2 find the entrance/exits 3 look for trailing wires [slips trips and falls] 4 eat children [other peoples of course] 5 chuck out drunks Drink too much and go home early! MCs MUST tell the participants basic information and make sure that the exits are NOT locked Ray |
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08 May 08 - 04:17 AM (#2335523) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Folkiedave I spent a large part of my life to the age of about 35 living from hotel to hotel. I always checked the exit route out (before they are as well marked as they are nowadays). I have been in a hotel fire. It wasn't a big one but at least I knew the way out and quickly. It is not knowing the way out when there is no fire that's the problem - but when the room/corridor is full of smoke and there are alarms going off it is not quite as easy. I have been at a folk festival where the main room had to be emptied and quickly. The H and S systems worked. It is bound to happen again - I hope they work next time as well. When MC ing I ask people to locate the nearest exit to them. I reckon that is mostly what is needed. Unless like one venue where there was a door that looked like an exit that wasn't. So you warn people about that too. |
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08 May 08 - 05:07 AM (#2335545) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: GUEST,MC Fat The Folk Police (Health and Safety) Division caused me much embarresment at the Shrewsbury Bellowhead Concert by making me go on stage during the performance to say some announcement about clogging up walkways etc. something which Alan and sandra profusely apologised for them making me do it. I did feel a pillock |
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13 May 08 - 11:10 AM (#2339303) Subject: RE: Health & Safety & the MC From: Mo the caller Instead of an announcement how about a new dance WALK DON'T RUN A1 Men circle Left, in an inner circle while ladies circle outside them A2 men turn and swing the nearest lady, spares go into middle and bring out a partner B1 Right hand turn, Left hand turn B2 2 hand turn and a do-ce-do But warn the dancers that at various point in the dance the caller will give the instruction "walk don't run", and the dancers must promenade their present partner to the nearest exit, and await further instructions. |