Safety Measures in the Lighting Industry

Chapter 1: Introduction and Safety

• Entertainment lighting is exciting and demands hard work.
• It can also be dangerous due to working with heavy/large lighting fixtures, high electrical power, and heights.
• Safety precautions are crucial in the lighting industry.

Chapter 1: Safety

• Theatre and outdoor stage workplaces are dangerous due to electricity and falling equipment.
• Every workplace has hazards that need to be recognised.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is necessary to protect workers.
• PPE varies based on job/task. Common types include head/face, hearing, hand, fall, and foot protection.

Chapter 1: Proper Climbing Techniques and Practices

• Avoid accidents when climbing ladders by ensuring both hands are free, not carrying tools/materials by hand and using ropes for moving materials.
• Always maintain a three-point contact on the ladder.
• Keep your centre of gravity between the ladder's frames.

Chapter 1: Working at Heights

• Work at heights involves many factors, like access type (ladder, scaffold, manlift) and height of work.
• Singapore has Workplace Safety and Health Act (Chapter 354A) and Regulations for Workplace Safety and Health (Work at Heights) that govern work at heights.
• Safety requirements and practices include where possible avoiding heights, using the correct PPE, and undertaking proper working at heights safety training.

Chapter 1: Electricity

• Electricity is dangerous and requires adherence to safe working procedures.
• Electrical accidents are often caused by negligence, incorrect wiring, lack of proper grounding, damage to wiring/equipment, lack of regular maintenance checks, carelessness, and incompetent or unqualified personnel.

Chapter 2: Introduction to Lighting Equipment

• Various lighting equipment types are necessary for a lighting system to function well.
• Equipment is categorized into lighting fixtures, consoles, dimmers, distribution boards, cables, and accessories.

Chapter 2: Lighting Fixtures

• Lighting fixtures are the basic light source in a lighting system.
• They've evolved from candles to sophisticated, multi-functional fixtures using modern technology.
• Types include conventional, moving, and LED fixtures.

Chapter 2: Conventional Lighting Fixtures

• These are the most basic lighting fixtures, acting as the foundation for lighting systems.
• They typically have a lamp inside.
• Some may have options to adjust the beam width or the alignment of the bulb.

Chapter 2: Floodlights

• Floodlights range from 300W to 1500W, with wide beam angles (about 80 degrees).
• Their design offers simplicity and efficiency, but with limited control over light output.
• They usually contain a lamp with no lens and a reflector; reflector may be symmetrical or asymmetrical depending on use.

Chapter 2: Asymmetrical Floodlights

• These are used for washing light across backdrops or cycloramas.
• Light output concentrated at the bottom of the beam.

Chapter 2: Symmetrical Floodlights

• Used for even light distribution over large areas, like outdoor stadiums.
• Produce an even distribution of light.

Chapter 2: Cyclorama Floodlights

• Used to illuminate cycloramas—often, they include multiple floodlights on a batten.
• Commonly used for illuminating backdrops and performing colour washes.

Chapter 2: Fresnel

• Fresnel fixtures range from 300W to 5000W.
• Produce soft-edged beams with varying angles (10-70 degrees).
• Some include barn-doors for light control, typically using tungsten or halogen lamps.
• Their beams have softer edges.

Chapter 2: Parcan

• This fixture comes in various sizes (PAR36 to PAR64) and power ratings (50W - 1kW).
• Commonly used in rock concerts and dance lighting for its intense, fixed parallel beams.

Chapter 2: Profile Spot

• Profile spots range from 500W to 2.5kW, offering controlled, varied beams with sharp or soft edges.
• Control beam shaping via shutters and an iris.
• Offer a zoom function that ranges from 15 to 30 degrees depending on the model.

Chapter 2: Follow Spot

• This type of luminaire is known for its ability to move to focus on performers or objects and is typically more powerful than other spot lights.
• This fixture's power typically ranges from 300W to 5000W.
• Follow spotlights are frequently used for stage performances, where the light is followed with the subject's movement.

Chapter 2: Moving Lights

• Moving lights, also known as automated or intelligent lights, offer versatility.
• Originated to replace multiple non-moving lights. Animation methods include a moving mirror or a moving yoke. Used for many lighting needs.

Chapter 2: Gobos

• An integral part of moving lights, often made from metal or heat-resistant glass.
• Mounted on a rotating wheel to create patterned light effects.

Chapter 2: Spot, Wash, and Beam

• Spot lights focus on specific areas and are often used for highlighting objects or individuals.
• Wash lights produce a more broad, even illumination over wider areas, often used for general stage lighting.
• Beam lights mainly intended for enhanced effects due to wide variety of beam sizes.

Chapter 2: Hybrid Lights

• Many hybrid fixtures incorporate components often used in spot, wash, or beam moving lights.

Chapter 2: Lighting Consoles

• Hardware terminals that use software to control lighting fixtures.
• Primarily use DMX512 standards for communication.
• Four main categories include manual desks for low-end applications, 'live' consoles for concert lighting, 'theatre' consoles for programmed playback, and moving light consoles.

Chapter 2: Lighting Cables / Power

• Power cables transmit power for lighting equipment including 16A cables usually with a blue 3-pin connector and are commonly used for various lighting needs.
• Multipin connectors are suited for demanding applications.
• Signal cables include DMX512 using XLR 5-pin connector for industry standard communication.

Chapter 2: Lighting Accessories

• Accessories are used to enhance lighting fixtures.
• Include things like coloured gels and gobos which can be used to change the appearance and style of light produced.

Chapter 2: Flight Cases

• Cases designed to transport sensitive and valuable equipment.
• Made from various materials (polyethylene, astroboard, PVC, plywood) and are often used for ease of identification, ensuring strength and protection.

Chapter 3: Conventional Lighting Systems

• Power Source to supply power
• Dimmers to control lamp intensity. A system to connect multiple lights.
• Dim Control System, this system connects to the lights.
• Lighting Fixtures for stage lights
• Patching system which includes the system that connects all lights.

Chapter 3: Moving Light Systems

• Moving lights require both power (230V) and DMX data (DMX512 via 5-pin XLR connectors).
• Power must come directly from mains, not dimmers.
• Wiring is a daisy-chain method (output to input).

Chapter 3: DMX Addressing

• Each lighting fixture is assigned a unique DMX address.
• Use standard DMX512 protocol for control, including channel and universe settings.

Chapter 4: Entertainment Rigging

• Rigging equipment are used for suspending objects and positioning items.
• Chain Hoist Motors consist of aluminum housing, DC braking system (including overload protection), block stopper, one-hoe eye shackles etc.
• Motors utilize electrical energy to perform mechanical work (rotation of the shaft), either by DC or AC.
• Advantages include simplicity, reliability, affordability, effective self-starting ability.
• Disadvantages include difficulties and potential problems adjusting speed, and potential decreases in efficiency with greater load.

Chapter 4: Motor Basics

• Electric motors convert electrical energy to mechanical energy.
• Most electric motors depend on interactions between their magnetic fields and electrical currents in coils to make the shaft rotate.
• Three-phase induction motors are common in industrial drives.
• Important factors to consider in motor operation include braking with methods like plug braking, regenerative braking, and dynamic braking and safety precautions due to factors such as load and speed settings.

Chapter 4: Rigging System Safety Requirements

• Rigging work requires a supervisor and an assistant.
• Rigging includes attached equipment like motors, trussing, lighting, and sound systems.
• Rigging tasks must be carefully inspected by structural engineers to ensure compliance with safety requirements, and to prevent equipment failure due to factors like improper use, excessive load, load chain problems, and personnel safety.

Chapter 4: Load factors

• Load safety, and correct rigging is important.
• Consider load amounts and positioning, such as 100%, 50%, 66.6%, etc., to prevent equipment failure and ensure worker and equipment safety. Safe working load requirements should be followed.

Chapter 4: Steel Wire Rope Slings

• Use the rope diameter squared to calculate the safe load (multiply by 8).
• Spansets and colour-coded wire ropes allow easy identification for safe loading.

Chapter 4: Installation Safety

• Important to check rigging equipment before use, placing wires correctly in shackles, not using kinked wires.
• Following precautions prevents potential accidents.

Chapter 4: Trussing

• Trusses are used for carrying loads in a modular and interconnected structure.
• Made mostly of Aluminum for its lightness and durability when compared to steel.
• Loads, in relation to trusses, considered as the weight being supported. Load type and placement, like point loads, play a critical role in how a structure is affected.

Chapter 4: Types of Loads

• Different types of loads—point (CPL), uniformly distributed (UDL), and multiple (multiple points loads)—are categorized by the way they exert force on a structure.
• Each type has unique considerations regarding loading capacity and structural integrity.

Chapter 5: Electrical Power / Introduction to Lighting Equipment

• Electricity poses danger of shock and/or fire, if improperly used.
• Electrical installations need to comply with Singapore’s statutory regulations (including the Electricity Act, Workplace Safety and Health Act, and Fire Safety Act).
• Different regulations and codes of practices are specific to the type of construction or work being undertaken.

Chapter 5: Temporary Electrical Installation

• CP 88 (Code of Practice for Temporary Electrical Installations) supplements the general requirements of CP 5, (Code of practice for electrical installations.).

Chapter 5: Electrical Drawings and Diagrams

• Diagrams aid in understanding a circuit's operation, inter-relationship of parts, and connections.
• Common types include block diagrams, wiring diagrams, schematic diagrams, single-line diagrams, and electrical layout diagrams.

Chapter 5: Electrical Loading

• Electrical loading refers to the total amount of power delivered to a circuit at any given time.
• Measured in watts. This calculation is based on factors like voltage, current, power factor to ensure safety. A load equation is helpful for calculating the necessary current supplied for fixtures.

Chapter 5: Resistance of a Luminare

• Using Ohm's Law (R = V/I), resistance of a lamp (load) can be calculated. The voltage and current values are used.
• Resistance is measured in ohms. Example: Calculating the resistance for a 5 kilowatt light.

Chapter 5: Power Factor

• Power factor shows the percentage ratio of watts to volt amperes.
• Considering power factors is important in equipment (especially those using coils like transformers), and is required for safety reasons, especially in circuits that involve devices like inductors and/or capacitors.

Chapter 6: Maintenance

• Introduction: Predictive maintenance (PdM) is used to predict equipment failure, helping to plan maintenance before failures happen.
  • Factors that lead to mechanical failure include loose connections, overheating and load changes.
  • Environmental conditions, high humidity, corrosive environments, and high dirt and dust levels lead to more downtime.
  • Human error when performing hands-on maintenance.
• Advantages of Predictive Maintenance: Increased safety, improved productivity, reduced downtime, decreased maintenance costs, increased equipment utilization, identifying under-performing equipment, and reducing risk of failures.
• Power System Assessments: Visual inspections of the electrical systems by trained electrical engineers are done to help identify any potential faults or weakness in the system before breakdowns occur.
• Infrared Inspections (Thermography): Thermal imaging helps identify hot-spots, abnormalities, and issues in electrical systems to help identify areas that need attention before they result in equipment failure.
• Online Temperature Monitoring: Provides continuous 24/7 monitoring of critical connections, enabling early detection of conditions that lead to unplanned downtime in electrical systems and equipment.
• Circuit Monitor Analysis (CM): Data from circuit monitors (voltage, current, and power) provides information about the operating status of electrical equipment, especially helping pinpoint moments when excessive or destructive transient events, dips, or surges in power occur.
• Intelligent Protective Devices: Intelligent protective devices like circuit breakers give advance warnings regarding conditions or help prevent electrical equipment or components from failing.
• Maintenance Tips and Steps (General): Checking and maintaining lamps (handling, cleaning), making sure breakers are not tripping, and verifying that dimming system or other components are functioning properly are key elements.
• Maintenance Tips and Steps (Specific): Specific tips on maintaining dimmers (preventing damage by loading), lighting cables and connectors (regular checks and replacement) are part of procedures to maintain good lighting operation for events and/or stage performances.

Chapter 6: Troubleshooting Tools

• Meters for Measuring Electricity (AC/DC voltage, continuity, resistance tests)
• Measuring Voltage (correctly positioning probes on terminals)
• Measuring Frequency (cycles/second measurements of an AC circuit)
• Testing Continuity (using a tester in circuits without power to confirm no break in the line)
• Testing Circuits.
• Voltage Sensor (a device sensing magnetic fields and indicating whether wiring is live ).

Chapter 7: Lighting Design

• Introduction: Visual aspects of lighting in entertainment.
• Visualisation Software: Software for designing and visualizing lighting effects (i.e., Avolites Visualiser and Light Jockey software).
• Objectives of Visualisation Software:
  • Simulate lighting cues on PC monitors.
  • Adjust parameters like intensity, color, beam angle, image size, gobo projection, and light positioning.
  • Check timing effectiveness with script/music/action against visual effects.
• Lighting Design Principles (for Dance):
  • Focus on visibility: intensity, contrast, and direction for subjects on stage.
  • Consider equipment knowledge.
  • A lighting designer uses creativity and collected information to create designs for performances in places like concerts, clubs, or television.
• Lighting Design (for different venues): Specific examples of lighting used in concerts, musicals/dramas, or rock concerts.
• Lighting Scene design in Lighting Console:
  • Using hardware and software to control channels.
• Multiple Scene Presetting:
  • Control multiple lighting cues directly.
• Troubleshooting:
  • Diagnosing and fixing issues or changes in lighting.

Chapter 8: Event Management

• Pre-Production: Importance of planning for pre-production processes in stage performances. Planning and preparation for materials, equipment, and personnel.
• Logistics and Crew: Importance of coordinating resources, including equipment, personnel, and facilities, and addressing access, security, transport, and communication/teamwork.
• Setup: Joint site inspection, handover, move-in plan (order for rigging/lighting, staging/set, sound, and video), and addressing any damages or challenges.
• Safety: Safety issues are of paramount importance for any event and safety must be paramount in all aspects.
• Rehearsals: Types of rehearsals (walk-through, technical, dry run, dress rehearsal, full rehearsal)—these rehearsals determine critical points when problems or areas needing more attention might be revealed.
• Actual Show Run: Sequence of procedures to start the show.
• Strike/Wrapping Up/Tear Down: Sequence of procedures to end the event.
• Technical Rider: Documents and requests concerning equipment and personnel.
• Lighting Programming and Designer Collaboration: The programmer and designer work together during set-up to plan and define the lights' application—especially useful for complex lighting setups.

Chapter 5: Essential Concepts

• Several types of electrical drawings and diagrams (i.e., block diagrams, wiring diagrams, and schematic diagrams) are used in electrical work.
• Electrical loading is measured in watts, with calculations relying on variables like voltage, current, and power factor that are needed for safety reasons.
• Ohm's Law (R = V/I) is essential for calculating resistance for different components, including lamps, ensuring safety.

Chapter 8: Basic Application Issues

• Understanding special issues and requirements associated with different events—concert, theater, or even those related to television production—is key for successful lighting solutions.

Test your knowledge on safety measures and regulations in the lighting industry. This quiz focuses on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), ladder safety, and the importance of adhering to safety protocols while working at heights. Enhance your understanding of workplace safety requirements pertinent to the lighting sector.