Overview

This guideline covers the safety precautions employers and workers should take for work done in dimly-lit or dark conditions.

Live performance often needs low light levels or complete darkness as part of the work. This presents a wide range of hazards, since many safety measures for other elements of a production are likely to rely on good visibility for effectiveness.

While there are no special regulations for working in the dark on a live performance production, the general duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations apply. Other legislation may also apply.

Work that can be done safely under ordinary circumstances can become hazardous once lighting is reduced or eliminated. This guideline was developed to help employers and workers understand and assess some of the risks and assist in planning additional precautions so that work can be done safely in dimly-lit or dark conditions.

This resource does not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations and should not be used as or considered legal advice. Health and safety inspectors apply and enforce these laws based on the facts they find in the workplace.

Terms used in this guideline

This guideline uses several industry-specific terms. These definitions are provided for clarity and guidance only and, unless otherwise noted, are not definitions found under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) or its regulations.

Dark or dimly-lit location/darkened environment – a place where you cannot readily make out the contrast between an object and its shadow.

Front of house area (FOH) – the auditorium and all audience areas.

Public — anyone who is not a worker present at a performance, or other times when work is being done.

Pyrotechnic special effect — an effect where a chemical mixture is used to produce visible or audible effects.

Running lights — any backstage or work area lighting, not part of the visible lighting design of a show, used during performance to provide illumination for worker safety.

Scenic elements — any unit of scenery used as part of the staging of a production.

Spotting light — a small light source in the auditorium, typically mounted on the front of a balcony, used to help performers keep their bearings. The spotting light is not used to light the performance.

Traps — part of the floor or stage that can be opened to provide access to levels below.

Work lights — utility lighting for workspaces, not used to light the performance.

Understand your rights and duties

The main purpose of the OHSA is to protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job. It sets out duties for all workplace parties, including employers and supervisors, as well as duties and rights for workers.

All workplace parties must know their general and specific rights and duties under the OHSA for creating, participating in, and maintaining safe workplaces. In addition, all workplace parties should make themselves familiar with and follow the material contained in this guideline.

Event planning

The safety of the public, performers and production workers is most important in all live performance events that involve working in dark or dimly-lit conditions. Employers have a duty to provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker (Clause 25(2)(a) of the OHSA). Clause 25(2)(h) of the OHSA also requires employers to take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker That’s why the following should be done:

Risk assessment 

For a general overview of the risk assessment process, refer to Risk Assessment for Productions – Safety Guidelines for the Live Performance Industry in Ontario.

When an activity requires work in a dark or dimly-lit place, ordinary safety precautions may not be completely effective. Different or added precautions and protection will be necessary based on the risk assessment. For example:

  • Situations or objects that are safe in a well-lit environment can become hazards for bumps, slips, trips and falls.
  • Ordinary movement of people, equipment, props and scenery become hazards for collision, damage and injury.
  • Guarding, or posted warnings and safety markings that work well in a lit environment lose their effectiveness in the dark.
  • Workers may travel between dark and well-lit areas, and these changes in light levels can create temporary blindness.

Although members of the public and volunteer staff are not covered by the OHSA as workers, they are present while work is being done in performance and some rehearsals, and they should also be considered in safety planning.

Hazards and risks to be assessed for work that takes place in dimly-lit or dark locations include the following:

Dark/light adaptation

Workers may temporarily lose their bearings when moving between light and dark areas or working in situations with extreme changes in lighting levels. This is particularly true with rapid movement, such as in dance. Further, each person’s ability to adapt rapidly to different light levels will vary, and what might be comfortable for one person will be disorienting for another.

Preventive measures to consider:

  • provide instruction on how to achieve and maintain dark adaptation, such as arriving in a darkened location with enough time to adapt to the low light level
  • provide a spotting light to help performers keep their bearings
  • meet and guide performers running offstage from bright lights to darkness until they can find their way in the dark
  • provide extra temporary lighting if necessary, such as having a crew person shine a flashlight to guide someone or light a path
  • make sure that performers onstage in a blackout have access to additional guidance, if necessary

Flying objects and performers, loose props and misplaced items

Anything that is suspended, thrown, left loose onstage, dropped, broken or misplaced is a possible hazard in a dark environment.

Preventive measures to consider:

  • clearly mark launch and landing zones for flying objects or performers, and set those areas off-limits when applicable
  • give advance warning for flying objects
  • secure breakable items and store them out of the way
  • when something breaks, identify the location of broken pieces promptly, inform all present, and clean up at the earliest opportunity
  • clear audience belongings promptly from stages, aisles, and any other place they may present a trip or collision hazard

Hazard zones from other effects or equipment

Hot equipment, open traps, and fog or haze machines, among other things, can create areas of temporary hazard for slips, trips, falls, collision, or burns and scalds.

Preventive measures to consider:

  • Use a physical barrier to prevent access.
  • Add contrasting-coloured, glowing, or lit markers to point out obstructions.
  • Make sure all marking, guarding, and warning indications are effective in the dark.
  • Make sure areas of exposure to sudden loud sound levels are properly identified and guarded in a way that is effective in the dark. Reference should also be made to the Sound Levels Guideline for general precautions.

Low headroom

People tend to look down to ensure safe footing while working in dimly-lit or dark locations, so overhead obstructions may be less noticeable.

Clearly mark and guard low headroom hazards in a manner that is effective in the dark.

Movement of scenery, people, props and equipment

Anything in motion can be hazardous in a darkened environment, since the risk of collision or interference is greater when clearances between scenery, people, props, and equipment are changing and can’t easily be seen.

Preventive measures to consider:

  • Choreograph and rehearse all movement in work light, before performing in the dark or in dim lighting.
  • Do not change movement without advance notice.
  • Discuss and plan for unusual movement or worker presence (for example, special public or audience access, camera crew for performance recording.) A knowledgeable attendant should be present throughout.
  • Outline and mark safe paths in a way that is effective in the dark, including marking both sides of an exit doorway.
  • Provide a tether or a hand-hold for workers on a moving scenic element.

Lighting effects, pyrotechnics and lasers

Sudden extreme changes of light levels in a darkened environment can produce temporary blindness and disorientation.

Preventive measures to consider:

  • Provide and require protective darkened eyewear for spotters.
  • Issue a warning before the effect, so that workers can avoid direct view.

Slipping and tripping hazards

Items, supplies and equipment can be tripping hazards in a darkened environment. Uneven or slippery surfaces are harder to see and navigate in a darkened environment (see floor and other surface requirements in s. 11, Reg. 851).

Preventive measures to consider:

  • Provide adequate work and storage space for each department and worker, so that items can be stored safely out of the way.
  • Clean all work areas on a regular basis. Ensure that workers have the supplies and equipment they need to keep their work areas clean.
  • Position cables, cords and hoses in minimal traffic areas, and always cover/tape down to the floor, or suspend overhead.
  • Liquids and liquid residues from fog, haze or dry ice can create slipping hazards on floors and other surfaces. Apply non-skid paint treatments, mats or adhesive strips to hazardous areas and surfaces, and ensure workers have appropriate footwear for the conditions.
  • Use a flat sill or threshold in any doorways.
  • Mark floor level transitions (such as steps and thresholds) so that they are visible on approach.
  • Mark floor level obstructions in a manner that will be effective in the dark.

Safe work plan

Safe work plans create a structured approach to workplace health and safety through each stage of a production by applying the results obtained through risk assessment, training, and other information, as well as the general and specific obligations under the OHSA.

Since lighting may be limited at many points in the rehearsal and performance process, a safe work plan should address each point when lighting is removed or added, regardless of the activity.

Before the work lights and houselights go out

  • Make sure all workers have received a safety introduction and overview for the worksite.
  • Identify, reduce, and mark all hazards backstage, onstage, and in the front of house.
  • Highlight all riser, stage, stair and other possible floor-level hazards with glow tape, rope lighting, LEDs, or other similar devices visible in dim or dark environments.
  • Set up, test and turn on all backstage and onstage running light systems.
  • Make sure exit signs, aisle and other safety lighting are working, turned on, and visible.
  • Rehearse all hazardous sequences under work lights until they can be done with accuracy, confidence, and safety in performance-level lighting. Examples of hazardous sequences are dance, stage combat and stunt choreography, and changes to scenic elements, lighting equipment, speakers or microphones.
  • Make sure costumes, props and moving scenery are ready and in place.
  • Make sure audience members are seated (or in place, where fixed seating is not used) before the house lights go out.
  • Give flashlights to all FOH staff for emergencies and for safely seating latecomers.
  • Announce to workers that the work lights and houselights will be going out.

When the work lights and houselights go out

  • Keep all unnecessary movement to a minimum.
  • Work that is not a rehearsed part of the performance should not be done from ladders, scaffolding or personnel lifts. Some exceptions are lighting, laser or projection focus.
  • Wait until work lights are turned on before performing any technical work that is not immediately necessary. This especially applies to work that would be more hazardous if done in a dark or dimly-lit workspace (for example, work involving power tools.)
  • Make sure there is always reliable communication between key workers.
  • Make sure all movement onstage and backstage is conducted safely, and as previously rehearsed.
  • Use flashlights, as necessary, to light pathways, and highlight obstructions.
  • Rotate jobs between shifts to ease eye fatigue or eye strain on FOH staff.
  • Instruct all workers to speak up if they discover any new hazards and point out they have a duty to do so under the Act (clause 28(1)(d) of the OHSA).
  • Determine and announce a safe word to stop all action. Make it clear that every worker has permission to use it at any time.

After the lights are restored

Be aware that after working in the dark for some time, workers may temporarily lose their bearings when lights return to higher levels. Allow some time for workers to adapt to higher light levels before continuing work.

Contact us

If you need more information, please contact the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Health & Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008 on Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or webohs@ontario.ca.

Authors

This guideline was developed and revised by the following industry professionals on the Pyrotechnics Sub-committee of the Advisory Committee for the Safety Guidelines for the Live Performance Industry in Ontario.

Current

Mark Lavaway, Mirvish Productions
Miriam Newhouse, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association
Jim Steele
Allan Teichman, Stage Manager