Module 1 – Noise Regulations at Work The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (the Noise Regulations) came into force for all industry sectors in Great Britain on 6 April 2006 (except for the music and entertainment sectors where they come into force on 6 April 2008). The aim of the Noise Regulations is to ensure that workers' hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work, which could cause them to lose their hearing and/or to suffer from tinnitus (permanent ringing in the ears). The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 replace the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 (except for the music and entertainment sectors where the 1989 Regulations will continue to apply until 6 April 2008). The level at which employers must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones is now 85 decibels (daily or weekly average exposure) and the level at which employers must assess the risk to workers' health and provide them with information and training is now 80 decibels. There is also an exposure limit value of 87 decibels, taking account of any reduction in exposure provided by hearing protection, above which workers must not be exposed.
Background to the Noise Regulations Both the 1989 and the 2005 sets of noise regulations are based on European Union Directives requiring similar basic laws throughout the Union on protecting workers from the health risks caused by noise. They do not apply to members of the public exposed to noise from their non-work activities, or when they make an informed choice to go to noisy places or from nuisance noise. The 2005 Noise Regulations replace the 1989 Noise Regulations and introduce new requirements for action to be taken by employers. For example, the 2005 Regulations require employers to take action to protect workers at levels of noise 5 decibels lower than in the 1989 Regulations and now require health surveillance (hearing checks) for workers regularly exposed above 85 decibels. Compliance with the Noise Regulations will allow workers' hearing to be protected.
Introduction • • •
Noise is part of everyday life, but loud noise can permanently damage your hearing. Young or old, once you lose your hearing you can never get it back. New regulations have been introduced to better protect workers from noise at work from April 2006.
Am I at risk? You are at risk if you can answer 'yes' to any of these questions about the noise where you work: • • • •
•
•
Is the noise intrusive - like a busy street, a vacuum cleaner or a crowded restaurant - for most of the working day? Do you have to raise your voice to have a normal conversation when about 2 m apart for at least part of the day? Do you use noisy powered tools or machinery for over half an hour a day? Do you work in a noisy industry, eg construction, demolition or road repair; woodworking; plastics processing; engineering; textile manufacture; general fabrication; forging, pressing or stamping; paper or board making; canning or bottling; foundries? Are there noises because of impacts (eg hammering, drop forging, pneumatic impact tools etc), explosive sources such as cartridge-operated tools or detonators, or guns? Do you have muffled hearing at the end of the day, even if it is better by the next morning?
Symptoms and early signs of hearing loss • • • • •
Conversation becomes difficult or impossible Your family complains about the television being too loud You have trouble using the telephone You find it difficult to catch sounds like 't', 'd' and 's', so you confuse similar words Permanent tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears) can also be caused
Generally hearing loss is gradual. By the time you notice it, it is probably too late. We want to prevent hearing loss before it happens. You can also suffer instant damage from very loud or explosive noises.
Real examples : Dye house A dyer who worked in a dyehouse for 15 years had a hearing check and was found to have 50% hearing loss at the age of 37. He now has problems using the phone, and needs - an amplifier. Traffic is hard to hear unless he is right next to it, so crossing a road becomes stressful. When driving he often stays in 3rd gear too long as he can't hear the engine revving. Hearing loss could have been prevented with hearing protection. Textile A woman working in the textiles industry, only realised something needed to be done about her hearing loss when at the age of 40 she could not hear the phone ringing any more. Such hearing loss could have been prevented in the short-term with hearing protection. In the longer term, other ways of reducing exposure included quieter machines, maintenance, and changing job patterns. Orchestra A trombone player suffered dulling of his hearing after 20 years of playing. These problems may have been avoided if the orchestras he played in had tried different layouts or used risers that allowed him to play over the heads of those in front - rather than use them as human sound absorbers! He could also have tried to get used to wearing flat response earplugs so that he could still hear all frequencies. DJ A 24-year-old DJ found that, after working in a club where the sound system was particularly loud, he went home with a ringing sensation and it took several days for his ears to recover. The ringing in one ear has never completely stopped and he has become sensitive to loud music. He is now careful to wear suitable earplugs when DJ-ing.
Tasks and industries Jobs and industries most likely to involve noise include: • • • • • • • •
Construction Demolition or road repair Woodworking Plastics processing Engineering Textile manufacture General fabrication Forging, pressing or stamping
• • •
Paper or board making Canning or bottling Foundries
Tools Tools and equipment that can cause hearing loss include: • • • • • •
Hammering Drop forging Pneumatic impact tools etc Drills Chainsaws Explosive sources such as cartridge-operated tools or detonators, or guns
How do I protect myself? Co-operate. Help your employer to do what is needed to protect your hearing. Make sure you use properly any noise control devices (eg noise enclosures), and follow any working methods that are put in place. Also attend hearing checks. This means you need to take some responsibility for your hearing. Wear any hearing protection you are given. Wear it properly (you should be trained how to do this), and make sure you wear it all the time when you are doing noisy work, and when you are in hearing protection areas. Taking it off even for a short while means that your hearing could still be damaged. Remember that there is no cure for deafness. Look after your hearing protection. Your employer should tell you how to look after it and where you can get it from. Make sure you understand what you need to do. Report any problems with your hearing protection or noise control devices straight away. Let your employer or safety representative know. If you have any ear trouble, let your employer know. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Module 2 - Manual Handling Manual handling is accountable for most of the injuries which occur in the work place, and it is normally the jobs that you do every day without thinking which will catch you out. As an employee it is your responsibility to make sure that you take care in your activities in order not to put others around you at risk.
Although it is a matter of judgement as to how high a risk of injury each load possesses, there are various factors which can be observed in people at risk from varying loads. General things to look out for include puffing and sweating, awkward or heavy loads, bad posture, back trouble et cetera. This document gives you a guide to safe methods of lifting and carrying and does not count as a certified form of training. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Module 3 - Working at Height and Rigging The Competent Person “…a person having such practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of equipment which is to be tested, examined or certified that will enable him/her to detect defects or weaknesses which is the purpose of the inspection to discover and to asses the safety of equipment. The competent person should have the maturity to seek out specialist advice and assistance as may be required to enable him/her to make the necessary judgments and to be of sound judge of the extent to which he/she can accept the supporting opinions of other specialists. He/she must be able to certify with confidence whether it is free from patent defect and suitable on every way for the duty for which the equipment is required.” [Lifting Equipment Engineers Association] The working at height regulations apply to all work at height where there is the possibility of a risk or fall, which may meet with personal injury. It is your duty to: • Report to the employer any safety hazard, this includes equipment. • Use the equipment supplied (including safety devices) properly, following any training instructions (unless you consider this unsafe where it is then your duty to seek further instructions), As the employee if you are required to wear PPE (personal protective equipment) then you must do so – this are not always supplied by the employer, but where it is it is a required that you use it if deemed necessary in order to complete a particular task.
Ladders, Towers and Tallescopes Ladders are generally the most common type of access equipment. When using a ladder (also known as an ‘A’ frame) an element of balance is required, this generally relies upon the user and the condition of the floor. Regarding ‘lean to’ ladders, to ensure that it is secure the ladder needs to be at an approximate 75 degree angle (four across for each one up). Where the ladder is footed (when practical this must be done – especially with ‘lean-to’ ladders), the main risks; as with any access equiptment; to consider are the condition of equipment and the competency of the user. Fig 1; www.littlegiantladders.com Fig 2; www.zarges.com
Fig. 3; www.knysnaequipmenthire.co.za
Tallescopes are widely used in larger venues; normally on a stage or in a studio where they are easier to manoeuvre. The top of the tallescope has a ‘basket’, not unlike a cherry picker, where a competent person stands and carries out the particular task (i.e. focusing). Before ascending the tallescope it is important to ensure that breaks are firmly in place and that the two persons footing the tallescope are focused on the task at hand. It is important to ensure that the ladder is fixed safely in place. When at the top of a tallescope there will be a slight movement; this is normal. Where possible avoid moving the tallescope whilst there is a person in the basket – if you are focusing lights then a short move from light to light horizontally along a bar, the stage etc. is acceptable (you will still need to assess and provide a risk assessment for the situation which would then need be accepted by your health and safety representative). Although short moves are acceptable, moving from bar to bar with the basket occupied should not be undertaken with some one in the basket. Where there are numerous bars or numerous small clusters of lights which require focusing, it is important for fatigue to be considered, as assent and decent of the tallescope are where most accidents are likely to occur. Access towers are made of scaffolding and are generally considered the safest form of access equipment. Like all equipment it requires regular checks/inspections and providing it is assembled by a competent person very little
can happen in way of accidents, with the largest risk being during assembling / dismantling, where tower is unlikely to be stable – always follow the manufacturers’ instructions when disassembling/assembling. Always ensure that you have enough people to assemble the tower and as always check that it is safe before ascending – as always if your unsure, ask.
Equipment Inspection When to check equipment • • •
Make a visual inspection prior to use (this applies to all equipment). When conducting a periodic inspection service repairs/maintenance Statutory Inspection, generally when required by law i.e. when following exceptional circumstances, annually, PAT testing (portable appliance testing) etc.
Pre use checking As a user make a pre use check of all equipment. If you are unsure as to whether or not it is safe, do not guess. If there is no safe working load on equipment, then do not use it. If you are unsure of anything, ask your supervisor. Common examples of pre use damage include but not limited to: Bent or damaged steel wire rope [SWR] (i.e. frayed/loose threads rust etc). Slings, shackles without safe working loads upon it. Damaged chain on hoists. Damage on hauling lines (i.e. stretched, loose threads, core showing). Dead ends of SWR being pulled into the ferrule. Sharp edges to ladders Loose rungs on ladders Missing hooks (that go over the rungs of ladders, on lean to and most A frame ladders). Severe wobbling of access equipment.
Basic Rigging As there is a lot to cover here and although it would be impossible to cover it all the relevant basics you need to know for what is available in the venues is here. A list of recommended reading at the end of the document, many of which have been used for sources.
Check the weight load Before any lifting or rigging can occur it is advised that you work out the weight of the load prior to being rigged. Not only so you do not exceed the bars maximum weight limit, but you also need to account for the various cabling too. Where more than one support is required for a load you need to consider where the weight is being held, for example, with simple beams, where there is a uniform load and a support at each end, both the supports will carry half the weight each, but where there are three supports (a third located in the centre of the bar) it is the centre support that will carry around 62% of the weight and the others 19% each; this is because the bar is trying to sag in the centre and therefore has to do more work than the other two. There are two main loading conditions of interest to riggers, these are “uniform” loads and “point” loads. Uniform loads are spread loads, although it is improbable that you will get this spot on, although the phrase is used. Point loads are where you have a concentrated point supporting the weight, i.e. a speaker on a beam. 19% 62% 19%
With regards to the lighting beams here at Essex University you only need to take into account how much weight a bar can carry and ensure that it is spread evenly. Generally lights will be attached to a bar via a G clamp (called so due to it’s shape), the butterfly bolt on the clamp should be securely fixed, and the secondary safety must remain in place whilst focusing, or moving as much as is practically possible. Hanging Lanterns and speakers at height When rigging lanterns or speakers, it is important that you and also those around you are safe. Measures to be taken may include having persons working at the bottom of a ladder wearing safety helmets and possibly wearing gloves to prevent injury from any hot/sharp edges. Lanterns are best rigged through the use of a scaffolding/access tower. Where the lanterns can be taken up and down, and the person working can attach them to bars whilst ascending. It is necessary that the person(s) working on the tower are competent to do so and are covered by insurance, as although the access tower is the safest form of access equiptment, accessing the top from the ground is possibly the most hazardous part. When climbing, still use the safety to hang the lanterns as a precautionary measure. Although this is the
preferred method, where access is limited it is best to employ a second person in assisting with the use of a ladder and then passing up the object to the person at the top. Again both these methods should only be executed when direct access to the bar through either a gantry or having the bar lowered (flown) in. Most equipment is hung through use of G clamps these are easily identified by their shape, and normally several would be attached to larger objects in order to support the weight better. Where more than one G clamp is used, it is best to use your judgement as to whether a second or third safety is required. You can normally tell whether the item in question will require an extra line for safety by its weight and size (i.e. will it hit someone were it to fall). Shackles There are many different types and sizes of shackle; the most common one you shall come across is the screw pin shackle. This has a threaded pin and the body arcs round into a D shape (see picture top left). When using a shackle, you should always select one that is suitable for the task, you can tell this by the weight limit on stamped onto the body of the shackle. It is important that you never use a shackle that does not have a weight limit (WLL or SWL) stamped onto it nor one where the pin is difficult to remove. The pin on a shackle should only ever be done up finger tight and never tightened with a secondary object such as pliers etc. Round shackles and bolt pin shackles (middle and bottom left) have a bent thread of wire through one end of the pin. This is to prevent movement and the shackle causing You should always check each shackle prior to use, any shackle with a worn thread, cracks, twisting or other deformities should not be used. Is it also important that any shackle should always retain its original pin. Regardless of whether or not the shackle was made at the same time as another/from the same batch – each pin is unique to its body, by replacing it with another could cause a misfit (i.e. pin could be too small, threads don’t run together) or malfunction in its work; also never replace a shackle with a bolt!
If you need to be sure of the security of a pin threat a cable tie through the hole in the pin and again round the body of the shackle, this will not only prevent any movement but also will give you an idea as to if it is has moved by whether or not the plastic is stretched. In order to get maximum efficiency out of a shackle use it with the pin pointing down and the body up, this way the SWL of the shackle is 100% where as with the body and pin left to right of each other the SWL is at 50% of its original. Safety lines All equipment rigged at height needs to have a safety line as a secondary precaution. Normally the lines used are chains, or steel wire rope (SWR). SWR is preferable, as it will take the weight of the object (i.e. light, speaker) over a larger area evenly, unlike a chain. The secondary line must be able to take more than the weight of the object, after all what is the point of having a par can weighing about 2.5 kg seconded by a line that holds 1kg, were the G clamp to fail, the line would not be able support the weight. Although it is not illegal to dog the ends of SWR it is preferred that ends are ferruled, since this method is more secure and the rope is less likely to move through the ferrule. You are also able to see when the rope has moved as the end should be with minimal excess, and not dragged inside the ferrule. Where dogs are used it is important that each termination, also as with ferrules, is checked before each use and at regular intervals during their use for any movement or damage. Some types of dogs are unsuitable to be used with lifting lines, and it is best to check with the manufacture prior to use where unsure.
Where you are putting the lines together yourself, dogged ends should be left for 24 hours once positioned, checked for movement and then retightened. The lines will also need to be weight tested. Depending on the thickness and SWR which you are using will depend on how much weight a line can carry. Width of SWR Breaking load (mm) (aprox) 2
0.33 Tonnes
3
0.73 Tonnes
4
1.29 tonnes
5
2.20 Tonnes
6
2.88 Tonnes
The table to the left gives an approximate idea as to the weight that various diameters will hold; when load testing it is important that you test double the amount of weight that the rope is expected to carry, in order to prevent any adverse surprises. The widths included are the ones you are likely to require use of the most within the venues.
Keep the Bars Tidy but most importantly safe! As a lot of the lighting bars in the venues are visible to the public, it is important that any lanterns, speakers, moving lights etc are rigged as neatly as possible, try and get the cables to sit on top of the beams so that they are masked, and try and stick to using tape which is of the same colour as the cables and bars. It may seem like a small thing, but it’s the details which can give the impression of a professionally run venue and a hap handed attempt. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Module 4 - Lighting Induction With Essex University having plenty of variation regarding performers and acts which perform in the numerous venues, it is important for the audience to see a visual variation from act to act. This can easily be done with through various lighting stages/effects. Here we’ll cover what you need to know to put a basic rig together, the design element comes later.
Type of Lantern
Depending on what type of effect you are looking to achieve will affect the type of lantern you will use, as various types of lanterns give different washes of light. Below are some of the more common lanterns which you shall come across. Flood lights Although there are numerous types of flood lights around the basic make consists of a lamp with a reflector behind. The beam with and angle remain the same, these lights are great for giving a generic wash to an area (hence called flood lights) and barn doors are used to focus the beam to specific areas. There are two basic principals with flood lighting, these are symmetrical and asymmetrical. Symmetrical
Suitable for general use, such as lighting a window or a door.
Asymmetrical
Gives an even wash of light when positioned near the top of a cyclorama.
Symmetrical Reflector
Asymmetrical Reflector
Sometimes you will come across an edge of a barn door which has been shark toothed. This is in order to give the beam a softer edge, where as enclosed floods are best for general internal washes such as front of house. Flood lights also are available in rows, which can be used for down lighting or up lighting. An example of a shark toothed edge on a flood light.
Parcans Due to there being lots of differing types of parcans, I’m going to focus on a few, although the principal is practically the same for all of them. The parcan is generally a can which houses a PAR (Parabolic Aluminumised Reflector), and is available in a wide range of beam angles. The Par56 are slightly smaller versions of the Par64, chances are if you’ve ever been to a live venue, you will have come across a Par64 at some point; these lights are widely used for gigs and concerts due to their point and go style.
Short nose units have advantages and disadvantages. Whilst their size makes them more compact and great for a wider angle, they tend to burn through gels faster and cause light spillage, where as braces cans are great for having heavy units such as scrollers attached. An example of a Parcan
Pinspots, such as the par 36, have a very narrow and high intensity beam, these are generally used for mirror balls and highlighting objects/props, for example table centers at events like the Comedy Awards etc. These lights also come in a flood light form, these are units which consist of up to eight lamps clustered together. Again because of the intensity of the light they have a tendency to be used in larger venues and outdoors. Depending on the type of bulb that you have for the lantern will depend on the type of beam you get. Different bulbs adjust the beams in regards to diameter.
PARCAN BEAM ANGLES (Par 64) UK/Europe lamps.
Name Extra Wide Flood (Often known as EXG)
Medium Flood Narrow Spot Very Narrow Spot
1000W CP95 CP62 CP61 CP60
500W CP??
Volts 240
Beam Angle
CP88 CP87 CP86
240 240 240
11 x 24째 10 x 14째 9 x 12째
70 x 70째
Frensels [pronounced Frennel] and PC (Pebble Convex) The frensel lantern is a soft edged spot light with more control over the beam angle than a flood but less control than a profile. The beam of the lantern can be adjusted by moving the reflector closer (flooding) and further (spotting) to the bulb.
An example of a frensel
The bulb was originally designed for use in lighthouses, in order to achieve a longer focal length so that they could be seen further out to see, and made with a lot
less glass. The PC has a characteristic soft edge, and although rarely used in the US, they are fairly common place in Europe. This lantern like the frensel has only one knob to change the beam angle. Profile
An example of a PC
Profiles are the most versatile of the lanterns being able to produce a versatile beam which can be sharpened and focus accurately. Again as with Parcans there are so many variations of these that I am just going to focus on a few. Zoom profiles (left) have tow lenses and are best put to use projecting gobos as they are fully adjustable throughout the angle range of the profile. This type of profile is known by its beam angle i.e. Prelude 16/30. Bifocal profiles (above right) have only one lens but two sets of shutters, one set give a soft beam and the other a hard edge. Follow spots (below left) are possibly the only lantern to have a song written about them (Abba’s ‘Super Trouper’). These lights are an adaptation of a profile, and are used to provide a focus point for the audience. This lantern tends to draw much more power than its smaller brothers and with additional controls, extra handles, sights and a built-in colour changer and iris. Being a follow spot operator means that you could be hanging in the grid of a large arena or stuck at the back of a balcony in a theatre, either way it’s a specialist skill which relies on the ability to pick up the act accurately with the correct focus, as these are usually worked live.
Focusing and Plotting When you get rid of all the technical jargon focusing a lantern is as simple as pointing a light at the required spot and adjusting the beam. The focus is generally led by the lighting designer; this person will also have decided which type of light they want and where exactly they require it to be. In theatre the lighting designer (sometimes written in short as LD) will usually have an evening session to focus an entire rig, sometimes more sometimes less depending on the production requirements. The lighting designer will have a list on them detailing how the rig is patched, and will call up via the use of the patching numbers the light they will focus. The crew member will focus the light directed by the lighting designer.
The plotting session can begin once the focus is completed. Generally, more so during the plotting than the focus, there will be a volunteer on the stage playing the role of ‘the blind man’. This person is told where to stand in relation to where the performers will later be. The plotting session is (generally) when the lighting designer brings up various lights and programming states into the board. Consisting of several basic lighting states, the designer will then add specials to give various and differing effects. Specials could be as simple as a lantern with a gobo, or an illuminated side lamp. Technical terms used in a focus Hot Spot The mid point/centre of the beam (should be the brightest point) Spot and Flood The narrowing/widening of a beam. Sharpen To create a crisp edge to an image/beam of light Pan To move the lantern left or right Tilt To move the lantern up or down Lock off To have finished one command and move on to the next Peaking To remove the hot spot (this is advanced focusing so not something which you will need to worry about now). Shutters The gates on a profile which cut off the edges of the beam. Barn Doors The gates on a fresnel which cut off the edge of a beam.
Green Day; Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco Nightwish, 21st October 2005 Hartwall Areena, Finland. Photos Jarmo Lautamski.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you have any queries, concerns, issues or do not understand any aspect of the details listed above, please speak to you Team leader or Line-Manager for clarification straight away.
Module 5 – Principles of Lighting
Lantern + Colour + Position + Focus = Lighting In Lighting induction you will have covered the basics, how to focus a lantern to the designers instructions, now we are going to look at some of the design basics.
Colour Mixing The three primary colours of light are red, blue and green. Unlike paint, when these three colours are mixed together they produce white. The secondary colours are yellow, cyan and magenta (these are generally the colours of the filters which you will find in moving lights, and the type of colour you finish with relies on how much of each colour filter you have within the beam). Subtractive colour is a colour which removes one or more of the colours from light [see diagram opposite]. This is what we use gels for, i.e. green gel removes blue and red from the white light, leaving the green light to reflect back to the eye. In regards to the secondary colours, let’s use yellow. The yellow gel removes the entire blue element from the white light, leaving the red and the green to bounce back into the eye – and as the red and green light mix together the colour which we see is yellow. The diagram to the left is an example of a colour chart. If you imagine where the two dots are at the end of each line is a lamp with the colour gel of where the dot is located, (i.e. red and cyan); depending on how strong the lights are going through the particular gel depends on what colours you can have traveling along that line (i.e. red, magenta/red, magenta, white and so on). If you get the chance spend an afternoon playing with the lighting desk bringing up various colours and seeing which look good together; make a mental note and use them in the future combinations. Also if you get the chance to have a ‘play’ with some moving lights, try adjusting the various filters to see what colours you can make Courtesy of home.att.net/~B-P.TRUSCIO/COLOR.htm
Light Direction Bounce
Light has a tendency to bounce. This is where a light/reflective surface causes light to bounce (like in a mirror) of off one surface onto another. Factors that add to the amount of bounce on a surface include the colour and texture and angle in relation to the light source. A prime example of this is the moon, an object which produces no light of its own, yet we can see it at night. This is because the light from the sun hits the moon and bounces off of its surface into our eyes. The arrows in the diagram opposite point in the direction that the light goes, where there is the darker rim of light around the ball this is where the least amount of light hits, at the base you’ll notice that there is a dim glow – this is the bounced light; called so because it bounces off an object to illuminate another.
Direction The direction of the lantern will effect how the stage is lit and can emphasize a performance. Where music and gigs are concerned, although it is important to light the bands, you can get away with more than with theatre. This is because the audience has come to listen to the music. Go for dramatic lighting to empathies parts or the dramatic climax to a song, and strategically placed moving lights are ideal for this. Where you have more than one band performing, as the last act are the headliners it’s a visual plus for the audience if you add something special, why not include several moving lights where the pervious band had only pars.
The yellow lights are small movers situated on top of the speakers; these can be angled to light (in this case) the
vocalist from numerous angles and adds emphasis to the climax of the song.. [Lacuna Coil, London Forum, 05-03-2006, photo by Shelley Abel]
Front lighting can be quite harsh on the eye, as it tends to flatten the object. A soft front lighting can be complementary and fill in any shadows missed by side lighting.
Front lighting Back lighting
Back lighting is used to give a silhouette to an object or person, the shadows which it creates can be quite dramatic if used correctly. Down lighting shadows the eyes whilst highlighting the brow and tip of the nose. Up lighting will highlight the chin, and the brow, there will still be a slight shadow around the nose. Side lighting looks good when used with down/up lighting, as it fills in many of the shadows left.
Specials Lights known as ‘specials’ cover a wide variety, they can be a simple object such as a table lamp (yes this would need PAT testing) to several large video screens (such as in ‘We Will Rock You’). Generally unless you are playing/working on a major gig, such as Wembley Arena your specials will probably be the moving lights and these will generally be reserved for the head line act.
Moving Lights Moving lights are exactly that, lights that move. They can be a really good thing to have as they are versatile, especially as you don’t need to gel them, as they have colour filters. Also you only need two crew to focus them (the first being the lighting designer, and the second being the board operator) as this can all be done at the lighting desk. Moving lights are great for chase sequences, narrow beams for down or spot lighting, lighting the audience and, some lights can even be fitted with specific gobos.
Gobos There are two types of gobos, the first being metal and the second being made of glass. These are generally used in fennels to achieve a specific effect, and can be bought form a wide catalogue or made using the right tools. The shape cut into a metal gobo will allow light through in the specific design, i.e. a window or forest floor effect, where as a glass gobo will have a design on it with variations of shade and, in some cases colour. The image with a glass gobo works much like a projection showing shade and colour, where as a metal gobo works more like a shadow puppet in reverse and blocks the light which is not in the particular shape. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you have any queries, concerns, issues or do not understand any aspect of the details listed above, please speak to you Team leader or Line-Manager for clarification straight away.
Module 6 - Strobe Lighting; Recommended Precautions When using a strobe light in any venue, there are numerous details that need to be taken into account.
The main issue with the use of any strobe lighting effect it the possibility of causing an epileptic fit. Although most people are unsusceptible to this, if the strobe light exceeds a certain number of flashes per second or the recommended time of constant use, it has been known to cause sickness, migraines and other adverse symptoms in persons without epilepsy. Where a strobe is used keep the flicker rate (the number of flashes) to a maximum of four per second (recommended by the HSE), at this rate the risk of an attack is reduced to an estimated 5% of the flicker sensitive population (where as having the rate between fifteen and twenty flashes per second 96% of flickersensitive individuals were effected). It is important to have numerous strobes synchronised with each other, so as not to exceed the maximum four flashes per second. Although according to Epilepsy Action and the HSE there is no maximum time limit on the use of a strobe, it does not mean that you can go to the extremes with this. If someone does have epilepsy it would only take a short period of time for a fit to occur. Even people who are not photosensitive can have an adverse reaction to a strobe where there is a high flicker rate or through prolonged use; the symptoms can include sickness and migraine. I would recommend keeping periods of use to a maximum of 30 seconds where long periods are absolutely necessary (i.e. part of an act like a magician), otherwise stick to a 15 second limit. Where possible reduce the glare of the strobe. This can be done by bouncing the light off of walls and ceilings, where the surface is matt – NOT glazed as this will incur a higher light frequency through bounce; also by mounting the light as high as possible you can reduce the risk further.
For any further inquiries, please contact either the HSE or Epilepsy Action: HSE 0845 345 0055 Epilepsy Action 0808 800 5050 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Module 7 – Lone working & closing the venue Lone Working Ensure that the task is carried out by a competent individual and that they are sure on what is required to complete the task. If task is going to take a substantial period of time, it is the duty of the individual to contact their crew chief/duty manager on a regular basis (usually every hour) to update situation. If anything in this period of time has happened to the individual/there has been no contact then it is up to the crew chief/duty manager to investigate.
When an individual is working with electricity, it is recommended that the individual asses the nature of the task as to whether a second person is required. If your being electrocuted it is unlikely that you will also be able to cut the power! Closing the Venue The crew are key in the closure of the venue, and are asked to assist in the “closing down” of the club. This will involve turning the lights off, turning off the AMP’s, DJ equipment, lighting desks, main power and other lighting still on. Any fire exits should be checked for obstruction, whether they are secure or need attention. If the latter is the case the duty manager should be informed immediately. It is the Duty Manager’s responsibility to double check, lock and arm the venue with the alarm system. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you have any queries, concerns, issues or do not understand any aspect of the details listed above, please speak to you Team leader or Line-Manager for clarification straight away.
Module 8 - Cable Maintenance Cables can cause injury if they are not looked after properly. It is important that they are frequently inspected, the type of things you should look out for are: Damage to the outer casing of the cable (this is normally rubber or plastic. Damage to the plug and/or connectors. Weathering to the casing, this could be due to location or temperature.
It is important that when in use cables are secured in the grip at either the plug end or the connectors, with some equipment, i.e. DMX, the connector will click when it is slotted into place. Others such as 16amp plugs and multicores require the plugs be encased due to the large amount of power they are carrying. Generally with larger cables and multicore the ends have to have the casing lid flipped open before connecting to the socket or dimmers etc. Although casing is a means of protection, it is still important to check all connections and cables prior to use, each time you use them (even if hired as there maybe something the company over looked). Make sure you do not have more than one phase circuit to a boom and ensure that all equipment is in good condition. Where you have a damaged cable take it out of service and replace it. If it can be repaired ensure that it is a competent person or an electrician who does so. When conducting a visual inspection, check not only the casing but also the pins of any plugs - even if these have a protective covering. Generally this is to prevent injury to self when the cable is plugged in at one end and not the other rather than to actually protect the plug. It is important to make sure that the earth connection is in working order. This is essential as were the cable to pass inspection and still an accident to happen, the electrical current is going to look for the quickest way to earth, and being that the human body is about two thirds water, that route would just happen to be you! By having an earth cable, you are, in effect, giving the current a ‘short cut’ to earth, and there for lowering the probability of electrocution and the possibility of death were something adverse to occur.
Housekeeping In order to keep your cables in good condition whilst in storage it is important that they are coiled properly. The best way to do this is to see which way they naturally want to coil and loop the cable (depending on its size, but generally with smaller lengths and widths) from around your hand to about your elbow. You can tell if you have a loop out of sync as it tries to work itself into a figure eight shape, normally all you need to do to solve this is to coil that particular loop in reverse to the earlier ones (i.e. instead of clockwise, go anticlockwise). Finally either use PVC/LX tape to bind the cable together or use a cable tidy, generally a strip of Velcro which is stitched around the cable and holds it in a coil. Try and store cables off the floor in case of and leaks which may occur and do not strain or force the cords into shape (and it will make your life easier in the long run if you colour code different lengths of cable).
Module 9 – General Equipment Maintenance & Visual Inspection A visual inspection of equipment will often be a tell tale sign that something needs attention. For example dust build up near fan casings on lights, a bent slider on a mixer, beer stains or just not operating at all can be the most obvious that something needs attention. If anything like frayed or stray power cables;
especially hanging from a ceiling is seen you must report this immediately to you crew boss and a Duty Manager. Often the first signs of problems are visual clues so educate yourself on what to look out for, we all have a duty of care under health and Safety to be aware and take responsibility in maintaining a safe working environment. This is a broad area and therefore we shall split it into sections : DJ Equipment The Mixers, CDJ’s, Technics decks all get used on a regular basis and are subject to moisture, split drinks, and general dirt/grease build up. As the smoking policy is imminent any build up from cigarette ash will be a thing of the past. With this in mind if your hands are excessively dirty or dusty please wash them before using the equipment. The equipment must be cleaned regularly each week and a member of crew appointed to the task. All equipment in each venue ( Top Bar, Level 2, SU Bar, Mondo and Sub Zero ) must be checked and cleaned each week in term time. Knobs and sliders should be removed and the correct cleaning solution used, CDJ’s should only need a light wipe and any major spillages reported immediately to one of the Ents managers, if not picked up on spot checks before opening. Lighting, Power amps, computers, ( text to screen ) etc Anything that can get a build up of dust etc should be checked via a log and hovered as appropriate. Dust build up on fans and casing can cause overheating and eventual failure of major components if not checked regularly. This applies to anything that has a fan to keep it cool. You will be surprised on how quickly this can build up when regular trading nights are underway. At regular intervals ( between term time ); lights such as the Futureheads in Mondo, and Comars in Sub Zero should be taken apart and cleaned. The main AMP’s should also be cleaned with a hoover where the fans suck in air at the back, a build up and clogging will cause overheating if not checked once in a while. Mixing desks with sliders and knobs can collect grease and dirt from constant use and it is also an idea to clean these as once sliders or knobs on any piece of equipment gets dirty crackles, pops or drop outs can occur. This can usually be solved with cleaning with spray solvent ( Alcohol based ) or tightening surrounding screws. If either of these two solutions do not solve the issue, the slider may have to be replaced or equipment inspected further to isolate the problem.
Mains leads, Audio leads, earthing cables, cables to monitors As you will have read in the cable maintenance module, it is important to consider when packing away the longevity of leads. Earthing problems with Technics record decks are a regular and typical example of this. Main rule of thumb is if you see something not right or broken flag it up straight away, minutes before a performance or opening of an event is not the time to be solving issues like re-wiring and problem solving on the fly. DJ monitors and leads can get pulled and damaged very easily, knocks and twists can cause problems and should be checked if no sound is heard if all plugged up correctly. Please make sure that only MONO connectors are used in the back of the monitors like the JBL’s. These are non-balanced and if STEREO plugs are used distortion can occur. If in doubt ask your crew boss or Ents manager. Leads that are covered in Gaffa tape, beer or are twisted will break down quickly and if you see any like this deal with as soon as possible, not whilst setting up for an important gig though ! your Crew Boss should set up a regular schedule for these tasks though out term time. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Module 10 - Fire Alarm and Evacuation Procedure CONDITION – DISCOVERY OF FIRE/FIRE ALARM SOUNDING
LOCATION – Level 2, Mondo & Adjacent Public Areas On discovering a fire, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, immediately activate the nearest fire alarm break glass point, and immediately inform your Supervisor, any steward or member of the Security Team with a radio. Call points are located: Café Mondo
Level 2
1 Mondo Kitchen 2 Exit to LTB 3 Mondo Entry/Exit (In stairwell) 4 FE 9 (Fire exit left of dance floor)
CALL POINT CALL POINT CALL POINT CALL POINT
5 Double Doors (Mondo/L2 connecting) 6 FE 12 (Fire exit right of dance floor) 7 FE 11 (Fire exit toward L2 toilets) 8 Behind Bar adjacent to door to Mondo 9 Entry/Exit Door
CALL POINT CALL POINT CALL POINT CALL POINT CALL POINT
If you can safely and confidently do so, without putting yourself or others in danger, extinguish the fire with the nearest portable fire extinguisher. Fire Extinguishers are located: Café Mondo 1 Mondo Office 2 Dance floor adjacent to Fire exit
Water Water
Level 2 4 Adjacent to Fire Doors through to Mondo Water 5 Adjacent to DJ Booth Co2 6 Adjacent to Dance Floor Fire Exit Water 7 Stairs from venue to toilets Water 8 Behind Bar adjacent to door through to Mondo bar Water On hearing the fire alarm, remain calm, and await instruction from your Team leader, Duty Manager or a Steward/member of the Security Team. Most Fire Alarm activations in our venues are malicious Cease serving of drinks immediately, if you can do so without any risk to yourself or others, turn off all bar tills. Move around to the front of the bar and assist in evacuating customers from the venue and foyer/toilets to under the podia area. Again remain calm, but act quickly, and with as little delay as possible.
Customers should only be directed out of the building using fire exits, and not using other means of escape, for example lifts. Never put yourself at risk, if a customer refuses to leave inform your supervisor straight away. Follow customers out of venues/foyer area/fire exits as you are ushering them. Without putting yourself at risk, offer assistance to any customer with a disability. This includes anyone with a temporary injury who might have a difficulty using stairs. Again, never put yourself at risk, if a customer refuses assistance or to leave then inform your supervisor straight away. Once the exit routes are clear; direct wheelchair users to one of the REFUGE areas adjacent to the steel stairway fire exits in Mondo, or the raised area just outside the main entrance to Level 2. Make sure all fire doors connecting to the refuge areas are closed. If you need to lift a wheelchair up the steps from level 2 to Mondo, this task must be carried out by at least 4 people, using the appropriate Manual Handling techniques. Once the wheelchair user is in position in a refuge area, let them know that the Fire Brigade will assist their safe removal. If it is completely safe to do so, assemble with other members of staff at the raised entrance area adjacent to the main entrance from the Podia. Once there a Team Leader will carry out a staff roll call to ensure every member of staff has been accounted for. Do not re-enter the building until you have been instructed to do so by the Senior Manager on Duty. Fire chains are kept in the cleaners cupboard in Mondo ( near kitchen, next to games machines ) at all times if not on fire exits. The duty manager ensures and signs that the chains have been taken off and are returned when the venue is not in use.
Module 11 - Accident Procedures / First Aid
Any accident should be treated individually, if medical attention is required please radio either Medics or Security in the first instance, if you cannot raise them go to the Information centre and ask for assistance. If an ambulance is required this should be done immediately. Minor accidents do not generally require this but the degree of medical attention should be assessed by someone trained in first aid. The manager should be made aware as soon as safely possible after the person is being seen to. Please make sure that the injured party is in a safe place or has someone with them, especially if bleeding and intoxicated, or is being sick. If an accident does occur make sure as many details are logged as possible including the name of the injured, time, date, circumstances, location, who was involved, what treatment was needed ( if any ) and another point to stress if the injured party was in any way intoxicated (The degree of influence alcohol or other drugs may have had in the accident). All these comments are of vital importance, if in the instance we need to refer to previous notes in the event of any claim, litigation or employment matter. The Accident book is a valuable document that we can use to record accident information as part of our management of health and safety in the workplace. An involved and fully informed workforce is the basis of good health and safety management. Safety representatives are legally entitled to inspect records of accidents that employers have to keep under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). The Accident Book BI510 is a valuable document that organisations can use to record accident information as part of their management of health and safety. A tick box is included on each page of the Accident Book asking whether the injured person gives his or her consent to the disclosure of the information contained in that record to safety representatives. Each book is housed in a designated and secure place which covers us from infringing the Data Protection Act (DPA) or confidentiality law. Firstly please familiarise yourself with the Accident book and its location. Each meeting whether Bar staff, Stewards, Crew or security managers must check that each employee is aware of procedures and where to log and report any accidents or even near misses. It is important to also report near misses, as this may highlight a potential risk or area that needs attention, lights falling out of ceiling enclosures, stray or frayed power leads, cables lying in walk ways or anything that appears or looks hazardous should be dealt there and then if it is safe to do so, and reported to the duty manager immediately. It should also be logged as a potential risk in the Accident book. Anything potentially dangerous should be reported immediately to the manager who will make a decision based on each individual situation.
Each Accident book should be kept in the designated area below and should not be removed unless a manager authorises so. There are 3 departmental accident books which cover Bar Staff, Stewards, Crew and Security Staff. Each accident book is clearly marked and located in the following areas : • • • •
Dressing Room – Crew Accident Book Stewards/Security – Level 2 / Mondo Cloakroom / In grey security cabinet with radios Level 2/Mondo – Level 2 office Sub Zero – Duty Manager’s office
All accidents and reports will be followed up with an after report to highlight outcomes and any action taken. A record of this will be kept in the Entertainments or Level 2 office depending on what department if falls under.
Welcome to the University of Essex Students’ Union Congratulations on being the best and welcome to the Students’ Union team. You have been chosen to join one of the most progressive Students’ Unions in the United Kingdom and you have a chance to help us identify how we can improve our services to the student membership and acquire useful skills, knowledge and experience as you develop. We are nationally recognised as a Gold Investor in People organisation, which is achieved through
continuous assessment by the awarding body to meet set criteria in relation to how we manage our staff. We have also been assessed through a project known as the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI) which is a quality mark recognition for Students’ Unions nationally, for which we received a Bronze Award. We are about to be reassessed for SUEI, where we will be hoping to gain Gold. We have written this handbook to help you settle into working with us and to provide reference points, which we hope you will find useful. Our culture is a special one, valuing people above all other resources and our Student Staff are the most important people in the organisation. We pride ourselves in the development of our staff and hope that you will take advantage of the training available to you during your time with us. Please make yourself familiar with your Line Manager and team staff members as they will be able to assist you with any queries or questions you may have. We hope you have a great time working here.
How Your Students’ Union is run •
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The chief decision-making body of the Students’ Union is Union Council, which meets three times a term. Union Council is made up from student representatives who hold various positions throughout the Students’ Union and the University. If you are interested in getting involved as a student representative, please email tarquin@essex.ac.uk. The Students’ Union Constitution is on-line at www.essexstudent.com/main/union/aboutus. The elected Executive Committee consists of 5 full-time Sabbatical Officers and 7 Non-Sabbatical Officers. The Executive Committee meet fortnightly during term-time and are accountable to Union Council. These
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officers are and hold their positions for a period of l2 months unless, in the case of Sabbatical Officers, re-elected for a further term in office. The full time Sabbatical Officers, alongside 6 elected students, make up the ‘Trustees’ of the Union. They ensure the Union operating effectively for it’s members and is acting responsibly and legally at all times. We have also recruited 3 external trustees who volunteer their services and expertise. The Executive Committee delegate full responsibility for all staffing matters, through the President, to the General Manager. The General Manager (the Senior Staff Member of the Students’ Union) meets with the five Sabbatical Officers and the Personnel & Development Manager fortnightly during term-time to discuss current staff issues at Staffing SubCommittee. The Students’ Union sub-contract door evening door security work to a professional external company. There are a number of Sub-Committees of the Executive Committee e.g. Services Committee; Ents Committee; Staffing. Staff/Officer Protocol: Staff must not discuss any aspects of their employment with the Executive Committee members. The Executive Committee are the leaders of the organisation and they employ professional managers to line manage staff. Any problems relating to an Officer of the Students’ Union should be referred to your Line Manager and/or the General Manager. Student Staff Forums are held twice a year, in November and February. These are held between 5pm and 6.30pm and the purpose is for you to be given an Up-Date on what is happening throughout the Students’ Union, the University and the national movement. You will also get the opportunity to ask questions to Senior Managers and Officers about any matter relating to your employment. Students’ Union Annual Calendar The Students’ Union is compiling a calendar that will show all the key events and meetings. This will be distributed to your departments and will be available on the SU web site www.essexstudent.com.
Your Expectations and Our Expectations As a registered student, you are automatically a member of the Students’ Union. You are in a unique position to keep us informed of what current students want each year and we need and value your input into every aspect of our unique organisation. Your Expectations
Some of these have been covered in previous sections but it is worth repeating that you should expect the following from the Students’ Union as a good employer: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Contract of Employment Student Staff Handbook Your Staff ID Card Payment on Time Correct Pay Safe and healthy work conditions Other team members arrive on time and do not delay your departure from your shift Channels of communication for grievance/disciplinary matters Communicate employment matters through the Line Structure Protective Clothing or Uniform, if appropriate Induction and Customer Service Training and any other relevant training to do the job On the job training, resources and support to enable you to perform to a high standard Communication and consultation forums to comply with legislation Team Meetings Appraisal Review Meetings on your performance Training opportunities Certificates for training attended Recognition of your involvement in other Students’ Union activities Recognition of your study commitment You get to go to the Summer Ball in your final year A reference for prospective future employers You are treated with respect Provision of social activity e.g. Xmas Party – Saturday after end of Term, End of Academic Year Party – Tuesday following the Summer Ball, Freshers Ambassador Thank You – Week 1.
Our Expectations • • •
You complete all appropriate paperwork to enable you to get paid. Please ensure we have the correct and up-dated information. You keep us informed of any changes to your personal details e.g. change of address, bank account etc.. You raise any issues relating to your employment through the appropriate Line Structure and abide by the Staff/Officer Protocol rules
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You arrive early enough for work to start at the time agreed and clock in, if appropriate. You attend Induction and Customer Service Training during your trainee contract period. Please note non-attendance will result in your contract not being confirmed. You carry out all jobs and duties expected of you to the standards explained by your Manager or Team Leader. Excellent customer service is delivered at all times You are a proactive team member who takes a fair share of work and shifts in your department You take your share of working as a Freshers Ambassador, Summer Ball and working, if required, in other departments of the Students’ Union. You treat all colleagues and customers with the utmost respect You complete your appraisal forms as agreed. If you are unable to work a shift it is your responsibility to get someone else to do it for you. You call your Manager immediately if you are unwell and unable to work a shift You must attend Team Meetings and the two Student Staff Meetings in November and February each year. Active participation in contributing ideas to improve the services we offer throughout the Students’ Union. Promotion opportunities are available to you. Unless you are a final year student you work the Summer Ball (You have to have work hard and HAVE FUN!
Involvement in the Organisation As a student you are automatically a ‘member’ of the Students’ Union. We believe our Student Staff are Ambassadors for the whole organisation and will therefore keep you informed of what is going on through the Students’ Union and the University. We will expect our Student Staff to raise any relevant issues regarding employment and student life in general to enable us to meet changing membership needs. Student Staff v Student expectations We are very aware that you are here to get your degree and that balancing work, study and social activities can be difficult. We will do everything possible to be flexible at dissertation and exam times but please remember that unexpected absence puts a strain on other colleagues and as much notice as possible of not being able to fulfil your work commitments is required. Your Employment Contracts and Terms & Conditions of Service
Soon after your verbal offer of employment, you will be issued with a letter of appointment, a contract and Student Staff Terms & Conditions of Employment. If you do not successfully completed your Induction Training, Customer Service Training, and any other training considered relevant to your position your employment will be terminated. If you are a returning member of Student Staff you will be re-issued with a new contract. Contracts will normally be issued in November each year for all staff returning in October and within a month of commencement if you join at another time. Student Staff are required to complete Induction and Customer Service Training before commencing work in their allocated department. The training period is for a maximum of 10 weeks but can be completed as soon as possible and the ‘trained’ rate of pay will be paid the week following notification by the Line Manager to the Personnel & Development Manager that your required initial training is complete. Failure to complete the required training in a 10 period may result in your contract being terminated, unless prior agreement for any extenuating circumstances has been agreed. Length of Contract Student Staff contracts run until 30th June each year, unless an offer of summer employment has been agreed. The Students’ Union Personnel Department will issue P.45’s to all Student Staff, usually in July, to enable students to obtain work and keep the correct tax code during the summer months. Student Staff returning to work for the next academic year are required to return for Freshers Training the week before Arrivals Day each year and will be notified of arrangements by the Personnel Office & Development Office Eligibility to work As your employer it is our responsibility, under the Assylum & Immigration Act, to check that all our Students (including UK Nationals) are eligible to work. All International and EU Students employed by the Students’ Union will be required to provide us with sight of their passport, a copy of which will be kept on file. International Students should be aware that there are strict rules regarding the hours you are permitted to work. UK students will be required to provide us with sight of a current valid passport or sight of a full (not shortened) version of your Birth Certificate. If you have any concerns, please discuss your individual case with the Personnel & Development Manager. Pay The Students’ Union carries out the payroll function for all Student Staff. You will be paid weekly on a Friday, directly crediting your Bank Account. The hours you are paid will relate to the previous week Monday – Sunday. To be set up on our Computerised Personnel System and Payroll System, you must complete a Salary Authority Form prior to being paid. It is not necessary to complete a
new form if you return in the new Academic Year unless you change address or bank account in the interim period. If you are not paid as expected, the Students’ Union will arrange for you to have an advance of salary. If you do not agree with the hours submitted for you please initially check with your Line Manager who will submit any alteration to the Personnel Office. A salary advance is only available when you commence employment, until you are set up on the payroll system, or if an error has been made. Payslips are issued by email, usually on a Wednesday, which you should check carefully. Tax If you have a P.45, this should be handed in with your Salary Authority Form. If you do not possess one, please ensure that you complete a P.46, available from the Personnel Office. If you do not complete these forms, you may have tax deducted unnecessarily. You will be issued with a P.60, showing your earnings for the previous tax year, as soon as possible after 6th April. Even if you are returning in the next Academic Year, you will be issued with a P.45 at the end of your contract (usually 30 th June). The P.45 is usually sent to your UK home address. In the case of international student staff, the P.45 is sent to the Students’ Union Personnel Office and must be requested individually. The Tax Office address and reference is: HM Inspector of Taxes Suffolk and North Essex Area St. Clare House Princes Street Ipswich IP1 1LW Telephone: 01473 261400 Reference: 245/HZ70109 NI Number: You must quote this in any communication Hours of Work Your Line Manager will submit the hours you work each month to the Personnel Office for processing. It is important that you note your hours of work in a diary as, occasionally, mistakes occur and it is a good way to track any errors. Due to the nature of our organisation, it is not always possible to have regular hours of work. Please make yourself familiar with the arrangements in your department. Line Managers will endeavour to ensure that hours of work are distributed fairly amongst Student Staff. Undergraduate students are permitted to work up to 16 hours per week during term-time, although it is Union policy not
to incur National Insurance contributions whenever possible. This will result in your average weekly hours of work being limited to approximately 13 hours per week. If hours are available outside term-time, Undergraduate students may work up to 35 hours per week. Freshers Ambassador, Freshers Fair & Summer Ball All Student Staff are expected to work, as Ambassadors, for a minimum of 4 hours during Freshers Week as described previously. 1st and 2nd Year Bar and Entertainments Staff are required to work the Summer Ball, which is early June each year. Final Year Staff are encouraged to attend the Ball but can work if preferred. As a gesture of appreciation to Final Year Student Staff, a discount of ÂŁ5 is given off the Summer Ball ticket price. If required, student staff from other areas will be asked to work.
Health, Safety & Hygiene Induction The Students’ Union will do everything it can to ensure you work in a safe and healthy environment. You must attend Health & Safety Induction training within the 10 week training period or your contract will not be confirmed. Personal Appearance and Dress Code Uniform
Every Department in the SU is unique and, in most places, it is likely that you have been issued with a uniform and have been advised on the standard of clothing and shoes required. If you are provided with personal protective equipment for your job, you must wear it. It is really important to ensure that you do look and smell fresh as this will reflect our high standards and professionalism to our customers. If you do not meet the required standard it is likely that you will not be permitted to work the shift. Each Department may have a variation of dress code e.g. Bar Persons are not permitted to wear blue jeans. General Standards If you work with food, you must complete the Catering Staff Questionnaire and not wear anything that is likely to contaminate food, for instance nail varnish, false nails, strongly scented hand-creams, perfume, aftershave etc.. Individual rules will apply in each area and your Manager will make you familiar with these e.g. jewellery is very limited in food preparation areas. If it is felt appropriate for your workplace, it is important to ensure that long hair styles are tied back. We are a Students’ Union and we welcome diversity and individuality and have no problem with fantastic hair colour and styles! Smoking Policy The Students’ Union operates a No Smoking Policy in all office areas but you may be required to work in areas where smoking is permitted. Hygiene & Health The majority of you will work with food and drink and you must adopt high standards of personal and professional hygiene. Always wash your hands before handling food or drink and after visiting the toilet. Keep all machines, equipment and other utensils spotlessly clean. Infections If you work with food, you will be asked to sign an agreement that says you must always report any infectious disease you have or have had in the past. All student catering staff will have to complete a medical form. If you have an infection, sickness, diarrhoea, or just feel unwell you must report it to your Line Manager immediately. Cuts and Injuries Small wounds or scratches must be attended to immediately, with appropriate first aid dressings (blue plasters if you work with food or drink), applied by a qualified First Aider (see the Notice Board in your Department to identify the nearest First Aider on duty). All accidents or ‘near misses’ must be reported by completing an Accident Report Form, available from your Line Manager and this will be passed to the Personnel Department to record and deal with, as appropriate.
Hours of Work and Rest Breaks We support the law on Working Time and while many aspects of this legislation will not affect you, it is important for you to know you will be entitled to an 11 hour rest period in every 24 hours worked. You are also entitled to an unpaid rest break of 30 minutes for every 6 hours worked. If you feel you are being asked to work outside the regulations, please speak to your Line Manager or the Personnel & Development Manager. Use of Equipment If you are required to use equipment as part of your job, you must be trained and you must sign your training record to confirm that you are competent. This form is part of your Appraisal Record. Personal Safety Your safety comes first! If you feel uncomfortable or threatened by a customer, you must seek assistance immediately. Your Management and Security personnel are trained to deal with difficult situations and you must not put yourself at risk. Fire Regulations You must make sure that you are familiar with the escape routes from your workplace. Fire safety will be covered at Induction and again, in your ‘on the job’ training. You should be aware that the Fire Alarms in our commercial areas are checked every morning by the Premises Staff. If you do discover a small fire, sound the fire alarm (usually near the exits). Do not phone the emergency services direct – you must phone University Patrol Officers on 52222 as they will direct the emergency services to the correct zone which can save valuable time. Only use a fire extinguisher if the fire is very small – Do not put yourself at risk. Personal Belongings Please do not bring valuable personal belongings to work as the Students’ Union will not be liable in the event of loss or damage to your property. Manual Handling Just because you have been lifting heavy objects all your life, doesn’t mean you’ve been doing it correctly. There are several parts of the body that are used when lifting heavy objects, all of which play an important role in safe lifting. The key factors in safe lifting are: 1) Position of balance 2) Position of the back
3) Positioning of the arms and the body 4) The hold
Do not overload Keep arms close to the body to reduce strain on shoulders, chest and back
Keep the back straight and don’t twist or flex it
Feet should be hip width apart to assist balance position
The load should be in contact with palm of the hand, with both hands on the load at all times
Weight of the object and centre of gravity of the lifter must be as close as possible
Knees should be bent whilst lifting
When in the initial position for the lift, the lifter should test the weight of the object to make sure it is within their capacity and not too heavy for one person to lift. Many accidents happen when a person raises an object a few inches off the floor, realises it is too heavy and lets go. Take note of the shape of the object. It should be turned, if possible, so that the shortest measurement of the rectangle is nearer to the centre line of gravity. Movement should be controlled and smooth; the weight should be kept close to the body. Rhythm plays an important part in reducing tension and creating relaxation. Before moving any loads, the job should be sized up and possible hazards moved or rectified. An inspection of the load itself must be made to ensure that it can be moved without danger to the lifter or others. Licensing Law – Knowing Your Legal Responsibilities The Sale of Alcohol As an employee within licensed premises, you are dealing with the sale of alcohol. Therefore, it is important that you are aware of, and comply with the licensing laws, which affects all employees in such premises:
You should NOT serve alcohol to anyone who is, or appears to be, under the age of 18 You should NOT serve anyone who is attempting to purchase alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 18 You should NOT serve anyone who is, or appears to be, drunk You should not serve anyone who is, or appears to be, under the influence of illegal drugs NB. The above points are not exhaustive and serve purely as a guideline for you to become a more efficient and effective server. Please make sure you follow these guidelines, and if you are unclear or unsure about anything, then please discuss it with your manager. Discuss with your manager, which forms of identification you can accept as proof of a person’s age. Corporate Social Responsibility As well as promoting safe and sensible drinking the Students’ Union has a responsibility towards its customers and staff that means we are not advocating unhealthy, anti-social or unethical actions. For example: We do not advertise or promote the sale of cigarettes We do not associate with anti-social behaviour We do not reflect abstinence negatively We do not ‘up sell’ products, i.e. would you like a double for an extra £1 We provide non-smoking areas We actively recycle as much waste as we can We encourage all staff to conserve as much energy as possible We use and sell as many fair trade products as we can If you any concerns about any of these issues speak to your Team Leader or Manager. You should not feel threatened in performing your job and if you have to deal with people who are under the influence of alcohol and are behaving aggressively you can call for support from your Team Leader or the Venue Stewards. When you are confident that you understand all the elements in this module please click on the complete button on the previous screen. This will notify your manager that you are ready to be tested. Please remember that you need to complete your ‘on the job’ training within ten weeks of starting with the S.U. Please take some time to think about the new skills and information you have learned from this section of your training and make a note of anything that is transferable to your Personal Development Plan. Most skills are
transferable across a variety of roles and your knowledge could be useful in many situations. Making a note of what you have learnt now will help you when you start to make job applications in the future.