Links and Publications

Following are a number of helpful website links and publications that will compliment your health and safety practices.

Links

Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety (ACTS)
www.artscraftstheatersafety.org
Based in New York State, this organization gives away (free) theatre health and safety brochures, pamphlets, and advice. They also have a newsletter, and the organization’s president is arts-safety expert Monona Rossol.

Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (CAEA)
www.caea.com
The stage management section of this website includes a “General Health and Safety Checklist” for use by stage managers and a link to Safety Guidelines for the Live Performance Industry in Ontario published by the Ontario Ministry of Labour in 1997.

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS)
www.ccohs.ca
CCOHS is Canada's national centre for occupational health and safety information and has an international reputation as an innovative, expert OH&S resource. CCOHS promotes health and safety in the workplace. The “OSHAnswers” section is a free information service that provides detailed answers to common health and safety issues. At www.ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca, click on “MSDS” on the site and you can search product names, manufacturer name and product number. A further record search requires a paid subscription with CCOHS.

Canadian Firearms Centre
www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca
The Canadian Firearms Centre has a searchable website with detailed information about The Firearms Act. Section 117(h) Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms highlights regulations that deal with storage, display, transportation and handling of non-restricted, restricted and prohibited firearms.

Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT)
www.citt.org
CITT publishes “Theatre Safety Basics”, a guide to creating a safety program for your company. CITT’s website offers an on-line archive of their publication “StageWorks”, which offers up-to-date health and safety issues and commentary. There is also contact information online for regional representatives who plan & oversee regional workshops.

Canadian Occupational Safety and Health (CanOSH)
www.canoshweb.org
CanOSH is a comprehensive site of links to Canadian (national and provincial) resources, legislation, publications, and anything else health and safety related. It is not theatre-specific.

Construction Safety Association of Ontario
www.csao.org
Excellent fall protection resources are available from the Construction Safety Association of Ontario. Their website links you to answers to frequently asked questions about fall protection.

Department of Justice Canada
www.canada.justice.gc.ca
Canadian laws relating to the Criminal Code can be searched on this website as well as details on the new federal legislation passed in November 2003 (Bill C-45) which creates occupational health and safety related duties for corporations, individuals and other parties defined as “organizations” such as voluntary groups and non-profit theatres.

Directors Guild of Canada (Ontario)
www.dgcodc.ca
While the health and safety guidelines in this site are geared for film and television productions, many of the guidelines are applicable to theatre practices. A link to the Film Safety website can also be found on the Directors Guild of Canada website.

Electrolab Training Systems
www.electrolab.ca
Electrolab provides training and resources in the area of industrial and general health and safety (not specific to theatre) in Canada. A 120-page Health and Safety Educational Resources catalogue is available from the site. It is an excellent (non-theatre) health and safety links page.

Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA)
www.esta.org
Based in the United States, ESTA is a non-profit trade association representing the North American entertainment technology industry. Their website hosts a variety of information relating to safety standards and recommended practices, training and certification.

Free Management Library
www.managementhelp.org
This American site provides information organized by topic. Topics of interest include: crisis management, risk management, insurance, safety at work, ergonomics, and much more. It is a very administration-oriented site.

Griffith University (Fine Arts Health and Safety Modules)
www.gu.edu.au/shr/sr09
Written specifically for fine arts by an Australian health and safety specialist, this site features excellent training modules (1-8) for occupational health and safety in the visual and performing arts. It promotes establishing health and safety policies in organizations, but also suggests that freelance employees must take the onus on themselves to establish health and safety policies. The site demonstrates the structure of health and safety policies (module 8).

Human Resources in the Voluntary Sector
www.hrvs.ca
The Employment Legislation section of the website includes information about relevant laws, organized by province on: Employment Standards; Human Rights Legislation and Occupational Health and Safety Legislation. The site also features information on good human resources practices and sample human resources policies.

Interactive Learning Paradigms Inc
www.ilpi.com/msds/index.html
Link to Internet resources for material safety data sheets - a good place to start your search for MSDS information.

Industrial Accident Prevention Association
www.iapa.ca
IAPA offers distance learning courses in health and safety. Free downloads are available from this site on health and safety hazards, WHMIS (inventory forms, training requirements) and other issues.

Kennedy Theatre
www.hawaii.edu/theatre/
Written for the Kennedy Theatre at the University of Hawaii, this document outlines the theatre’s emergency procedures for situations ranging from power failures to civil defense warnings. It is a detailed example of a theatre’s documented emergency procedures.

Manitoba Association of School Trustees (WHMIS)
www.mast.mb.ca/Risk_Management/whimis/whimis.htm
This is a very basic WHMIS/hazardous chemicals primer.

Monash University
www.monash.edu.au/students/msa/theatre/SAFPROD.HTM
The Monash University Student Theatre Safety and Procedures Manual provides extensive and easily navigated health and safety information.

MSDSSearch Inc.
www.msdssearch.com
This national database provides free access to over 2 million material safety data sheets that are posted by manufacturers.

Natural Resources Canada
www.nrcan.gc.ca
The Explosives Regulatory Division of Natural Resources Canada offers a Pyrotechnics Special Effects training program. This represents the new certification process for Special Effects Pyrotechnicians with courses being given throughout Canada on a regular basis. Successful participants are issued entry-level certification and must meet basic apprenticeship requirements within a given timeframe to become fully certified or to move on to the next level of certification.

New Players Theatre Company
www.newplayers.wellington.net.nz
Based in Wellington, New Zealand, this theatre company is committed to being a socially responsible society and has supplied their safety plan on their website. The plan serves to identify and prevent possible safety hazards from the audition period to the strike of a production.

Office of the Fire Marshal
www.gov.on.ca/ofm
The Office of the Fire Marshal in Ontario is responsible for administering: The Fire Protection and Prevention Act (promotes fire prevention and public safety in Ontario) and The Ontario Fire Code with regulations under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act that contains comprehensive fire safety requirements applicable to all buildings and premises in the province. Their website includes emergency evacuation planning tools, sample plans and Fire Code legislation details.

Ontario Ministry of Labour
labour.gov.on.ca
Available at this site: A Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, A Guide to the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), the Employment Standards Act (ESA), Safety Guidelines for the Live Performance Industry in Ontario, current legal updates and other information. A listing of regional offices of the Ministry of Labor is also on the site. The entire Occupational Health and Safety Act is available online at e-laws.gov.on.ca. You can obtain Ministry of Labour publications directly from their publications unit at:
505 University Avenue, 19th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 1T7
Tel: 416.326.7731 or 1.800.268.8013
Fax: 416.326.7745

Ontario Service Safety Alliance
www.ossa.com
This organization offers health and safety products, education, assistance and training for the Ontario service industry, which includes theatre. The site offers general health and safety information, downloadable forms including “Due Diligence” guidelines and great links.

Ridgewater College
http://willmar.ridgewater.mnscu.edu/theatre/142/train/general
This is a general theatre safety online training module that functions as a basic introduction to theatre safety. It was originally designed for an American college stagecraft course.

St. John Ambulance
www.sja.ca
This non-profit organization provides first aid and CPR training all over Ontario. They also offer computer based first aid training on CD-ROM.

SHAPE
www.shape.bc.ca
SHAPE is a not-for-profit association that was established in 1998 as the safety and health association for the performing arts and motion picture industry in British Columbia. Their website offers outstanding information resources, safety bulletins, sample forms and excellent Fall Protection resources.

University of Wales
www.aber.ac.uk/tfts/
An electronic health and safety booklet is available at the University of Wales’ Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies website. It documents the department’s health and safety procedures to raise awareness of health and safety issues amongst the department’s students.

US Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT)
www.usitt.org
The information and publications available on the USITT website (see “publications” and “standards committee” sections) are quite technical. There are limited reports and publications available for purchase, and they tend to deal with “setting standards” or regulating the technical theatre industry. Their periodical is also partially on-line, and has some relevant health and safety information. The USITT site is linked to Creative Teaching Online. Although this site doesn’t have health and safety on it now, it’s one to watch in the future. It will be interactive and geared to teachers: everything from lesson ideas to syllabuses.

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
www.wsib.on.ca
WSIB maintains a list of approved first aid training organizations in Ontario which provide one and two-day courses on first aid. Their website also provides information on Regulation 1101 – first aid requirements for Ontario employers. This includes guidelines for the content of first aid boxes, inspections of first aid boxes and their maintenance, first aid notice boards, training and accident reporting. WSIB provides free “In Case of Injury At Work” poster for display on health and safety boards.

Young Worker Awareness Program (YWAP)
www.yworker.com
This Web site supports the Young Worker Awareness Program and contains health and safety information for young workers, their parents, teachers, principals, employers and others. The site is hosted by Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).

Publications

A Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Ontario Ministry of Labour, Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 1990.

Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide, The. Monona Rossol, Allworth Press, New York, 2nd edition, 1994.
Winner of the1996 Choice Outstanding Academic Book Award from the Association of College and Research Libraries, this text is “everything you need to know about art materials to make your workplace safe and comply with United States and Canadian right-to-know laws.”

Basics of Fall Protection: User’s Guide. Construction Safety Association of Ontario, Toronto, 2001.
One of the best training tools available for fall protection – available through the Construction Safety Association of Ontario for under $10.

Breaking New Ground: A Resource Guide for Developing an Effective Joint Health and Safety Committee. Ontario Service Safety Alliance, Toronto, 2004.
Available from OSSA, this book and CD is a resource guide to help your organization develop an effective joint health and safety committee, promoting an awareness of the issues, responsibilites and obligations of your company. A cost-effective resource to help get you started with your health and safety committee.

Construction Health & Safety Manual. Construction Safety Association of Canada, 2004 Edition
An excellent technical training tool in health and safety – legal responsibilities, WHMIS, basic occupational health, equipment, hazards, and best practices for a variety of tools. Recommended for all theatre shops.

Customized OH&S Act and Regulations. Ontario Service Safety Alliance, Carswell Thomson Professional Publishing, Toronto, 2001.

The Health & Safety Guide For Film, TV, & Theater. Monona Rossol, Allworth Press, New York, 2001.
This book is used as a required text by several theatre programs, and Monona Rossol is considered a leading expert in the field of theatre safety education in North America.

Hazards in the Live Performance Industry (Workplace Specific Hazard Training - Part 2 Certification). Ontario Service Safety Alliance, Toronto, 2002.
This workbook guides you through the steps you need to take recognize, assess and control some of the hazards that are specific to the live performance industry. Theatre Ontario has free copies available to members.

Raising the Curtain: A Guide to the Art of Presenting for Young Audiences. Cheryl Ewing (Brava! Events and Arts Management), Prologue to the Performing Arts, 2004.
This resource aimed at community-based organizations presenting theatre for young audience presentations, offers health and safety advice for volunteers and their venues. It is a valuable tool for first-time presenters and communities who are more actively presenting performing arts activities.

Safety Guidelines for the Live Performance Industry in Ontario, 3rd edition. Ontario Ministry of Labour Health and Safety Advisory Committee for Live Performance, Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2002.

STAGE FRIGHT: Health and Safety in the Theater. Monona Rossol, Allworth Press, New York, 1991.
“The essential information you need on the stage, in the shop, or in the front office to ensure health, safety, and compliance with occupational hazards laws.” It should be noted that at times the book deals specifically with American laws, regulations and standards. This does not diminish the book’s merit and value to Canadian theatre professionals, educators and enthusiasts.

The WHMIS Pocket Dictionary. D. Brian Morris ed., Genium Publishing, 1995.

Theatre Ontario’s library hosts many more publications on health and safety that is available to browse on site at their Toronto offices.

To Act In Safety is a project of Theatre Ontario and funded by
The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture