Health and Safety for musicians.

There is legislation for health and safety in all job role including working in music. The music industry is not overly dangerous but does pose some risks to health and safety with some being severe. the purpose of this blog is to highlight all the health and safety  protocols put in place to safeguard people in the music industry…  Ben McKenzie 

Fire safety.  fire safety is one of the most serious entry’s in this blog with legislation put in place for pretty much all job fields. there are some things that all workplaces, and study-places should possess and rules they should comply with. for one, there should always be multiple fire exits for people to escape the building in the event of a fire. You should always take the time to acquaint yourself with the location of the fire exits when entering a venue or workplace. It’s not your job to put in place these items, but smoke alarms, fire extinguishers,  Fire doors, safety signs and sometimes sprinklers should be used to minimise risk and protect people. care should be taken to prevent the risk of starting a fire with obvious things such as not smoking inside, not overloading power supply’s, not leaving combustible materials near heating systems and making sure that equipment such as amplifiers are properly checked and maintained to avoid electrical fault. In the unlikely event of a fire you should leave everything where it is and make your way out of the building or area. stay calm, don’t panic and run. Every building should had a fire evacuation procedure to maximise effectiveness. Make sure buildings are never overcrowded. As this can cause fire escapes to become dangerous.

Equality at work. There is legislation put in place in all workplaces to tackle equality. no person should ever feel they are not being treated equally. breaches of equality may include: discrimination, victimisation, any form of bullying or harassment of some form. Everybody should be treated equally regardless of race, gender, religion, beliefs, sexual orientation, disabilities, wealth, age, or any other difference. Care should be taken to not offend anybody in the workplace. sometimes discrimination can be minor and happen without intention. Such as segregation, not taking peoples’ opinions seriously, refusing to help people or ignoring people altogether. The equality act is governed by law to help protect everyone’s rights and to ensure nobody feels that they are not fitting in. If you ever feel that you are being discriminated against or bullied you should report the incidents and seek help. the situation can only be resolved if its been reported.

Ear safety. The music industry poses some risks to they health of the musicians hearing. along with any other job where people are exposed to loud sounds often (such as construction). usually its the lower frequency sounds that are most damaging such as bass guitar or drums. musician should try and protect there hearing where they can. using earplugs when playing or listening to loud sounds are a really good idea and can make a huge difference in the long term. hearing tests should be taken regularly to check your ears health and ability. exposure to loud sounds regularly can have very negative implications on your hearing such as pain, ringing ears and in the worst circumstances deafness altogether. You can also prevent hearing damage by not listening to music too loud and turning down the volume when you get the chance.

Risk assessment. Before working in a new venue somebody should do. a risk assessment to highlight any potential risks and hazards to people. then initiatives should be put in place to minimise or ideally eradicate risks. this can range from fire safety, to trip hazards, unsafe equipment, environment conditions and even lighting. Risk assessments should be written down and people should be aware of them to ensure the best possible safety conditions. Risks should be written down with their suspected severity and likelihood of happening. measures should then be put in place to protect everyone by reducing the risk that was highlighted.

The perfect environment. Everyone is entitled to have comfortable conditions from which to perform, practice and work in. The correct environment should increase productivity and enjoyment of work. Sometimes a bad environment can pose health risks. The correct temperature should be maintained for everyone to work in comfort, Heaters, air conditioning, and windows should be used to maintain the appropriate conditions. The lighting should be adequate for everyone to see clearly and not be in any danger of falling, tripping or straining your eyes. Everyone should have enough space to move comfortably and be in as minimal amount of danger when working with any equipment. Any risk of slips, trips and falls should be risk assessed and made to be as safe as possible.  The sound should not be at such a high level as to cause major discomfort or worse still; pain.

Look at yourself.

Over the years famous musicians have not been renowned for looking after there health. But that is changing now as the world is more aware of health and well-being than a few decades ago. Alcohol and drug abuse can be life threatening and very damaging. Care should always be taken to avoid abusing addictive substances. Breaks from rehearsal and working should always be offered by all employers. Mental health is just as important as any other type of health. Overworking can lead to many different negative things such as migraines, restlessness, depression and frustration. Try and keep a good posture when working. sitting up and ready is both helpful in the workplace as it shows enthusiasm, and also looks after your physical health. Back, neck and hip problems can occur because of a bad posture for a long period of time. Get some fresh air and stretch your legs when you can especially if you have been sat for a while. If you see any hazards or risks in the workplace, you should always report them immediately to avoid any accidents from occurring.

Information about the musicians union.

The Musicians union is a cooperation designed to protect and support every musician that becomes a member. It was founded in 1893 in the city of Manchester. for music students the price for annual membership is only £20. One of the greatest advantages of membership is the insurance policy which will pay up to £2000 for any instruments or equipment that gets stolen, broken or damaged during gigs. The musicians union will pay to have the equipment repaired or replaced. The musicians union also offer hearing test to all musicians. To make sure their members aren’t suffering from any damage, pain or hearing loss. They also supply members with protective ear plugs to use for a small fee. There is monthly reports and information available on the website.

These are pictures I took at the Phoenix Exeter. The are fire Exit signs.