ABSTRACT
Health and safety might seem like it’s more important to riggers
and carpenters than to scenic artists. While those areas involve
serious safety concerns, the risks are more obvious and failures
are immediate. If something crashes out of the rigging or a
carpenter puts a staple through his or her finger, there is no
doubt as to what went wrong and when. Painters, on the other
hand, are susceptible to a much more subtle but no less
dangerous set of concerns. Sure, scenic artists must take
precautions when using ladders and lifts like anyone else, but
painters are exposed to chemicals and irritants that slowly and
silently cause harm.
