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Author Topic: Use Your Safety Gear Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-17-2004 12:57 PM                     quote: Chris Hipp: Thus, the logic "it goes through steel" is a fallacy. You are correct. While it's not out of the question that a piece of flying metal, such as an electrode, can be propelled at quite a high velocity and damage something or someBODY, 90% of the damage of an exploding xenon lamp comes from flying glass schrapnel. If the cardboard box, the clamshell and the styrofoam padding that xenon lamps come in wasn't enough to protect people who handle them while they are still inside their shipping containers it would be illegal to ship them via UPS, Fed-Ex or other carriers unless they were declared as dangerous materials and special precautions were taken. I have exploded several xenon lamps in several different ways. Take it from me: They aren't like bombs or anything like that. I have taken them out to the rifle range and shot them with a .22 rifle. They make a loud pop like a shotgun and glass flies for a distance of 10-20 feet. I have done the same while they were inside a cardboard box with no padding inside. Other than a dent in the box from the electrodes (and the bullet hole) there is no visible damage on the outside of the box. Some of the glass schrapnel does penetrate part way through the cardboard, though. As far as what protection the technicain/operator should use when changing lamp, I would say that the standard "Bomb Suit" provides more than adequate protection. In fact, if you own a heavy canvass jacket like a Carhartt work coat that would be the best thing I can think of. One thing I can think of that some people won't is that you should wear a good pair of safety goggles underneath the full-face shield. There is a chance that some of the glass particles could be thrown around the edges of the face shield and end up in your eyes. The Lexan face mask will protect against pieces that come directly toward the face but some pieces can ricochet off your chest or your clothing and end up in your eyes. Therefore, I recommend that a pair of full-shield eye goggles be worn underneath the face shield. In fact, if you read all the safety leaflets that usually come with the face shields they mention that you should also wear goggles. If you wanted to be extra safe I might recommend that the cuffs of your gloves be tucked under the sleves of your jacket. If you wanted to be extra-extra safe you could get a pair of hearing protectors. Other than that, the main thing is common sense. No, xenon lamps aren't like little A-Bombs but they aren't something to be trifled with, either.  |  IP: Logged Jon Miller Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 973 From: San Diego, CA, USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 02-17-2004 08:11 PM                     RSEM sells the complete Christie protective clothing package (jacket, face shield, and gloves) for $304.09. The price may seem like a lot at face value, but considering what can happen if a lamp lets loose while changing one unprotected, it will be inexpensive in the end!  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-17-2004 09:31 PM                     I've already got a pair of OSHA approved safety goggles and OSHA approved hearing protectors. (See rifle range above.) No, they aren't "Shooting Glasses" and "Ear Plugs" They are wrap-around goggles with Lexan lenses and full over-the-ear muffs. I already own a heavy Carhartt jacket. It's the kind of jacket utility workers and hunters wear. It's made of heavy canvass-like material. It zips all the way up the front. Unlike some of the aprons I have seen in theaters, the sleeves come all the way down to the wrist. You can tuck them into your gloves and make almost a complete seal. The padding is thick enough to cushion almost anything that could come flying out of a lamphouse and hit you. All I really need is a good pair of heavy leather gloves and a full-face shield. I have a pair of gloves at home but they have been used for yard work, etc. No longer suitable for the task of changing lamps. If I was going to be extra safe I'd get welder's gloves anyway. Most theaters have the full-face shield even if it's stuck way down in the back of a closet somewhere. Even if you don't, one can be picked up for not too much money at the local Grainger store. I would be wary about buying Home Depot models. I don't know if they sell the "heavy duty" kind. The ones I have at work are OSHA approved. I know because I checked. You don't need to spend $300+ for a bomb suit when you can get most of the stuff that they would sell you locally for less than half the price. Go to your local Central Tractor and Supply store and buy a Carhartt jacket for about $100. Buy one that's big enough to fit the largest person who works in your booth. If you wanted, you could probably buy a good welder's apron for even less. While you're there you can get the goggles, face shield, gloves and ear protection too. If somebody who works at the theater has an old Carhartt jacket that they don't wear anymore they MIGHT be convinced to bring it in and hang it on a hook in your booth. That'd save you even MORE $$! I'd say that, because a heavy jacket has long sleves that can be tucked in and because it wraps aroudnd the body 360º it would offer better protection than the aprons that Christie sells. There's nothing special about the face and eye protection. I bet the Christie package doesn't have ear protection. If a lamp exploded in your face I bet the concussion could make your ears ring for quite a while! There's nothing wrong with putting on the, "Y'all stand back, now 'cuz ya' might get hurt", act when other people are around. In fact it's probably the best thing to do. Keeping the shitters away while you do your work is probably a wise move. On the other hand, there's no reason why xenon lamp hysteria should take over and make you spend more than you need to! Heck! I could use that other $100 that's left over to buy one hell of a lot of booth cleaning supplies!  |  IP: Logged

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