【News Buddy】多地重視舞台安全 強化法規監管
【原文】下文摘錄自7月30日香港《文匯報》︰
香港男子組合MIRROR的演唱會發生嚴重事故，引起多國傳媒關注。縱觀全球多國近年都採取不同方式，加強監督舞台表演的安全，英國多項勞動場所安全（workplace safety）相關法規便適用於監管舞台設施，美國及澳洲也有州份陸續頒布（promulgate）演出規範。多國演藝業界還成立專項組，為從業者提供更多活動安全指引。
英國1974年頒布《工作健康與安全法案》（Health and Safety at Work etc. Act），其後更新多項條例，均適用於監督舞台演出及籌備工作。主要條例包括1998年通過的《起重操作及起重設備條例》（Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations）、2005年的《高空作業條例》（Work at Height Regulations），以及2013年的《傷害、疾病和危險事件報告條例》（Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations）等。依照規定，主辦方需在活動前向當局遞交風險評估（risk assessment）報告，詳細說明活動潛在風險及應對方案。
根據《高空作業條例》，僱主需採取措施，確保他人不會高墜受傷或被墜落物擊傷。英國劇院技術員協會（Association of British Theatre Technicians）據此要求活動主辦方遵照條例，為所有懸掛設備加設安全繩索（safety wire），取代此前沒有承重能力評級的鎖鏈（chain）等。所有安全繩索均標註評級，負載從5公斤到100公斤不等，可以安全懸掛較大型的燈具等裝備。
英國舞台表演所需的多種設備，亦可遵照條例監管。以電纜為例，負責人需先作目視檢查（visual inspection），確認電纜有否斷裂、損壞或臨時維修痕跡，若檢查不及格需即時安排專人整修。舞台布置所需的梯子等裝備也要定期維護及測試，頻率（frequency）由各地政府決定。
美國得州（Texas）去年11月一場戶外音樂節（music festival）發生人踩人意外，造成10人死亡。當地政府在事故後隨即成立「得州演唱會安全工作組」（Texas Task Force on Concert Safety），今年4月發表報告，提供大型活動監管建議。工作組建議主辦方需設立現場指揮及控制組，監督活動運作，若發生意外或發現安全威脅（security threat），便需即時叫停活動。地方官員如果發現主辦方有不當行為，亦可隨時否決演出申請。
工作組還特別建議監管部門（regulator），密切留意參與活動的表演者（artist）社交媒體動向，若表演者曾鼓勵觀眾無視安全風險，相關活動均可作違規處理，表演者亦需為活動中任何人員傷亡和財產損失負責。工作組也提供指南，方便活動主辦方尋找保安人員培訓資源。
美國演藝界2011年成立「舞台活動安全聯盟」（Event Safety Alliance，簡稱ESA），匯集業內眾多工程安全專家，為各項大型活動提供技術協助。ESA頒布的《演藝活動安全指南》（The Event Safety Guide），是全美首份專門針對舞台活動的指引，包括處理繩索等演出道具的方案，以及各項應急計劃（contingency plan），讓從業者更好地保證舞台及場地安全。
澳洲的西澳州衞生部門也在2009年頒布《舞台表演、演唱會及大型集會指南》（Guidelines for concerts, events and organized gatherings），就各項活動風險管控（risk management）提出詳細建議。指南包括場地設計、設施安排及消防安全指引等，亦提醒主辦方需重視酒精（alcohol）及藥物濫用（drug abuse）問題，且要盡力減少大型集會對環境影響。
More attention for theater safety with stringent rules to monitor equipment
【譯文】The serious accident occurred recently at the concert of the popular Hong Kong boy band MIRROR has attached media attention across the globe. Many countries throughout the world have introduced various measures in recent years to strengthen the supervision of theater safety. For example, several workplace safety regulations in the U.K. are applicable to the monitoring of stage facilities, while certain states in the U.S. and Australia have been gradually promulgating regulations on stage performances. Dedicated groups have also been set up by the entertainment industry of many countries to provide practitioners with more safety guidelines for activities.
The U.K. promulgated the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act in 1974, and subsequently updated several regulations applicable to supervising stage performances and relevant preparatory work, including the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations passed in 1998, the Work at Height Regulations in 2005, and the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations in 2013. According to the regulations, organizers are required to submit to the authorities a risk assessment report before the events, detailing the potential risks and the emergency response plans.
Under the Work at Height Regulations, employers are required to take appropriate steps to prevent injury to any person or the fall of any material or object. The Association of British Theatre Technicians therefore requires event organizers to comply with the regulations and add safety wires to all hanging equipment, replacing chains that had been previously used but not certified to carry a particular load. All safety wires are properly rated to carry loads from 5kg to 100kg, capable of hanging large lighting or other equipment safely.
A variety of equipment required for stage performances in the U.K. would also be subject to the regulations. Taking the cable as an example, the person in charge needs to perform a visual inspection first to check whether the cable is broken, damaged or has been fixed, and arrange for urgent repair by professionals where necessary. Ladders and other required equipment would need to be maintained and tested regularly, with the frequency determined by local authorities.
On the other hand, an accident happened at an outdoor music festival in Texas, U.S. last November, leading to the death of 10 people in a crush. The "Texas Task Force on Concert Safety" was then set up by the local authority soon after the accident, which issued a report in April this year to provide advice on supervising large-scale events. It was suggested that a centralized on-site command and control group be established by the organizer to supervise the operation of the event, and it would need to be stopped immediately if accidents or security threats are found. The local officials also preserve the right to turn down an organizer's application for event if any misconduct or malpractice is involved.
The task force specifically advised that regulators pay close attention to the social media of the artists. If the artists have asked the audience to ignore the safety risks, the relevant event would be deemed in violation of regulations and the organizer would be held responsible for any casualties and property damage arising from the event. The task force also provided guidelines for event organizers in search for resources regarding the training of security personnel.
The U.S. entertainment industry had formed that "Event Safety Alliance" (ESA) in 2011, bringing together many safety specialists to provide technical assistance for large-scale events; while The Event Safety Guide published by ESA is the country's first published safety guidance directed specifically at the live event industry, offering standards and guidelines on the handling of props such as ropes, as well as various contingency plans, to help industry professionals better enhance stage safety.
Moreover, the Department of Health in Western Australia had also issued the Guidelines for concerts, events and organized gatherings in 2009, offering detailed recommendations on the risk management of various activities. The guidelines cover areas in venue design, facility arrangements and fire safety etc., and remind event organizers to pay attention to alcohol and drug abuse issues and try best to minimize the impact of large-scale gatherings over the environment.◆ 龐嘉儀
Q&A
1. 是次MIRROR演唱會於哪裏舉行？
2. 是次意外中墜落的LED大熒幕的衝擊力超過多少公斤？
3. 是次意外由哪個政府部門協調作出調查？
4. 現時多數伴舞員均以什麼形式受僱？
Answer
1. 香港體育館（Hong Kong Coliseum）
2. 2,200公斤
3. 文化體育及旅遊局（Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau）
4. 自僱人士（self-employed person）
