Sector summary

The live performance sector involves the production of staged entertainment by theatre companies, opera companies and ballet companies. It also involves indoor concerts. This sector has an advisory committee that develops guidance to address workplace health and safety.

Key hazards

The following list represents hazards to which workers are commonly exposed in the live performance sector:

  • activities that may lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs): stunts and moving equipment
  • slips, trips and falls
  • material handing: struck by objects, caught between objects, and compression
  • cold/heat stress
  • fire: pyrotechnics and other special effects
  • noise.

In general, hazards that are not covered by a regulation and hazards in workplaces not covered by a sector-specific regulation are addressed through the application of the general duty clause 25(2)(h) of the Occupational health and safety Act (OHSA).

Workplace parties should refer to the narrative portion of the field visit report, if they have received one, for further information or contact their health and safety association for guidance.

In addition to any other hazards which may be present in a workplace, all employers covered by the OHSA must comply with the requirements for workplace violence and harassment. The act sets out requirements for workplace violence and harassment in sections 32.0.1 to 32.0.8. Further information regarding the requirements related to workplace violence can be found in the Ministry of Labour (MOL) guide Workplace violence and harassment: Understanding the law.

Additional information, including more information about new workplace harassment provisions, can be found on the Ministry of Labour (MOL) topic webpages for Workplace Violence and Workplace Harassment. Employers may wish to consider the use of the ministry’s Code of Practice to Address Workplace Harassment under the Occupational health and safety Act.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

Workplace pains and strains can be serious and disabling for workers, causing pain and suffering ranging from discomfort to severe disability.

MSD is not a medical diagnosis; it is an umbrella term for a group of injuries. Some of these injuries include: back pain, muscle strain, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), rotator cuff syndrome, tennis elbow and shoulder pain.

  • Identify and assess job-related MSD risk factors (i.e. identify tasks and activities involving manual material handling, use of ladders, static or repetitive movements etc.).
  • Review training on job-specific MSD risk factors.
  • Assess controls to reduce worker exposure to MSDs.
  • Contact your health and safety association for guidance in assessments and prevention of MSDs.

Slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips and falls hazards include hazards that result in workers falling onto the same surface or falling from a height.

Injuries to workers can include fractures, lacerations and loss of consciousness. In extreme circumstances injuries caused from a fall can lead to permanent disability or death.

The Regulation for Industrial Establishments (Regulation 851) applies to industrial establishments (such as an office building, factory, arena, shop or office or any land, buildings and structures pertaining thereto) and sets out a number of requirements for worker protection against slips, trips and falls, including but not limited to sections 11, 13, 14, 15, 73 and 85.

  • Floors and other surfaces used by workers must be free of obstructions, hazards, accumulations of ice and snow and not have a slippery surface [section 11].
  • Review requirements for guardrails to protect from falls [section 13 and 14].
  • Review fall protection equipment required when working from heights [section 85].
  • Ensure that training is provided to a worker on the use of protective clothing and equipment (i.e. fall arrest equipment [section 79].
  • In areas requiring ladder use, review compliance with section 73.
  • Employers must provide information, instruction and supervision to protect workers from slips, trips and falls and acquaint workers with the hazards [OHSA clauses 25(2)(a) and 25(2)(d)].

Material handling hazards: struck by objects, caught between or crushed by objects

Injuries associated with material handling can include workers being struck by objects, caught between objects and/or crushed by mechanical compression. Manual material handling may also lead to MSDs.

Regulation 851 sets out requirements for material handling in sections 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50. Section 51 contains requirements regarding mechanical lifting devices.

  • Review operations/processes involving the movement of equipment and material from receiving areas to locations where it is needed or used.
  • Ensure that equipment and materials are stored safely and that workers can move equipment and materials safely when needed [section 45].
  • Ensure that mechanical lifting devices are maintained in good condition, are operated by a competent person and are capable of handling loads [section 51].

Cold/heat stress

Exposure to cold or heat may be a hazard to worker health and safety.

  • Ensure that a workplace is adequately heated where appropriate.
  • Review sources of heat or excessive temperatures in the workplace and ensure that adequate controls are in place to protect workers.

Fire: pyrotechnics and other special effects

Injuries from fire and/or explosion can include burns, lacerations, fractures and loss of consciousness.

In extreme circumstances, injuries can lead to permanent disability (amputation, loss of vision/hearing) and death (severe burns and explosive force).

  • Review the use of pyrotechnics or similar props.
  • Ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided to workers to protect them from fire hazards.
  • Ensure that workers are trained on the care, use and limitations of the PPE provided [OHSA clauses 25(2)(a) and 25(2)(d)].
  • Ensure that workers and those that are supervising workers receiving proper instruction, training and supervision with respect to the use of pyrotechnics and other special effects equipment [OHSA clauses 25(2)(a) and 25(2)(d)].

Noise

Injuries to workers can include varying degrees of noise induced hearing loss.

O. Reg. 381/15 sets out workplace requirements regarding noise.

  • Review the engineering controls and work practices in place to reduce noise levels and exposures (mufflers on air exhausts, mechanical dampening treatment, vibration isolators, enclosures, limiting worker’s exposure time) [subsection 2(2)].
  • Review the availability and use of hearing protection [subsection 2(6)].
  • Review the type of hearing protection provided [subsection 4(1)].
  • Review placement of warning signs at approaches to noisy areas [subsection 2(7)].
  • Review the training provided to workers [section 3].
  • Personal protective equipment is to be used only as a last resort. Engineering controls and work practices must be used where practicable [subsection 2(5)].
  • For further information regarding health and safety in the live performance sector,
  • workplace parties may refer to the Ministry of Labour webpages related to the
  • Performance Industry.

Trends

Table 1: Fatalities and critical injuries in live performance by fiscal year
Events2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Fatalities10000
Critical injuries12204
  • Only critical injury events reported to the ministry are included here.
  • These represent data that were reported to the ministry and may not represent what actually occurred at the workplace.
  • The critical injury numbers represent critical injuries reported to the ministry and not necessarily critical injuries as defined by the Occupational health and safety Act.
  • Non-workers who are critically injured may also be included in the ministry’s data.
  • The Ministry of Labour tracks and reports fatalities at workplaces covered by the OHSA. This excludes death from natural causes, death of non-workers at a workplace, suicides, death as a result of a criminal act or traffic accident (unless the OHSA is also implicated) and death from occupational exposures that occurred many years ago.
  • Data are subject to change because of inspectors’ updates to the database.
Table 2: Events and activities in live performance by fiscal year
Events and activities2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Field visits6046394037
Orders11072533848
Complaints125121216
Work refusals00001

Most common orders issued under the OHSA

From April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017, the most common orders issued by the Ministry of Labour under the OHSA were:

  • An employer shall, take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker [clause 25(2)(h)].
  • An employer shall provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker [clause 25(2)(a)].
  • An employer shall prepare a policy with respect to workplace violence, prepare a policy with respect to workplace harassment, and review the policies as often as is necessary, but at least annually [subsection 32.0.1(1)].
  • An employer shall prepare and review at least annually a written occupational health and safety policy and develop and maintain a program to implement that policy [clause 25(2)(j)].
  • An employer shall post, in the workplace, a copy of this act and any explanatory material prepared by the ministry, both in English and the majority language of the workplace, outlining the rights, responsibilities and duties of workers [clause 25(2)(i)].

Most common orders issued under the Industrial Regulations

From April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017, the most common orders issued by the Ministry of Labour under Regulation 851 were:

  • Where a machine or prime mover or transmission equipment has an exposed moving part that may endanger the safety of any worker, the machine or prime mover or transmission equipment shall be equipped with and guarded by a guard or other device that prevents access to the moving part [section 24].
  • A floor or other surface used by any worker shall be kept free of obstructions, hazards, and accumulations of refuse, snow or ice, and not have any finish or protective material used on it that is likely to make the surface slippery [section 11].

Industrial Regulations identified by section

Inspectors may issue orders in the live performance sector under the following sections of the Regulation for Industrial Establishments where appropriate.

  • Section 11 – safe work surfaces
  • Sections 13 and 14 – guardrails
  • Section 45 – material handling and storage
  • Section 49 – compressed gas cylinders
  • Clause 51(1)(a) – examination of lifting device
  • Clause 51(1)(b) – maximum rated load plainly marked on lifting device
  • Section 73 – portable ladder
  • Section 79 – personal protective equipment instruction
  • Section 85 – fall arrest

Applicable legislation

Construction

Employers should be aware that in situations where construction work is undertaken, the Construction Projects Regulation (O. Reg. 213/91) may apply.

Construction work can be described as new work, additions, alterations or maintenance and repairs. The Occupational health and safety Act defines construction as including erection, alteration, repair, dismantling, demolition, structural maintenance, painting, land clearing, earth moving, grading, excavating, trenching, digging, boring, drilling, blasting, or concreting, the installation of any machinery or plant, and any work or undertaking in connection with a project but does not include any work or undertaking underground in a mine.

General resources

Publications | Ministry of Labour

For information and Guides, Fact Sheets, Information Bulletins, Guidelines, Alerts, Engineering Data Sheets, Extracts, Reports, Consultations, Codes, and Standards.

Videos and photos | Ministry of Labour

To view Ministry of Labour videos and photos.

Health and Safety Partners

To learn about sector-assigned health and safety associations.

By the numbers: WSIB statistical report

To review Workplace safety and insurance board (WSIB) injury experience data.