FOG

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FOG HAZEHealth Safety ConsiderationsJanet
Sellery, CRSP
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Introduction

• Directors and designers love to use fog and haze
  effects
• People exposed to fog and haze have experienced
  health effects

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Session Outline

• Studies on health effects
• Levels of Exposure
• Fog and haze H S issues
• Due diligence
• Risk assessment and controls
• Education and communication
• Accommodation
• Resources

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Supplier ad

• Theatrical fog machines create fog by vaporizing
  a special, safe and non-toxic water-based fluid

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Is it safe?

• Safe - adjective 1 protected from danger or
  risk. 2 not causing or leading to harm or injury.
• Source Compact Oxford English Dictionary

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Is It Non-Toxic?

• Non-toxic is not meaningful and can be
  misleading.
• No definition or standard is used for judging a
  consumer product or its ingredients
• No assurance that such a claim has been
  independently verified.
• A product that does not meet the definition of
  toxic according to the Consumer Product Safety
  Commission (US) should not necessarily be
  considered non-toxic
• Source http//greenerchoices.org/eco-labels/

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Background

• Concerns about fog products go back to the late
  1980s
• Monona Rossol, Arts Crafts Theatre Safety,
  published Theatre Fogs and Smokes A Report on
  their Hazards in 1990
• American Equity reported on a study conducted by
  NIOSH in 1991
• ESTA has become actively involved through their
  Fog Working Group, technical standards and fog
  testing program

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Study 1 Health Effects Evaluation of
Theatrical Smoke, Haze and Pyrotechnics

• 2000 Mount Sinai School of Medicine and
  ENVIRON, sponsored by American Equity Association
• Study conducted in 1997 1999
• 439 adult performers
• 16 Broadway musicals

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Study 1 Health Effects Evaluation of
Theatrical Smoke, Haze and Pyrotechnics

• Study included
• Epidemiologic assessment collection of data
  from Actors regarding symptoms they reported
  experiencing and background info (questionnaires,
  daily checklists, medical

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Study 2 Health Effects Evaluation of
Theatrical Smoke, Haze and Pyrotechnics

• Study included
• Exposure assessment potential exposures were
  estimated by collecting
• Personal breathing zone samples
• General air samples
• Various locations in the theatres
• Both live performance and rehearsal settings
• Results were combined in developing conclusions
  re. exposures and health effects

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Study 1 Health Effects Evaluation of
Theatrical Smoke, Haze and Pyrotechnics

• Findings
• No evidence of serious health effects was found
  to be associated with exposure to any of the
  theatrical effects evaluated in this study
• Peak exposures following a release of glycol
  smoke are associated with increased reporting of
  respiratory, throat, and nasal symptoms

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Study 1 Health Effects Evaluation of
Theatrical Smoke, Haze and Pyrotechnics

• Findings
• Elevated exposures to mineral oil haze are
  associated with increased reporting of throat
  symptoms.
• Other factors in increased symptom reporting
  perceived levels of stress (at work and away from
  work), performance schedule, and the physical
  demand of the role(s)

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Study 1 Health Effects Evaluation of Theatrical
Smoke, Haze and Pyrotechnics

• Findings
• Observed association between increased signs and
  symptoms of respiratory irritant effects and
  exposure to elevated levels of glycols and
  mineral oil
• Recommendations for actors in musicals
• Glycols not to exceed 40 mg/m³
• Mineral Oil not to exceed 25 mg/m³ (Time
  weighted average below 5 mg/m³)

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Study 1 Health Effects Evaluation of Theatrical
Smoke, Haze and Pyrotechnics

• Recommendations for actors in musicals
• As long s peak exposures are avoided, health,
  vocal abilities and careers of Actors should not
  be harmed.

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Study 2 - Atmospheric Effects in the
Entertainment Industry

• 2003 UBC School of Occupational and Environmental
  Hygiene, requested by SHAPE
• Study included
• Survey of special effects technicians
• Analysis of chemicals used
• Simple monitoring method for se in the industry
• Levels of exposure
• Health effects

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Study 2 - Atmospheric Effects in the
Entertainment Industry

• Findings
• Fog aerosols were small enough to enter the
  smallest airways and air sacs of the lungs
• Mineral oil exposure exceeded the proposed ACGIH
  TLV
• Exposure was higher for employees
• working close to the fog machine,
• spending more time in the visible fog
• on productions with more fog machines in use,
  regardless of the type of production or fog
  chemicals being used

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Study 2 - Atmospheric Effects in the
Entertainment Industry

• Health Effects
• Respiratory health of 101 persons was compared to
  a control group from BC Ferries
• Entertainment industry employees had
• Lower than average lung function test results
• More chronic respiratory symptoms and current
  asthma symptoms

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Study 2 - Atmospheric Effects in the
Entertainment Industry

• Findings
• Acute changes on testing day
• Increased nose, throat and voice symptoms
• Glycol fogs more common dry cough , dry throat,
  headache, dizziness, tiredness
• Mineral oil fogs measureable drop in lung
  function (over approx 4 hours)

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Study 2 - Atmospheric Effects in the
Entertainment Industry

• Recommendations
• Exposure control plans for mineral oil
• Exposure minimization plans for glycol fluids
• Exposure reduction strategies (See the ActSafe
  Bulletin)

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Anything other than clean ,moist air can hurt
your vocal cords

• Brent Rossington, SHAPE

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Levels of Exposure

• Regulation 833 Control of Exposure to Biological
  or Chemical Agents
• ANSI E1.5 2009 Theatrical Fog Made With Aqueous
  Solutions of Di- and Trihydric Solutions
• American Equity Association - Theatrical Smoke,
  Fog, and Haze Testing Time and Distance
  Guidelines (2007)

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Health Safety Issues

• Particulates
• Dryness
• Humidity
• Allergies
• Asphyxiation
• Toxic Byproducts

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Particulates

• Whenever you introduce particulates, some people
  may experience irritation, especially those with
  respiratory problems
• Minor irritation, which might go unnoticed by
  most people, may affect vocal performance and may
  leave performers more susceptible to colds and
  infections

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Dryness

• When you use glycol products and dry ice, the air
  will become drier and some people may experience
  sore throats
• People who wear contact lenses may experience dry
  eyes

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Humidity

• Whenever you use low lying fog (ex. Dry ice
  carried by CO2), humidity will increase and there
  is potential for slippery floors

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Allergies

• Almost any substance may be capable of causing an
  allergy
• While most people will not develop allergies,
  there is no reliable way to predict who will be
  affected

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Asphyxiation

• When oxygen is displaced (dry ice), there is
  potential for asphyxiation

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Toxic Byproducts

• Incompatible fluids and machines, or machines
  with malfunctioning temperature controls may
  allow combustion.
• Toxic byproducts may be created.

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San Francisco Opera

• As of 2002, 23 out of 44 chorus members
  reportedly suffered respiratory problems, throat
  irritation and other ailments that they blame on
  theatrical fog
• At least one singer filed a workers compensation
  claims and complained to OSHA another filed a
  lawsuit,

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San Francisco Opera

• The San Francisco Opera says it dropped glycol
  fog more than a year ago because of Pamela
  Dale's complaints and because stage designers
  want different effects.
• They have instead used mineral oil, liquid
  nitrogen or dry ice, or combinations of those.
• Dale says the mineral oil fog also irritates her
  throat.
• Performers are allowed to opt out of any opera
  that uses fog but still be paid

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San Francisco Opera

• Some audience members have also claimed to have
  had reactions
• "When somebody sees a smoke or fog like this,
  it's a psychological problem," says Jim Kehrer,
  head of pharmacology and toxicology at the
  University of Texas. "If you see some sort of fog
  or smoke rolling at you, and you already have a
  breathing problem, it's going to get worse."

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San Francisco Opera

• Dale says that opera houses should be more
  creative with lighting and rely more on the
  audience's imagination instead of fog.
• But "they'll stop using it when someone like
  Luciano Pavarotti gets a reaction to stage fog,"
  says lawyer Steven Weiss, whose client Will Roy,
  an opera singer, received an undisclosed
  settlement from the Cleveland Opera after
  claiming he suffered an allergic reaction in
  1990.
• Source Kelly Yamanouchi, AP Writer, Backstage,
  Jan. 2001

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Beauty and the Beast, Broadway

• In 1995, nearly a third of the 25 members of the
  pit orchestra complained of asthma-like effects,
  according to Bill Moriarity, president of
  American Federation of Musicians Local 802.
• Source Kelly Yamanouchi, AP Writer, Backstage,
  Jan. 2001

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Sometimes fog is a bad idea

• Insect fogger using an unknown product, sitting
  in a foil roasting pan because it leaked so badly
• Fog blasted up from a trap into the face of an
  actor who developed persistent bronchitis
• Fog that filled a quick change area causing
  asthma in a wardrobe attendant, who had to wear a
  respirator (WSIB claim)

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• We were designed to breathe air
• Monona Rossol
• Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety

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So how do we work with fog?

• There are no safe ways to work with fog
• There are safer ways to work with fog
• No one can promise that fog will not have health
  effects for some people.

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Due Diligence

• An important legal and cultural component of a H
  S management system
• The level of
• Care
• Prudence
• Determination
• Activity
• that a person would reasonably be expected to
  exercise under a situations particular
  circumstances

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Due Diligence

• Under sections 25 (2) (h) and 27 (2) (c) of the
  OHSA, employers and supervisors must take every
  precaution reasonable in the circumstances for
  the protection of the worker.
• This is known as the general duty or due
  diligence clause.

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Due Diligence

• Seems subjective
• May be measured using the reasonable person test
• What dozen peers would consider reasonable under
  a similar set of circumstances
• The result is a balanced, wise and defendable
  judgment

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Due Diligence

• Safer ways to work with fog require
• Risk assessment and control
• Education and communication
• Accommodation for people who have problems with
  fog

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Risk Assessment and Control

• The foundation of OSH a powerful tool for
  dealing with unique issues
• Depending on the jurisdiction, it is either
  explicit or implied
• In some jurisdictions (including Alberta),
  employers must perform and formally document
  regular hazard assessments at their worksites

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Identifying and Assessing Hazards

• Hazard any condition or circumstance that has
  the potential to cause injury or illness

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Eliminating and Controlling Hazards

• Whenever possible, hazards should be eliminated
• If this is not possible, they must be controlled
• Control means reducing the hazard to levels that
  present a minimal risk to worker health
• Controls, in order of preference, include
• Engineering controls
• Administrative controls
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)

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Engineering Controls

• First and preferred choice
• They physically control hazards
• Example
• Substitution of a less toxic product

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Administrative Controls

• Second choice
• Examples
• Safe work practice and procedures
• Worker training
• Scheduling and supervision
• Purchasing decisions
• Preventative maintenance programs
• Signage

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Personal Protective Equipment

• Last resort of hazard control
• Should be used only after engineering and
  administrative controls have been shown to be
  impractical, ineffective or insufficient
• Used to lessen the potential harmful effects of
  exposure to a known hazard
• Examples
• Respirators

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Control of Hazards

• Each workplace must find controls that are
  specific to that workplace
• Workers must be protected from harmful exposures
  to hazardous substances
• For best results, choose the most effective place
  to apply controls
• At the source (first choice)
• Along the path
• At the worker (last choice)

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Risk Assessment

• Who will be exposed?
• Actors, musicians
• Stage management, crew, wardrobe attendants
• Patrons
• Children, seniors
• People with health issues
• These populations have not been studied.

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Risk Assessment

• Review the Risk Assessment chart for Fog and Haze
  Effects

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Education and Communication
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Equipment

• Select appropriate equipment and learn how to use
  it to create the effects you want
• Read and follow manufacturer/supplier
  instructions
• Contact the manufacturer/supplier for additional
  info

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Fog Products

• Workers using fog should have WHMIS
• Every product should have a complete and accurate
  MSDS READ IT!
• Do not use a product if ingredients are not
  listed or if it is home made with no MSDS
• NOTE The MSDS may not reflect the intended use
  of the product blowing it into the air and
  inhaling it

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Fog Products

• Prior to the Cue to Cue rehearsal, each Technical
  Director is responsible for posting the MSDSs
  (Material Safety Data Sheets) for fog and smoke
  products to be used for each production for the
  acting company and production staff.
• Copies shall also be given to the Stage Manager

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Accommodation

• If there is a change in the atmospheric
  conditions of the theatre (ventilation, heat, air
  conditioning and humidity) during the run, the
  Stage Manager may request changes to the levels
  or durations of effects in order to maintain the
  look of the production.

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Accommodation

• If a member of the acting company or production
  staff experiences adverse health effects due to
  fog or smoke, they must report their concerns to
  the Stage Manager or Technical Director.
• The Stage Manager, in consultation with the
  Technical Director, may request changes to the
  levels or durations of effects for up to two
  performances.
•  

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Accommodation

• Beyond two performances, changes to fog and smoke
  may only be made with the approval of the
  Director of Production and the Producer.
• Respirators equipped with appropriate filter
  cartridges should be used where circumstances
  warrant.

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Resources

• Ontario Ministry of Labour
• ActSafe - formerly SHAPE (BC)
• Actors Equity Association (US)
• ESTA (US)
• Australian Entertainment Industry Association

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Next Steps

• Conduct testing to assess real levels of exposure
  ESTA Fog Testing Program
• Investigate safer options such as potable water
  under high pressure (used in O)
• Develop healthy and safe practices to ensure
  long, productive careers.
• Be curious and ask questions.

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Opera America Newsline, Jan. 1999

• Smoke makes the air a palpable presence. You
  can see the light movingits a way of making the
  beams register Management is beginning to
  understand that there may be a problem, and
  consider that they may have a moral
  responsibility not to endanger singers and crew.
  (John Conklin, designer and director of
  productions at Glimmerglass Opera and New York
  City Opera)

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Opera America Newsline, Jan. 1999

• Until any conclusive scientific findings become
  available, companies must consider a variety of
  variables, including an honest look at their own
  theatre ventilation systems and sensitivities of
  cast and crew.
• Current methods for creating a palpable
  atmosphere onstage may prove harmless, but until
  then, its best to proceed with informed caution.

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Questions ???
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Contact Info

• Janet Sellery, CRSP
• janet_at_selleryhealthandsafety.com
• www.selleryhealthandsafety.com