Manual handling
The issue of manual handling – which is about minimizing the risk of musculo-skeletal disorders – is particularly important when looking at the use of flyaway SNG uplinks. As we have already seen, flyaway systems are typically made up of a large number of boxes, and some of these cases can be particularly heavy – each up to 75 kg. Although back injuries through lifting awkward or heavy cases do not account for work-related deaths, they do account for a significant amount of human suffering. Back disorders are one of the leading causes of disability for people in their working years, and SNG and ENG operators quite commonly suffer some degree of discomfort from back pain caused by lifting during their work.
Back problems can either be caused by a single traumatic incident, or more often through a gradual process of repetitive strain over a period. Because of the slow and progressive onset of this internal injury, the condition is often ignored until the symptoms become acute, often resulting in disabling injury.
Typical actions, which occur handling the SNG/ENG systems and that can lead to back injury, are:
• heavy lifting
• poor posture
• reaching, twisting or bending while lifting
• lifting with forceful movement
• poor footing.
These are further exacerbated if the operator has not been trained in correct body mechanics – how one lifts, pushes, pulls or carries objects. Additionally, poor physical condition results in losing the strength and endurance to perform physical tasks without strain.
Working on news stories almost invariably involves very long hours, varying from periods of relative inactivity interspersed with bursts of intense activity, to periods of sustained intense activity, all of which cause fatigue. Often meals are missed, sleep patterns disrupted, and dehydration can occur due to the pattern of work. If working in a different country, the operator may have to cope with changes in diet, drinking water, and perhaps effects from working across a different time zone.
Commonly, operators talk of ‘landing on the ground – feet running’, as their work begins immediately the moment they disembark from the aircraft. They will be directly involved in getting a very large amount of equipment through Customs and loaded into vehicles, then quickly moving to the location, and setting up the equipment as rapidly as possible. It is the nature of the business that an operation is expected to be up and running within hours of arrival, as the story is probably ‘moving’ and material is required for news broadcasts as quickly as possible. Once the uplink is working, of course, the work continues as the transmissions get underway.
But what does all this have to do with back injury? Quite simply, it is all too easy to forget about the weight of what you are lifting if all the pressure is on you to get those cases moved into position as quickly as possible. Local porters may be available, but invariably you will be involved in moving cases as well. If you are feeling tired due to jet lag, or just generally unwell because of the change in environment, combined with the pressure by producers to get the uplink working as quickly as possible, it is hardly surprising that even minor injuries occur. Very experienced operators, of course, have various methods of minimizing the effects of all these factors, but nonetheless back injuries are suffered by even the most experienced.
Cable safety
Associated with manual handling is the running of cables between the vehicle and the live camera position. Cables represent a trip hazard not only to operators and other crew, but may also present a serious hazard to members of the public where cables cross public areas.
There are a number of ways of minimizing the risk to everyone.
• If the cables can be lifted above ground height – ‘flown’ – they can be routed above peoples’ heads. The difficulty can often be that in order to raise the cables above head height, to do so in itself can be hazardous.
• If the cables can only run across the ground, then they should be routed where the risk of tripping is minimized. This can be around the edge of public areas, or run along in gutters at the edge of roads (potentially unpleasant when you come to de-rig them!).
• Often they are ‘matted’ i.e. rubber matting is laid over the top of them so as to minimize the risk of tripping. Cables can also ‘roll’ when stepped upon, causing people to lose their footing. Wherever possible, cables should be matted and/or taped so as to minimize the risk of tripping.
• Running cables across roads is potentially very hazardous. Cables can get caught up in the wheels of fast-moving vehicles; a cyclist or motorcyclist can be thrown from their saddle if they hit a bunch of cables lying across a road at speed or in wet conditions. In many places, it is actually illegal to run cables across a road. This is a situation where the short-hop radio-cam link can prove invaluable in minimizing risk – and gives greatest flexibility and speed of rigging.
• Most of all, remember cables carrying mains voltages must be routed with care.
Working at heights
It is a reflection of the nature of newsgathering work that it frequently involves rapid deployment without pre-planning to areas where often you may have no detailed knowledge of local circumstances or conditions. This can be particularly problematic when you have to rig microwave or SNG equipment on roofs. Below are highlighted a number of key points to consider when rigging on roofs or other ‘high-points’ – which can include balconies or ledges.
• It is often a good idea to wear some kind of safety harnesses which should be adequately secured at least at waist-height when working on a roof/high-point, and including the means of access to and from the roof if it is hazardous.
• Hazardous routes to and from a roof/high-point must be treated with extreme caution, particularly when equipment is being carried up and down. You should always use appropriate safety equipment such as body harnesses where necessary, and lift the equipment by using ropes if there is not a safe way of getting the gear up to the top.
• Roofs often have surfaces coated in lichen or moss, heavy coatings of bird excrement, loose coverings – all these are potential hazards.
• Rigging over the edge of a drop even when there is an adequate barrier is potentially dangerous if equipment is being raised or lowered, as there is the risk of being pulled over the edge.
• Vertical access ladders which have no outer guard rings are a particular hazard. Any ladder higher than 3 m with no guards should have a safety line arrangement rigged on it. This will prevent falls when carrying equipment up the ladder.
• All equipment and cables once rigged on a roof/high-point need to be correctly secured so as to withstand any bad weather conditions which may prevail during the period that the rig is in place. All equipment rigged in exposed conditions should be left adequately weatherproofed for the duration of the rig.
• Any area into which any person may stray which may expose them to non-ionizing radiation generated by RF-transmitting equipment (either terrestrial microwave or satellite uplinks) must be clearly cordoned off and indicated with warning notices. This is particularly true when remotely controlled microwave link equipment is rigged.
Down below
It is just as important to pay attention to what is happening below as well. On street pavements the arrangement of a temporary barrier which will force pedestrians to walk in the roadway is not a good idea, yet on the other hand someone needs to be around on the ground to ensure that nothing happens when lifting gear up from the ground or rigging over an edge. It is a good idea to wear hard hats down below – tools have been known to be dropped! A spanner falling five floors is a fairly lethal projectile. All cables and equipment lifted to or lowered from a roof/high-point should be correctly secured and guided by a member of the crew at the base level as well as at the roof/high-point.
Streets and other public areas are a particular hazard, and it should be remembered that when a heavy weight falls it may bounce off the side of a building. Damage to a building is also avoided by guiding equipment with a rope held from below as it is pulled up or lowered.
Weather and time of day
Adverse weather conditions such as heavy rain, thick fog/mist, sleet, snow, extreme cold or conditions existing after such weather e.g. lying snow, ice or frost must be treated as a primary concern when contemplating any possible work on a roof/high-point. Conditions must be kept under constant review. The risk of accident increases dramatically even under heavy frost conditions or poor visibility and such conditions must not be underestimated. Extreme cold is a hazard in itself as it can lead to poor reactions, reduced feeling/grip, etc.
The period of dusk and dawn can be particularly risky when half-light is a positive hazard.
Checklist for working on roofs/high-points
• Is it a known site? Have you been there before?
• When is the rig to take place – day/night?
• What are the weather conditions? What have they been and what is the forecast?
• Is there enough safety equipment and of the right type loaded?
• Have all the staff who are going equipped with their personal safety equipment?
• Are there enough people going for the type of rig?
• What is the access to the roof/high-point like?
• If at night, is there lighting already there for rigging, or will temporary lights need to be rigged?
• What is the state of the surface of the working area?
• Is there an adequate barrier of safe construction?
• If not, are there suitable points for the rigging of safety lines for using safety harnesses?
• Does the area of the rig require extra vigilance and/or the erection of temporary barriers?
• Will equipment/cables be lifted to the roof/high-point?
• Will someone be in attendance top-side when the link is tested or if not have safety barriers/notices been erected?
• At the end of the rig have all equipment and cables been secured and weatherproofed if in an exposed position?
Working on a very dangerous glass roof!
