Theatre Safety Blog: Working on the Gridiron Deck, Loading Gallery, or Beam Catwalk is not usually all that glamorous, but you can make a fashion statement that is functional and comfortable. Who knows, maybe you will turn a few heads while wearing these Wurk Pads? For some unknown reason, masochists must design these work surfaces, as someone that works upon them would never let this happen. Theatre crews spend way too much time on their knees, and anything you can do to relieve some of that suffering is a good thing.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
I think I'll go strapless on the catwalk today
Theatre Safety Blog: Working on the Gridiron Deck, Loading Gallery, or Beam Catwalk is not usually all that glamorous, but you can make a fashion statement that is functional and comfortable. Who knows, maybe you will turn a few heads while wearing these Wurk Pads? For some unknown reason, masochists must design these work surfaces, as someone that works upon them would never let this happen. Theatre crews spend way too much time on their knees, and anything you can do to relieve some of that suffering is a good thing.
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23 comments:
Both hilarious and functional! If I worked with a crew member who had clip on knee pads I would be very jealous. I have been in some very tight catwalks and honestly it would have been nice to have some comfy PPE. People may laugh when you pull out your comfy knee pads or hard helmets, but you will always have the last laugh.
These are great. If I have to do something uncomfortable on my knees, I tend to squat awkwardly instead--and fall over often. I would definitely buy and use these if I had a consistent kneeling job.
The article was hilarious, but also I can absolutely see these kneepads being invaluable to someone who has to work up in the grid all day. In the theatre world, these would also be great for load-ins when it might be necessary to kneel for extended amounts of time, depending what your job is. As someone who has fallen on a tension grid and is now the proud owner of a square shaped scar on her knee, these kneepads are a great solution, as silly as they may look.
These knee pads look like they're great! Whenever I wore regular knee pads, I always disliked how uncomfortable and hot the straps were around the back of the knee, and how it seemed to restrict movement. The article promotes them well, funny too. There are multiple instances where I wish I could have had these!
I think clip on knee pads are ingenious as long as they work well. The other part of protective gear that always bothers me is how hot it can be. Full knee pads can make you sweat and I am always for making PPE as comfortable as possible!
I think that these are great! I personally dont usually care for the type of knee pads that wrap around the back of your knee because I usually find them uncomfortable and they tend to pinch. These seem pretty cool, I would worry a little about the strength of those clips, even though they say that they are heavy duty if you work pretty rough they still might break. I agree with Taylor in that yes, people might give you a hard time when you pull out certain safety gear but at the end of the day you will be protected.
I've seen knee pads like these before. Back in my old shop my Technical Director wore the kind that went and wrapped behind your knee. And I agree with Sonia those things are uncomfortable. They pinch, they're uncomfortable, they restrict movement and they make the back of my knee all sweaty. Like I'm not sweating enough in the shop! Well this is great it solves a lot of problems. I'll have to check these guys out. I just wonder how they clip on and if they are really reliable and how long they will last clipping on and off. It would be really annoying if they just kept falling off.
I don't care if people would laugh at me if I had these, these look great. I've constantly had the issue that is mentioned in the article with the straps binding up against the back of your knees. I think the clip on aspect of this product is a brilliant idea. I have noticed that more and more I have started working in scenarios where my knees are on the tension grid or even just on the stage and it gets pretty painful pretty quickly. These would be a welcome reprieve from the pain. I wonder if they impede walking in any way or if they just feel like a natural part of your pants.
The advertisement for these knee pads is absolutely hilarious! I agree with other posters that they seem like a great concept, provided the "heavy duty" clips actually hold up.
This is a great little write-up on these knee-pads, and they really do look useful to boot. The clips look like they would be really useful rather than straps, and not make you feel as uncomfortable. Great and hilarious promotion, and looks like a genuinely useful product. Who would have thought it!
I'm sure these are great and do make it easier on peoples knees and I'm sure knee pads help your knees out in the long run. The only thing is i have doubts about the clips that hold them on. yes, the strap around pads are uncomfortable, but i feel like i would be worrying the whole time i was wearing them that they would fall off. that would drive me crazy.
Maybe I need to buy some kneepads now... Given that I spend so much time in the SOD on my knees (don't get any ideas, kids) this could be a welcome addition to the workbag. I find that function is more important than form. So while I may look like a cyclops, I stand by Petzl headlamp for LX work. I think at least in the SOD there aren't enough instances worth using these. It's really only helpful on expanded and bar grating. I feel like I'm on a ladder or in a gennie more often on SOD calls.
I enjoyed the enthusiasm voiced throughout this article. I can definitely see the functionality and convenience of these pads. However, having made such a big deal about the "fashion statement" I'd think they would make more attractive pads! Maybe some colors or patterns? I'd surely invest in a pair of these. I've taken many a screw to the knee from carelessly dropping down on the catwalk to work. The no sweat advertisement is definitely a seller.
This article was not only entertaining to read, but had great advertisement through the use of humor. They actually sound like a great product that would be really useful to have around. During a long work call it would be a luxury to have these on so that my knees and not dying at the end of the day. I especially love the fact that they clip onto the front of your pants rather that having a strap that goes around your leg causing you to be sweaty under your pant. I would definitely think these to be beneficial.
It's actually a really good idea that I am surprised I had not heard of or seen before. www.duluthtrading.com use to offer a pair of pants that had kneed pads sewn between the layers that were incredible since they removed the whole hassle of putting on kneed pads just to take them off once they got uncomfortable or what ever you were working on was finished. The clip on idea I like even more then that since you do not have the stiff knees the knee plates added to the paint and you can get them attached and removed with record speed.
I think that this is very funny . the practicality is debatable , more or less convenience as the primary element. safety actually is a factor here which i feel this article kinda sorta passed over in evaluation the risk of any possible lose items over heads. their is also a positive to these pads as a safety benefit could be the fact that people are more inclined to act safely if they are comfortable in the environment. that being said i feel any time safety is enhanced in production it is a win.
I think these are so funny! But the good news is that you can definitely use them. I really don't like working on my knees for extended periods of time, so these would be great! I also really like the clip-on idea. The only problem is if you're wearing a dress--what exactly do you clip it to? Oh well, either way they're great!
Knee pads are one solution, but it's nice when the surface can be made more pleasant instead of the workers needing to bring additional gear. My favorite solution so far has been black carpet, with the knap side down covering the bar grating. It provides a decent walking surface, and a more comfortable seating surface, while looking pretty good from the audience side. In addition, it can still be folded back or cut through when rigging or cable needs to go through the grating.
This is a pretty nifty idea. I feel like it's a bit like the upside down ketchup bottle in the sense that we have been having a problem with knee pads and comfort for years and we only now just thought of this (ketchup has been hard to get out of the bottle for how long and the upside down bottles came out, what, like ten years ago?). Anyways, these are awesome. Enough said!
I know some parents who might also buy these for their children! This article was delightful to read, as everyone seems to have said, but realistically they would be very useful when kneeling for long periods on the catwalk mesh! They would also be good for new stage craft students who may fall on the grid. I really hate how the straps of knee pads roll up behind your knees as you walk. It really is most uncomfortable. These knee pads won't be the most fashionable, but then again neither are square dents on your knees!
These are genius. The answer to every problem ever faced by an aspiring lighting technician. The is the potential risk of the clip failing and a solid knee pad falling several stories and hitting someone on the head... but that is why they invented hard hats right? If we all use both of these products we can all function safely, and comfortably. Im down to purchase!!
PPE is something that is just as personal as the soap you choose to use. Each person has their own opinions about what is the best design choices and what provided the most comfort. I also think that for items such as this, having something personal will make it more likely that the person will wear the PPE on a more consistent basis.
I also think it is hilarious how fiercely people will defend the PPE choices they make.
To each his own!
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