News - ReviewJournal.com: Matthew Moore sits in his Pahrump home, his arm in a cast and his neck in a brace.
The 35-year-old stagehand remembers nothing about how he ended up in this position.
He just knows it has something to do with that day working on the set of "Still the One," the Shania Twain show at Caesars Palace.
"Everybody was being pretty safe. I was getting comfortable with the crew," he said, "and then one day I woke up in a hospital bed."
5 comments:
I'm a little torn on this article. On one hand, I feel, of course, the facility is at fault. A 20' square pit is obviously a huge hazard. It's actually MORE dangerous, the more one is around the set, because they get too comfortable. Therefore, the facility must take proper action. It sounds like at this place, they took some action, but not all and not consistently. Which, of course, is even more dangerous because it does not build an instinctual reaction in people, if the stimulus always changes. On the other hand though, we do work in an extremely dangerous business, as I experienced tonight at my crew call, and hear about all over. So although the facility should be found at fault, I do think that some of this injury and others can be attributed to the job.
There are many variables that come into play with this and it's really hard to know what stance to take...
It's obviously incredibly unfortunate and disturbing that something like this was able to happen and it seems logical that the theatre is to blame not the individual, but I'm not sure.
Regardless it is evident that their safety precautions still aren't up to par and need to be reviewed further.
Like Joe and Reuben, I too am a bit torn on what to think of this article. With that position, there is always the possibility of injury. It's a risk one takes with the job, albeit knowing they will probably eventually recover form anything they sustain. Then again, there should be a check of the facilities safety regulations. Although it is not clear if they were at fault or not, a review of them might bring the cause to light. If it is found that the man was injured by some fluke, despite precautions being followed, then it can be attributed to the line of work. If there is a flaw in the system, then it should be brought to the table for revision.
This seems to have been caused by negligence on EVERYBODY'S part. The facility should have had more signage and warning concerning the pit, the staff should have implemented safety meetings to review concerns and dangers, and the individual should just have plainly been looking where he was going. Yes, these risks come with the job, as rmarkowi said, but that is not an acceptable excuse for this accident. Whether it be a 20x20ft pit on a performing stage or a manhole in the street, everyone needs to be held responsible for their own actions and realize when situations have become hazardous, then respond to them.
It was interesting to read one of the comments under the article from a guy who said that he was onsite at the time of the accident about 15' from where Matthew Moore fell. He also stated that they were constantly trained when and where to move and he did not see what Matt did to fall, but that he didn't understand how he did. He also mentioned that it was during a dress rehearsal and that was why it was dark. While reading the article I thought that they were just working in dim light, not under show conditions, but if it was under show conditions, that would explain why it was so dark. I am just curious as to how he fell.
Nevertheless, I think that they clearly all need to go over OSHA's protocols and procedures!! An accident is an accident and it can in most situations be prevented!
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