SAFETY MOMENTSAFETY INDICATORS:

(ROCK & ROLL LESSONS)

Electrical & Safety Management Ltd

HOW A ROCK BAND USED BROWN M&MS

TO CHECK ON SAFETY

SAFETY INDICATORS

• Van Halen one of the most successful rock bands of the 1980s famous for extravagant stage shows with extensive lighting rigs & moving parts

• Their large contract had an 53 page ‘rider’ listing dressing room requirements

• One line said “M&Ms (WARNING: ABSOLUTELY NO BROWN ONES)”• Seen as ‘rock and roll excess’ this actually had another, more subtle,

purpose - If the M&Ms had the brown ones present, the contract had not been well read

• So, what about the detailed contract instructions for erecting the set and stage lighting?

• For Van Halen, brown M&Ms were a critical safety indicator triggering a rigorous review of the safety of lighting and set and security measures for the performance.

SAFETY INDICATORS

• What critical safety indicators do you rely on?• Are they predictive? • Do you act on them?