* * * * WARNING * * * * *

WORKING LOADS ARE FOR STAGEHAND IN GOOD CONDITION WITH APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION, IN NON-CRITICAL APPLICATIONS AND UNDER NORMAL SERVICE CONDITIONS. WORKING LOADS ARE NOT APPLICABLE WHEN STAGEHAND IS SUBJECT TO SHOCK OR DYNAMIC LOADING. THESE CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF A STAGEHAND THAT IS NORMALLY STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE JOB. DO NOT STAND IN POSSIBLE RECOIL PATH IN CASE FAILURE OCCURS. DO NOT USE THIS STAGEHAND WHERE LIFE, LIMB OR PERSONAL SAFETY ARE INVOLVED UNLESS PROPER TRAINING HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND PROPER EVALUATION OF ALL RISKS HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT OF PROPER STAGEHAND USE, CONSULT THE JOB STEWARD OR BUSINESS AGENT.

Several years ago, a spool of rope came through Green Bay with one road show or another. This warning appeared on the spool, however everywhere that it said rope, I changed to stagehand oddly enough I think it is an even more crucial warning for stagehands, but that is another story. When I first read the warning, I though that it was a sad testament to the state of our litigious society. I'm sure the lawyers had a lot of valuable fun at the manufacturers expense, however as I read it I began to feel a subtle hope welling up inside me that somewhere, someone might begin to understand that using ropes, or stagehands for that matter, is not to be taken lightly. I have seen both rope and stagehands pushed beyond their limits and in neither case is it pretty.