Important Lighting Safety Information

• Never be afraid of using photo-graphic lights, but always treat all of them with respect.
• Always read and follow lighting manufacturers’ safety and operating instructions.
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• Never run more than 1,200 watts total of lighting equipment off one modern AC power circuit.
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• Never plug any lights or strobe power packs into AC power outlets where appliances that heat are on the same circuit.
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• If your hotlights or power packs trip a household circuit breaker or blow a fuse, immediately turn off the lights or strobe packs before resetting. Then reduce wattage demand on the AC circuit, or split lights or packs between two or more circuits.
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• Always use cotton gloves to touch glass, to prolong lamp and tube life. Never use frayed or damaged power cords or extension cords.
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• Never use any lighting equipment where it’s wet.
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• Be aware that all photo lamps and tubes can burn fingers. Let them cool before packing.
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• Never touch a tungsten lamp (bulb) or strobe tube while the equipment is turned on.
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• Allow twenty minutes’ cooling time before changing or packing lamps or tubes.
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• Never allow children or animals to be left unattended near lights.
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• When photographing kids or animals under lights, be sure a parent or baby minder or animal handler is on the “set.”
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• Warn adults that they must never touch lights, cords, or equipment.
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• For maximum safety, use sturdy light stands. Extend stands from the bottom up. Make sure all stand sections are locked before adding lights or strobe heads.
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• Weight tall stands at the bottom. “Booms”—light stands with an arm that extends to hang light over the set—require counterweights to keep them from tipping.
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• Light cords must reach the bottom of stands and lie flat on the floor to reach the AC outlet—use extension cords if needed.
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• For maximum safety, tape power cords to the bottom of stands and to the studio floor with electricians’ “gaffer tape.”
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• Refer to these safety suggestions, and others in the body of the book, until they are second nature to you.