The Importance of Safety Cables- Must read.

[canonnoob]

Most of us have had a time where we want to press our skills to the limits and we then look for new ways to gather angles and different frames. As this year's Sportsshooter Academy approaches, I had given some thought to what I wanted to improve on and what I would need to look into. My first thought was "remotes". I had never set up remotes and it was something that I had always wanted to do. Well I gathered everything I would need and last week was my first week setting up and having a functional backboard remote for high school basketball. It was a blast, however, because of the game starting early I did not get a chance to put up my safety cables. I figured I would be fine, and I was. However, I can not stress enough the need for the safety cables.

Tonight's game was the last game of the season. I wanted to try one more set up before the season ended and tonight was my only chance. so I set up and this time I made sure I had my safety cables. I am glad I did.

Here is the Set up.

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/turfimages/Random%20Sport/Remote%20Set%20up%202/088.jpg

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/turfimages/Random%20Sport/Remote%20Set%20up%202/090.jpg

After the game, I took down my lights only to hear a loud "POP" and the gym went quiet. One of the custodians had started to put up the backboard, when one of my super clamps broke and shattered. The camera and lens dropped but then was caught by the safety cables. If I had decided that I didnt have time to put them up again, my 40d and 16-35 II would have been on the ground or on someones head.

Guys and gals, the safety cables are not only for the protection of the camera but for the protection of the fans, players, and other media personnel. Please when putting up remotes or anything attached higher than a foot, please put up safety cables. Next time, you may not be as lucky.

Below is the last shot the camera took when the mount broke. This is not normally the shot you really want to see..

http://i955.photobucket.com/albums/ae38/turfimages/Random%20Sport/Remote%20Set%20up%202/087.jpg

[asysin2leads]

Dave, it's good to hear that you took proper precautions. That's why we use our safety cables AND have insurance. Accidents happen and they're not always our fault. From the last photo, had you not had the safety cables, the chap in the yellow hat would have gotten a head full of Canon.

[hairy_moth]

Glad to hear that the pop was not followed by a crash! Good post

[Zivnuska]

You dodged a bullet. Well done!

[canonnoob]

Dave, it's good to hear that you took proper precautions. That's why we use our safety cables AND have insurance. Accidents happen and they're not always our fault. From the last photo, had you not had the safety cables, the chap in the yellow hat would have gotten a head full of Canon.

Asysin,
I too have these safety precautions as well as insurance. I also have liability incase something did happen.

Glad to hear that the pop was not followed by a crash! Good post

Trust me as am I.

You dodged a bullet. Well done!

yup I did.

[Sledhed]

It was a blast, however, because of the game starting early I did not get a chance to put up my safety cables. I figured I would be fine, and I was.

WHAT? Never and I mean NEVER put a remote without safety cables. If you didn't have time, the equipment should have come down. The cables should be up first not last. Put them on before you set exposure and focus.

[canonnoob]

WHAT? Never and I mean NEVER put a remote without safety cables. If you didn't have time, the equipment should have come down. The cables should be up first not last. Put them on before you set exposure and focus.

hm I have heard that somewhere.

[Sledhed]

hm I have heard that somewhere.

I don't see where anybody said that above and where ever you heard it, it's TRUE.

[canonnoob]

I don't see where anybody said that above and where ever you heard it, it's TRUE.

not necessarily here... I know I made that mistake the first time, but that wasnt the real point of this thread.

[tracknut]

Thanks for bringing up the topic, Dave. I can't count the number of times I've recommended safety straps for folks who suction-cup little movie cameras on their hoods for track days, but it never ocurred to me that the same would be appropriate for our big cameras. If I ever get into the same situation, I'll definitely hook that camera to something with a strap!

Dave

[MJPhotos24]

Oh oh oh oh I know........He heard it on Sports Shooter!

I get a prize, a 49 day stay in Florida, goodie for me, time to pack!

As for what the thread is about - that has to be a VERY important factor that should never be left out. It's important that not only we, as photographers, learn from our mistakes but also try to make sure others can learn from it to!

[gromeo]

Oh oh oh oh I know........He heard it on Sports Shooter!

I get a prize, a 49 day stay in Florida, goodie for me, time to pack!

As for what the thread is about - that has to be a VERY important factor that should never be left out. It's important that not only we, as photographers, learn from our mistakes but also try to make sure others can learn from it to!

I think between here and SS Dave has gotten the message :)

Mike see ya done here, I will be doing the Astros in Kissimmee, look me up if you have time maybe we can go get a bite to eat.

Romeo

[tstowe]

I do this once or twice a year at my school's gym. The main pole is very wide and I have to use hose clamps to help the super clamps stay in place. I'd love to go in there on a Saturday, say early October, drill and tap a few holes in the the main support. Then I could bold the rig in place. :)

[MJPhotos24]

I think between here and SS Dave has gotten the message :)

Mike see ya done here, I will be doing the Astros in Kissimmee, look me up if you have time maybe we can go get a bite to eat.

Romeo

I'll be down in Kissimmee at some point, when is the question. Still not sure where I'm staying Mon/Tue but might be in that area for some high school prospects.

[canonnoob]

Oh oh oh oh I know........He heard it on Sports Shooter!

I get a prize, a 49 day stay in Florida, goodie for me, time to pack!

As for what the thread is about - that has to be a VERY important factor that should never be left out. It's important that not only we, as photographers, learn from our mistakes but also try to make sure others can learn from it to!


Bing bing bing,.. yiou are correct sir..

[dmccarty]

We have a decent sized tractor for our land. People have a romantic Norman Rockwell view of tractors. They are very productive and very powerful machines that are very dangerous. You can rollover the tractor in various ways. Get caught up in shafts spinning 540 RPM. Hydraulic hoses at 2,000-3,000 PSI can fail. All sorts of bad things can go wrong and when they do they go wrong FAST. There are safety stickers all over the tractor. For everyone of those stickers someone surely died. Heck for a couple of the stickers I know quite a few people die every year doing what the stickers warn you NOT to do. :cry:

One of the stickers is "Safety is a habit." And it is. One has to make a habit of being safe. I also use a chainsaw. I see people working chains saws and they might be wearing a pair of gloves. They won't have chainsaw chaps, eye protection or a helmet with face and ear protection. It is so ingrained in me to wear the safety equipment that it is a habit. I went out one day to cut up some logs and powered up the saw. Something was not right. It took me a few seconds to figure out that I had not put on the chainsaw chaps. It was a habit. Something was not right and Mr. Habit let me know. :lol:

Chainsaw chaps are leggings you put on that if the saw hits your legs the chaps will clogged up the chain and hopefully prevent you from being cut. At a minimum they will lesson the injury. Chaps, gloves, helmet, eye protection costs about $100. A trip to the ER costs?

It would have been very easy to just put the camera up on the backboard without the safety cables. After all it will only be for a few minutes. Kinda like running the saw to make one cut but not putting on the safety gear. Guess when the Oh s...t happens?

Safety is a habit. Make a habit to be safe.

And no, I do not work for OSHA. :lol: I work by myself with dangerous equipment. If I make a mistake it might be my last one so I ponder what I do to be safe. :D Though there was that one tree I did not see...... :o:D

Later,
Dan

[Travelingman]

Looking at your Kickapoo shots--2.8 @ 320 @ 400ISO, man, you are lucky to be shooting in those lighting conditions. Most of our shots are in bat caves.

[canonnoob]

I'm using stobes bud.

[DDCSD]

Yikes! Lesson #2, get the camera down before going for the lights!

[Biffbradford]

The only safety cables I'm gonna need is to keep me from falling down one of those stupid ski jumping hills. ;)

[Huskers69]

not necessarily here... I know I made that mistake the first time, but that wasnt the real point of this thread.

"because of the game starting early I did not get a chance to put up my safety cables. I figured I would be fine, and I was."

The point of the thread was the importance of safety cables, not sure why this sentence was even included in the OP. :confused:

[DDCSD]

"because of the game starting early I did not get a chance to put up my safety cables. I figured I would be fine, and I was."

The point of the thread was the importance of safety cables, not sure why this sentence was even included in the OP. :confused:


I'm guessing its to show that you might get lucky and not have any problems, but that eventually you will have something happen and its not worth it to chance it.

[canonnoob]

I'm guessing its to show that you might get lucky and not have any problems, but that eventually you will have something happen and its not worth it to chance it.


Exactly,

Thanks Derek.