Hazards as a music performer
The main risks that musicians face are:
- loud noise,
- temporary electrical cabling, and
- temporary scaffolding and staging
Others include:
- posture strain from holding instruments
- violence in gigs
- lifting instruments or equipment
- occupational overuse injury
- back injury
- stress/performance anxiety
- adverse lighting conditions
- smoking environments
Specific steps to fix the problem:
- Limit the length of your performance and practice sessions to:
- prevent overuse injury
- avoid fatigue
- avoid mental or physical stress
- Use correct stance, posture and movement during practice sessions and performance
- Plan and take reasonable breaks for refreshment and relaxation
- Look after your hearing (e.g. earplugs, reducing noise)
- Look after your and other people's hearing (e.g. reduce noise)
- Do warm-up exercises as part of your practice routines
- Do preventative practice against damage to your voice
- Learn to reduce your performance anxiety
- Check for electrical hazards and temporary cabling
- Beware temporary scaffolding and staging