Helmets and Overalls
It’s always in the back of
your mind. In the same way that a driver must put danger to the back of his
mind, you get on with your job adamant that it will never happen to you. There
is an element of risk involved with everything in life. Sure, motorsport has a
fair share of it, but we are all there with that knowledge, we all take
calculated risks, we all have the odd close moment. How boring would life be
with no element of risk?
This weekend we have seen 2
incidents where fellow colleagues have been injured in their workplace;
A photographer shooting
trackside has some injuries after a GT car crashed into the barrier beside
where he was stood at the Zandvoort Circuit in Holland.
And an F1 cameraman working
for Formula One TV was struck heavily
by a stray wheel in the pitlane at the Nurburgring GP.
Both guys are injured, but
are stable and we hope will recover fully to do their jobs again.
After 2 events such at this
(preceded by a fairly dark couple of weeks in motorsport with the death of 2
drivers) there will obviously be a knee-jerk reaction. Everyone expects drivers
to have the occasional brush with injury, but when members of the support crew,
media and onlookers start to get injured the authorities suddenly sit up and
listen!
In my view we should change
nothing immediately. The pitlane and track are dangerous areas to work, but
they are highly restricted areas. The people that work in these areas are
highly experienced and skilled. Of course that doesn’t mean that freak
accidents such as Webber’s flying wheel, won’t happen again, but it is
impossible to wrap motorsport in cotton wool.
It is a fact of life (and
physics) that if you have multiple vehicles trying to go as quick as they can
in confined spaces, they are sometimes going to break, fly, collide or bust
into flames!
I have worked in pitlanes worldwide for the past 15 years and have seen a handful of incidents. It is going to
happen! But I strongly believe that kitting camera operators and photographers
out with overalls, helmets and safety equipment will actually make it a more
dangerous area. Helmets restrict vision and hearing and overalls restrict
movement, three fairly important senses when working in that environment I
think you would agree?
The F1 pitlane is restricted
to about 6 F1 TV cameramen and about 6 F1 photographers during the race. The
cameramen have free roam, but are in contact with their director and advised of
where the action is happening. The photographers are restricted to the pitwall
only and cannot enter the live pitlane. It is a hectic area, it is an area
where you need your wits about you, but the limited crew working there are the
best in the business at what they do.
In complete contrast (and an
example that seems to be dragged up every time pitlane safety is talked about)
Le Mans takes a different view. All media working in the Le Mans pitlane have
to wear mandatory overalls and helmet.
But, unlike the restricted
F1 pitlane, Le Mans have over 100 people (photographers, journalists,
cameramen, sound engineers, directors, producers, scrutineers, bloggers and pretty much anyone that wants to have a
look....) at any one time within the
pitlane. The criteria to get in is very relaxed with no requisite for
experience or actual need to be there.
Yes, we can make it safer,
but start with the basics; Which is more dangerous?
The F1 pitlane with 12
highly experienced cameramen providing imagery to a world audience?
Or the Le Mans pitlane full
of amateur photographers with a desire to snap a nice photo for their bedroom
wall?
Get well soon guys.
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