Theatrical Dust Elements and/or Effects

Last updated: March 2026

This document lays out the best industry practice for using theatrical dust elements and/or effects in a safe manner. It contains the details for a variety of scenarios, but the guiding principles are that safe use of dust elements and/or effects requires:

1. Detailed disclosure to affected performers and stage managers;

2. Involvement of a qualified professional(s) to ensure proper, safe usage of dust elements and/or effects; and

3. Continual attention to performer and stage manager health, with ongoing plans for mitigation of the dust elements and/or effects.

PRIOR to the dust element and/or effect being used by the performers and stage managers, the following steps should be taken:

1. An advisory statement should be included in the casting notice for auditions if there is the possibility of the use of dust elements and/or effects in the upcoming production.

2. The performers and stage managers hired should be notified in writing that there will be dust elements and/or effects in the production prior to their first day of employment.

   • This notification provides an opportunity for the performers and stage managers to begin a dialogue with the production and the Equity field representative on what to expect, ask any initial questions, and/or inform them of any allergies or concerns. To find your field representative, go to https://members.actorsequity.org/find-your-rep

3. The employer should engage at least the following appropriate individual(s) for the health and safety of the performers and stage managers:

   • A licensed professional, such as an industrial hygienist, physician specializing in occupational health, etc.

   • If a dust element will be used to create uneven surfaces (e.g., EPDM, mounds of sand or dirt, etc.) for the performers and stage managers to perform and work on, a licensed professional should have the following qualifications:

     • Licensed in a field that includes formal training in human anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, and ergonomics.

     • Training or experience should include the skills and abilities necessary to assess risk factors associated with musculoskeletal injury/illness.

     • It is highly recommended that individual(s) should have previous work experience with performers and stage managers, which includes work performed in a clinic and at the worksite (theater) and a minimum of two (2) years of health care professional experience.

   • Examples of licensed professionals are physical therapist, occupational therapist, physician, or other licensed/certified health care professions may be appropriate after demonstrating equivalent study/knowledge, etc.).

4. A product assessment should be conducted by an industrial hygienist for the product(s) planned to be used by or around the performers and stage managers.

   • Selection of the product(s) should follow ANSI E1.40.

   • The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the specific product(s) should be obtained and reviewed by an industrial hygienist prior to purchasing. Products without an SDS should not be used.

     • If there are silica, quartz, and/or other carcinogens identified in the product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS), then the product should be avoided.

     • If the Safety Data Sheet indicates that the product is an organic mixture (e.g., potting soil), the product should be avoided. Organic mixtures can contain living organisms that performers and stage managers may be allergic to.

   • A written report should be developed to identify the product's risks and hazards and should contain recommendations on how to eliminate or reduce the risks and hazards. This report should be created by an industrial hygienist and sent to the employer. The employer should share the report with the performers, stage managers, and Equity.

5. A production assessment should be conducted for all areas and the work planned between the performers, stage managers and the dust elements and/or effects. Determining what hazards are present and their severity prioritizes which risks are most in need of elimination or mitigation.

   • The following are specifications, safety measures and hazard awareness for dust elements and/or effects to consider when conducting the production assessment. This list is not exhaustive, and additional precautions may be needed when dust elements and/or effects are used.

     • Specifications

       • The product(s) information for the dust elements and/or effects

       • Taking place indoors or outdoors

       • The amount of product being used

       • Proximity to the product(s) during work, rehearsal, and performance

       • Dimensions and function of the dust element(s) (e.g., EPDM, mounds of sand or dirt, etc.)

       • Access points onto and off the dust element(s)

       • The maximum number of performers planned to be on the dust element(s)

       • Scenery and props that will be used on or in the dust element(s)

       • Staging and/or choreography the performer(s) plan to execute on the dust element(s) (e.g., walking, dancing, buried, rolling in it, etc.)

       • Staging and/or choreography with a dust effect (e.g., thrown into the air, etc.)

     • Safety measures

       • Appropriate footwear

       • Checking prior to each use, maintenance, and upkeep of the dust (e.g., surface, cleanliness, etc.), footwear, costumes, etc.

       • Contingency plans in case the dust elements and/or effect(s) cannot be used for any reason (e.g., technical issues, performer discomfort, etc.)

       • Watering down the dust to make it less airborne

       • Methods to clean off the dust from costumes, footwear, and the performer's and stage manager's body

       • Air sampling with an appropriate aerosol monitor should be taken by an industrial hygienist to confirm air quality level when the dust element is onstage and/or when the dust effect is being tested

       • Ventilation system is operating and properly functioning

       • Planned use of HVAC systems or other air quality devices to mitigate the level of airborne dust where the performers and stage managers work, rehearse and perform

       • Reporting system for when an adverse reaction by a performer or stage manager takes place due to the dust

       • Eye wash should be easily accessible backstage and always fully stocked

       • First aid

       • If outdoors, identifying weather-related hazards and implement risk mitigation actions per ANSI ES1.7

     • Hazard awareness

       • Use and exposure to the dust elements and/or effects (e.g., getting near a performer or stage manager's face, etc.)

       • Locations of the dust effect sources and/or release points

       • Areas where the venue's ventilation is not able to reach (e.g., performer inside a set piece, rooms, and/or hallways with no vents, etc.)

       • Slipperiness in and around the dust

       • Dust element's impact on floor resilience, uniformity, and evenness for dancing and musical staging

       • Stability of props and set pieces on the dust element

       • Moving sets and props on the dust element

       • Costumes, footwear, use of props or scenic pieces that restrict mobility on the dust element

       • Lack of stage lighting when entering/exiting/performing on a dust element

       • Use of special effects (e.g., smoke and haze, lasers, strobes, etc.)

       • If outdoors, weather-related hazards (e.g., wind, precipitation, etc.)

6. A written plan(s), including contingencies, should be developed based on the above production assessment to eliminate and/or reduce the health and safety risks for the performers and stage managers. The plan(s) should be created by the appropriate individual(s) and sent to the employer. The employer should share the plan(s) with the performers, stage managers, and Equity.

   • The following are possible uses of the product(s) that should be addressed in the written plan(s) if the use takes place. If the use is not listed below, the employer should contact the Equity field representative to discuss further.

     • For adding dust to the indoor air with a dust element and/or effect, an industrial hygienist should sample the indoor air confirming the dust levels used are within the limits set forth by the appropriate standards (e.g., OSHA, etc.).

       • Use of product(s) should follow ANSI E1.40.

       • When air sampling the dust element on stage, the employer should create show conditions for the most accurate test results. Those show conditions should include the following, as well as any unique conditions specific to the show:

         • The ventilation system should be on the setting when an audience would be present

         • House doors are closed

         • Fans that will be used backstage are on

         • Adding other particulates that will be used in the performance, such as smoke, haze, pyrotechnics, or chemical snow effects

         • Performing the foot traffic on the sand or dirt that can create airborne dust and/or throwing dust as a projectile

     • For ingesting a product (e.g., snorting a powder, etc.), an industrial hygienist should be consulted to determine the risks (e.g., is there an appropriate product for this staging, the health and well-being of the performers, etc.).

     • For a dust element that will be used to create uneven surfaces (e.g., EPDM, mounds of sand or dirt, etc.) for the performers and stage managers to perform and work on, a physical therapist should evaluate the planned staging/choreography and work and recommend adjustments and/or changes to reduce the risk of injury for the performers and stage managers.

7. An orientation should be given to the performers and stage managers explaining the specific details in the written plan(s), the product(s) assessment and production assessment.

   • The orientation should include but not limited to:

     • Demonstrations and/or instructions

     • Distributing copies of the report and plan(s), including contingencies that will be in place to each performer and stage manager

     • Introduction of the personnel in charge of the dust elements and/or effects

     • A walk-through of each dust element (e.g., EPDM, mounds of sand or dirt, etc.)

8. If applicable, an inspection by the local authority having jurisdiction (e.g., health department, emergency services, department of labor, etc.) should take place.

9. A ventilation company should be maintaining the venue's ventilation system per ventilation guidance and should be consulted regarding the adding of dust elements and/or effects into indoor space(s).

10. An individual(s) with appropriate first-aid training to remove dust from the eyes, inhaled, ingested, etc., should be on-site during scenes involving dust elements and/or effects. The individual(s) that will be onsite in case a health emergency arises should be announced to the performers and stage managers prior to each performance.

WHILE the dust element and/or effect is being used by the performers and stage managers, the following steps should be taken:

1. A qualified individual(s) (e.g., training, prior work experience performing with dust elements and/or effects, etc.) should provide appropriate and adequate training and rehearsal with the dust elements and/or effects to ensure the health and safety of the performers and stage managers. If, for any reason, it is not possible to hold such training and rehearsals, the Equity field representative should be notified immediately.

   • Training and rehearsal should include, but is not limited to:

     • Discussing what the elements and/or effect(s) are simulating (e.g., outdoor landscapes, throwing powder, dirt, or sand, burying, digging, etc.)

     • How the elements and/or effects work

     • When in the production they will take place

     • The number of projectiles if any

     • Entrances/exits for performers, stage managers, set, and prop pieces

     • The activity of each performer and stage manager onstage and backstage

2. Contingency plans should be rehearsed in case the dust elements and/or effect(s) cannot be used for any reason (e.g., technical issues, performer discomfort, etc.).

3. If any conditions change the product(s), established practices and/or use of the dust elements and/or effects in the production, stage managers, performers, and appropriate individuals should be notified immediately. At that time, the written plan for the dust elements and/or effects should be updated and the new version provided to the performers, stage managers, and Equity.

4. The above review of the product, orientation, training, rehearsal, and documentation should be provided to all swings, understudies, replacement stage managers, and performers prior to their first use of the dust elements and/or effects. Should any of the personnel in charge of the dust elements and/or effects change, the introduction of the new personnel should be made to the performer(s) and stage manager(s) prior to their first use of the dust elements and/or effects.

5. Performers and stage managers experiencing any adverse effects from the use of dust elements and/or effects during the run of the production should notify the Equity field representative immediately. Possible adverse effects may include shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose/congestion, runny nose, itching eyes, headache, rash, etc. Also, performers and stage managers should report discomfort, pain, or injury to the employer immediately. Depending on the agreement, the employer or stage manager should document these in the injury report that is sent to Equity.

Dust Element and/or Effect Maintenance:

1. A copy of the product's Safety Data Sheet (SDS) should be posted backstage on the performer's callboard and in the stage manager's office. If the product is changed, such as refilling the dust with a different product, the SDS posting should be updated and the employer should notify Equity.

2. If the stage is fully or partially covered in a dust element (e.g., EPDM or mounds of sand or dirt, etc.), then footwear worn outside the venue should not come in contact with the stage surface to maintain cleanliness. If the performers are directed to perform staging and choreography in the house, the dust element should be cleaned or removed and refilled with clean dust on a more frequent basis (e.g., consult with an industrial hygienist on how often, etc.).

3. All costumes, prop pieces, and other goods worn, handled, or in proximity to performers or stage managers working should be cleaned more frequently (e.g., consult with an industrial hygienist on how often, etc.). Soft goods (e.g., curtains, borders, tabs, scrims, etc.) should be cleaned more frequently (e.g., consult with an industrial hygienist on how often and/or consult with the manufacturer regarding changes to the periodic cleaning and major cleaning schedule, etc.). The venue's floors, counters, lighting, etc. backstage should be cleaned more frequently (e.g., consult with an industrial hygienist on how often, etc.).

4. Immediately following rehearsing or performing with dust, performers and stage managers should be provided with easily accessible and appropriate resources and materials to clean off the dust (e.g., showers backstage, wash clothes, tissues, wet wipes, sticky floor mats, cleanser, etc.).

5. When performing or working on dust elements (e.g., EPDM or mounds of sand or dirt), appropriate footwear should be provided to reduce the risk of injury. High heels should be avoided. An adequate number of physical therapy sessions as determined by the physical therapist should be offered to the performers and stage managers during the run of the engagement.

6. Cameras and monitors should be used to provide a complete view of the dust elements and/or effects for backstage personnel.

7. When cuing a dust effect, there should be a separate cue for each dust effect that will take place and a specific identification (e.g., "dust", "powder", etc.) for the name of the cue. Redundancies should be in place when calling a cue for dust (e.g., at least two different backstage personnel check the performers are in the correct location, it is clear for the dust to be released and call clear(s) to the calling stage manager before the cue can be executed, etc.). The operator should be empowered to not take a cue and/or abort if they should see something that they deem dangerous during rehearsal and performance.

8. Where applicable, emergency stops should be in place and located where they can be easily accessed (e.g., release points for dust effects, etc.).

9. At least one first aid kit should be easily accessible backstage and always fully stocked (e.g., including personal protective equipment, eye wash, etc.).

10. To assist in removing the dust after use, local exhaust vents should be added onstage/backstage. Air purifiers should be added to each dressing room.

11. The venue's ventilation system, local exhaust vents, portable fans, and air purifiers should be on a more frequent cleaning schedule (e.g., consult a ventilation company, etc.).

The above are recommended guidelines. Consult all applicable rules and regulations.

Additional recommended guidelines can be found at the following organizations:

• https://www.csatf.org/production-affairs-safety/safety-bulletins/

  • Safety & Health Awareness Sheet – Photographic Dust Effects under the Informational Fact Sheets section from the Industry Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee

• https://tsp.esta.org/tsp/documents/published_docs.php

  • ANSI E1.40, Recommendations for the Planning of Theatrical Dust Effect

  • ANSI ES1.7, Event Safety – Weather Preparedness