The following are a few safety ideas. If you've built a giant then you may already be aware of a few issues that might come up, but here are a few thoughts written down.
- Do be careful when building your giant, wire can be sharp, unsecured parts can fall, so always get help if you can and wear protective clothes and goggles if needed. Be aware of the chemicals
in glues and paints which can make you feel sick, follow the instructions for use and use them outside if there are fumes.
- Giants can be made lightweight, but a person wearing or carrying one for a while can get tired. Always plan for rests and to avoid injury by carrying to much. They're meant to be fun for
everyone!
- They can be tall and if they fall over can damage people and property, so try to avoid letting them fall. Make sure that if your giant is being carried then the person carrying it is big,
heavy and strong enough to hold it. Think about the strength of the wind they may have to work against. If necessary, put guy ropes on your giant and have helpers to walk alongside, either
holding the guy ropes or the giant itself.
- Never leave your upright giant unattended. Even lying down they can be a problem if they will roll. If necessary, consider tying it to a tall secure object to enhance stability.
- If someone is inside your giant, make sure they can see out easily and can escape quickly and safely if necessary. When making your giant, do make sure that there is nothing inside the giant
that might injure anyone inside. It's easy to make a smooth outside but leave the sharp bits pointing inside.
- If you have a tall giant, always be aware of overhead obstructions, trees, cables and signs. Plan where you will go with your giant so that you know it will be able to negotiate the way
safely. Similarly, if it has a wide base, check the width of your route. Giants have to navigate kerbs as well, so do plan for your giant to be able to get over them safely.
- Giants clothes are big and can be billowy. They will catch the wind and may also burn quickly. If you think that your giant might be a fire hazard, plan for pulling it's clothes off quickly
and for the person carrying it to escape. Don't set fire to your giant unless you have a plan to control it safely and you have made sure everyone and everything around is safe.
- When moving your giant from place to place, do make sure that others know what you are doing, avoid inconveniencing members of the public or traffic, and ensure that you can do so without
toppling. Always have help on hand, especially if crossing roads or walking on narrow paths where your giant might fall or meet traffic.
- If you have someone familiar with 'Risk assessments', then get them to look at what you intend to do, if you take part in an event, you may be asked to write your risk assessment down.