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Within the context of media production, not only are the requirements
already mentioned essential, but there are additional codes of practice
which should be acknowledged. Permissions need to be gained from
relevant parties such as the Police or local authorities if you
are shooting in public places, and in the new media environment
VDU and display screen equipment must be used correctly in accordance
with guidelines and maintained properly.
If safety provisions are inadequate when shooting, a cast or crew
could make the producer criminally negligent and this could result
in a fine, imprisonment or being sued. The main thing to remember
is that accident prevention is considerably less expensive than
the cost of an accident on set. All cast and crew should be insured
and under most insurance agreements it will be necessary to implement
health and safety provisions. People may not want to work with a
producer who does not ensure a safe working environment.
Productions take many forms and there are a vast number of areas
that may pose additional risks than in a normal working environment,
such as set building, props, costumes, equipment, large casts and
filming with animals to name just a handful. Each area of production
in the media is covered by different laws and regulations, but there
are a number of organisations you can contact to find specific information
to comply with your project or environment.
First Aid
First aid kits should be kept in offices and taken on every shoot,
and a trained first aider must be nominated.
Fire
You must ensure that there is satisfactory fire fighting equipment
in offices and on shoot sites and that cast and crew are briefed
on emergency procedures. A safe area should be nominated as a meeting
point in the case of fire. There are other regulations, which should
be set in place for varying situations, such as in a studio with
an audience, but above all, try to prevent a fire starting in the
first place.
Night Shoots
If you need to shoot at night, make sure that additional time is
scheduled for people to rest and supply food. If people are tired
then they are more likely to make mistakes or lose concentration
so ensure there is sufficient light in which to work and that if
you are working near water, roads or railway tracks that additional
safety precautions are taken.
Hazardous Substances and Equipment
Assess whether a hazardous item (generators, lights etc) is absolutely
necessary and if it is, seek professional advice about how to handle
the situation at the earliest opportunity.
Working with Animals
All animals should be handled in a correct manner and there
are a number of regulations in force to control the keeping of
animals and their movement from location to location. The
Performing Animals (Regulation) Act ensures that all
suppliers of performing animals train them correctly and under
The
Protection Of Animals Act it is an offence to procure
or assist in the fighting of any animal. The Dangerous
Wild Animals Act sets provisions that keepers of lions,
tigers and so on, must hold a licence and it is essential that
this is confirmed before any animal can be allowed onto a set
or location.
Manual Handling
Manual handling is very important and all employers must ensure
that employees are informed about how to use, lift, carry and transport
equipment safely without harming themselves.
Protective Equipment
In some circumstances it may be necessary for protective equipment
or clothing to be worn in order to protect an employee from exposure
to hazards.
Staging Explosions
There are strict rules and guidelines, which should be implemented
to ensure a safe environment.
Health and safety guidelines exist for creating explosions in productions,
using weapons of any description in a production, working at heights,
working near water, the use of loud noises, filming by roadsides,
employing stunt artists, filming underwater and employing drivers.
Advice and information is available from the HSE about specific
areas.
Stunt Artists
Staging stunts involves a lot of time and research into how this
can be done safely and effectively.
Children
Working with children is an especially difficult area. Special
consideration must be taken into account when working with children
and there are strict guidelines which must be adhered to.
Weapons
Staging fight scenes or scenes involving the use of weapons is
an area that needs particular consideration due to the dangerous
nature of the props that will be used.
Reporting News
News reporting can sometimes mean that journalists or producers
will be working in hostile areas and their safety must be a prime
consideration.
Noise Levels
It is important to ensure that either on a day to day basis or
on a particular shoot, that employees and crew are not subjected
to unacceptable levels of noise.
Heights
It may be necessary in the workplace or on a shoot for someone
to climb or be lifted to a certain height. This can be very hazardous
and requires the implementation of strict health and safety precautions.
Roadside Filming
Filming on a roadside poses all kinds of hazards, which must be
assessed and acted upon in order to make it safe.
Driver Considerations
All vehicles used on a shoot should hold relevant test certificates
and be insured.
Working Hours
Working on productions can involve long working days, so it is
necessary to be aware of health and safety guidelines with regard
to what is acceptable and unacceptable.
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