Specimen policy

Health and Safety Policy for Production Companies

Specimen Policy for the Shoot

[Name of production company] Health and Safety Policy for shoots (studios and locations)

Objective

It is the policy of [name of production company] to provide a safe working environment for their staff, crew, and anyone else on set.

Application of policy

This policy shall apply to shoots which for the purpose of this document shall mean all studios and locations at which work is carried out under the supervision or control of [name of production company] including but not limited to build, pre-light and strike days.

The safety officer

On every shoot there will be a safety officer who will be appointed by [name of production company] and who will be identified as such on the call sheet. Ordinarily, the producer will be the safety officer but [name of production company] may nominate the production manager if in the judgement of [name of production company] he/she is suitably qualified to carry out the functions of the safety officer.

The safety officer is responsible for the implementation of this policy on the shoot.

The safety officer shall take all reasonable steps to ensure:

That everyone on set is aware of the contents of this policy and their responsibilities under it.
Carry out a risk assessment.
In the event of a fatality or major injury or other circumstances specified in the Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 it is notified to the appropriate Health and Safety Executive area office.
That he/ she considers whether any other laws or regulations are applicable and, if so, that they are complied with, including but not limited to:

The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 (and 1996 revision)
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994
The Noise at Work Regulations 1989
The Fire Precautions Act 1971 and replacement regulations 1996
The Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquified Petroleum Gases Regulations 1972
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
The new Health and Safety Regulations 1993
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992
The Manual Handling Regulations 1992
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
Display Screen Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
Construction Design and Management Regulations 1994

Responsibilities of everyone on the shoot:

To take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of themselves and everyone else on set and to comply with this health and safety policy and any direction of the safety officer.

The Policy

All equipment used on a shoot shall be properly maintained.
All contractors employed on a shoot shall have a copy of the health and safety policy.
Safety equipment shall, where appropriate, be available on a shoot and shall be worn if appropriate or if the safety officer directs that it should be worn.
Any incident which results in anyone on the set requiring treatment or which identifies a potential hazard should be reported to the safety officer.
A First Aid kit will be supplied on each shoot.
The call sheet will include the name, address and phone number of the nearest hospital with an accident and emergency department.
Smoking is not permitted on set except with the express permission of the safety officer.
The consumption of drugs (other than those prescribed by a doctor) on the shoot (or during any breaks) is not permitted.
The consumption of alcohol on the set or during breaks is not permitted. No-one who is under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs is permitted to attend the shoot.
Dangerous substances may only be handled by qualified persons and should be stored in a safe place as directed by such a person.
If any equipment shall fail to function properly then it should be repaired by the appropriate crew member or, if that is not possible, by a service company. Persons on set should not attempt to repair equipment that they are not qualified to repair.
Persons on set shall not attempt to move equipment without sufficient equipment/personnel to ensure that the task can be undertaken without significant risk of injury.

Risk Assessment

The safety officer should carry out a risk assessment on the attached form and shall consult contractors and heads of departments and obtain such information as is needed from them to complete the risk assessment properly.

The purpose of the risk assessment is to:

Ensure that no unnecessary risks are taken.
Identify risks.
Identify ways of reducing risks.
Make those involved in the shoot conscious of the risks.

The Risk Assessment Procedure

The risk assessment should be carried out on the attached form. In respect of each potential risk, the safety officer shall identify the probable frequency and the potential severity if an accident occurs.

Each potential hazard should be identified using the hazard checklist attached. It is the responsibility of the safety officer to consider whether there are any further hazards (not identified on the checklist).

Probable frequency:

= Improbable occurrence
= Possible occurrence
= Occasional occurrence
= Frequent occurrence
= Regular occurrence
= Common occurrence

Severity:

= Trivial injury/injuries
= Minor injury/injuries
= Major injury to one person
= Major injuries to several people
= Death of one person
= Multiple deaths

The probable frequency is then multiplied by the severity to calculate the risk. Risk assessment will therefore identify the degree of the potential danger for each heading and such information shall be used to consider how a risk can be minimised.

Risk assessment checklist

Potential hazard:

Access/Egress Emergency Exits (S)
Aircraft/Balloon/Parachute
Animals (Wild/dangerous)
Asbestos (If in doubt ask)
Chemicals/Drugs/Micro-organisms/Poisons
Compressed Gas (eg Butane, Propane, Oxygen)
Confined Spaces (Fuel tanks, sewers etc)
Derelict Buildings/Dangerous Structures
Disabled Performer (Wheelchair facilities?)
Diving Operations
Electricity (Sourced from site)
Emergency Evacuation Procedure
Fire (Flammable materials close to source of heat?)
Gas (mains supply)
Glass (In scenery, being smashed, collision hazard?)
Heat/Cold (Extremes of)
Heights (Working over 2 metres)
Inexperienced/Elderly Person/Young Child
Lifting Appliances (Fork lift, crane, cherrypicker)
Machinery (eg protective guarding)
Manual Lifting/Handling
Night Operations/Dark Unlit Site
Noise (Constant need to shout to be heard? Level above 85db?)
Physical Exertion (Abnormal stress)
Public/Audience Participation
Radiation (eg Lasers, microwaves, infra-red, x-rays etc)
Scaffolds/Rostra/Towers
Scalding/Burning
Stunts/Dangerous Activities
Tunnels/Excavations/Quarries/Mines
Vehicles (Speed, camera mounds, obstructions)
Violence/Riots
Visual Effects (Explosives/smoke/pyrotechnics/rain/snow)
Water (Working over, in, or close by)
Weapons
Weather (Adverse)

List potential hazards from risk assessment checklist on Risk Assessment Form.

© MVPA 2001
This draft health and safety policy for production companies' premises is the copyright of the Music Video Producers Association. Only member companies are permitted to use it.

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