When working in film production and dealing with a lot of different equipment, it is vital that safety is your top priority, so that everyone on set – whether this is crew or actors, is kept safe and healthy. In order to stay safe, it is important to follow basic health and safety guidelines. Take a look at our top tips to get you started:
Ensure You Have Thorough And Appropriate Risk Assessments
There is no denying that filming in a variety of locations has a fair share of potential risks. Prior to the beginning of production, it is important to ensure that risk assessments are in place. No matter if you are working around large machinery or equipment, or smaller more technical items, it is important to think about any potential risks and prepare for them. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of something going wrong when filming.
Move Heavy Equipment Carefully
Many of the pieces of equipment used in video production can be big and bulky. Due to this, it is important to ensure that staff are trained to move these carefully, with proper technique to reduce the likelihood of injuries to the crew. Some sets use other equipment to help them lift and move objects, but if your crew is lifting by themselves, it is important to remind them to keep their back as straight as possible and to bend at the knees when moving to pick it up or put it down.
Test Your Electronic Equipment
The process of testing electrical appliances to make sure they are safe to use is called portable appliance testing, or PAT as it is more generally known. PAT testing should be taken seriously because it is a legal obligation in a number of different countries. This legislation must be followed since failing to do so might result in costly penalties and dangerous electric shocks for your staff. Be sure to check the guidelines in the country you are filming in.
Ensure That There Are No Loose Cables
One of the most common health and safety issues on film sets is people tripping or falling over loose cables. As there is a lot of electrical equipment, there will be a lot of power cords that are trip hazards. Therefore, it is important to ensure they are placed properly across the ground and covered in tape to stick them to the floor, reducing the chances of someone injuring themselves on it. Ideally, this tape should be brightly coloured so as to alert those on the set of the trip hazard.
Ensure That You Have Appropriate Protection
Whether you are filming at a height, in an adverse environment or in a location with a high risk of accidents it is important that cast and crew have any protective equipment that they need to keep them safe. This may be to protect them from chemicals or heat – for example, safety glasses or safety gloves, or to stop them from being injured in a rough environment, such as hard hats or safety shoes.
The Take Away
Working with a lot of equipment can be overwhelming at times, but it is important to keep on top of things and understand the risks of each piece so that everyone on set is kept safe. The best thing to help with this is to employ an experienced crew, who understand the risks and work hard to reduce them as much as they can – creating a safe environment for everyone.
