AS MEDIA AND FILM STUDIES Health & Safety Issues in Practical Film & Media Production – Advice Sheet

• Before you can start filming there are some important health safety issues to consider. As a film-maker, it is your responsibility to think very carefully about all your filming requirements and, whenever possible, anticipate in advance any potential problems or risks that there may be for you, your crew, your contributors and anyone else e.g. members of the public. You owe all those people a duty of care and you must ensure that you are not by your activities putting anyone at risk.

• Think carefully about the locations where you are intending filming.

Are there any dangers in filming there? If you are filming in a derelict property, are the structures safe? If you are filming on a street, always be conscious of passing traffic. Your contributors are likely to be concentrating more on the camera than they are on what’s going on around them. (You may need permission to film in some public places).

• You (or a friend) need to be looking out all the time for potential

hazards. If filming at night, particularly in rural or unknown environments, think about your personal safety and that of your contributors. Remember you might be carrying expensive pieces of equipment e.g. camera and possibly lighting. In short, use your common sense and avoid danger or risk at all costs.

• Similarly, think about what you are filming in relation to your

environment. Is the activity that you are filming dangerous in any way? For example, you might be filming young people showing off their prowess at skateboarding. Furthermore, because you are filming them, they may be tempted to take more risks than they are used to and attempt stunts that are dangerous. You must think about the risks and act responsibly. If you feel that any contributors you are filming are taking risks that you are uncomfortable with you should stop filming and make it clear that you are unwilling to continue until they comply with your requests to act responsibly.

• Consider any equipment you may have with you, any lighting, your

camera, any wires that people could trip over. Think about your contributors, are they young, are they old, are they disabled? Do they have any specific requirements? What’s the weather likely to be like when you are filming? Are contributors and crew appropriately dressed? You don’t want them catching frostbite…

• Filming any ‘criminal’ activities is likely to involve danger and risk of

some sort both to you and those you are filming. This needs very careful thought.

AS MEDIA AND FILM STUDIES Health & Safety Issues in Practical Film & Media Production After having read the advice sheet on health & safety, please complete one of these forms before any filming. Practical Film Production Risk Assessment GROUP NAMES: Hannah Blackburn Ellie Jones Becca Mills Izzy Payne LOCATION : Ellie’s house DATE/TIME: 8/11/13 9am-4pm Potential Hazard

Who is at risk?

Chance of Injury (low medium, high)

Control measures?

New level of risk (low, medium, high)

Cars as crossing roads

The whole group and drivers

low Always cross and a crossing and Wait for the traffic lights to change so it is safe for us to cross the roads

Medium

Knifes are being used in our opening sequence

The whole group

low Walk slowly with the knife and hold it away from you hold it upside down so if you trip it is facing away from your body

Medium