1.3 - Describe the key aspects of health and safety when working on film productions

What needs to be considered in terms of health and safety when working on a film production?

when working on a film production, risk assessments ensure that the crew are aware of the various dangers on set, and how to remove dangers when they occur. Risk assessments also contain instructions on what to do when emergencies such as a fire could happen, and how to stay as safe as possible around the equipment. 

Accident reporting is considered when working in a production, as recording what injuries and accidents occur, can help to consider how to make the area safer, and to record accidents that are unusual or could have been prevented.

The use of lighting also needs to be considered in terms of health and safety, as lighting requires a large amount of electrics, that are potentially dangerous. Also, industrial lights can also create heat, that could cause burn the operators, so they must be made as safe as possible, and the operators must be made aware of these dangers.

Rigging and de-rigging must also be considered. Also, as the huge amount of wires and cables increase the risk of falling, and if the equipment is unsafe, this could cause major injury. by making the crew aware of these risks, and using a safe method to rig and de-rig the set, the risk of injury can be reduced, making the working environment much safer.

Stunt teams on film sets also have a dangerous job, so ensuring they are carrying out stunts safely, ensure that there is much less chance of them getting hurt. Stunt men and women must undergo safety training and potential risk briefings before they can carry out the stunts professionally. By making sure stunt teams have the correct training and experience, they can carry out their jobs safely, with reduced chance of injury.

Film crews work long hours, doing intensive work, so people become tired and unfit to work. Making sure that the crew are safe to work is vital, as tiredness often leads to mistakes being made, that could be dangerous. Stopping people who are unsafe to work, make the environment safer and also stops additional crew from being put in danger. This also links to crew members who opperate heavy machinery, as tiredness means they may not have the strength or concentration to control the machinery safely, putting others at risk. By removing these dangers, the set becomes much safer, and reduces the risk of accidents.

What can be put in place to ensure health and safety risks are minimised?

Firstly, risk assessments can be used, so crew members have been made aware of potential dangers of the set, and are also aware of what to do if they feel unsafe. Risk assessments also ensure that all risks have been covered, and things on set can be checked to make sure that they are safe to operate. 

Also, putting breaks throughout the day, ensures that crew members do not become tired, putting their safety at risk. people operating heavy equipment can rest and recover strength, and others can restore their energy, reducing the chances of them making mistakes. 

Having accident reports can aid in reporting injuries, and help to remove the chance of specific injuries happening again. 

Also, having a schedule, allows all members of the crew to have a set timetable, so they know where they should be at what time. this makes sure that all members of the crew understand what is going on when, and can see on a schedule, which tasks could be dangerous. 

Having first aiders on set can reduce safety risks, as injury's can be treated as quickly as possible, and trained professionals can treat the injury correctly, minimising damage. safety equipment can also help to keep crew safe, and reduce risk of injury. Equipment such as safety harnesses, hard hats, and face masks, can ensure that risk to health is minimised. 

Finally, checking the equipment regularly, can make sure that there are no faults, and the equipment is safe to use. Equipment must be tested before use, but checking regularly, will make sure there are no problems and the equipment is safe.

Upload an example of a risk assessment that would have been used in the production week.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2XVx26MXnFZWndJUkJ5UUdRbDg/view?usp=sharing