The document provides guidance on health and safety issues to consider for practical film and media production. It advises filmmakers to carefully assess all filming locations and activities for potential hazards. This includes ensuring structures are safe, accounting for traffic, having adequate lighting and permission to film. Filmmakers should also consider weather conditions, safety equipment and avoid risks. A risk assessment form is provided to complete before filming starts.

1. 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.

2. 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:
LOCATION : Priory park
DATE/TIME: 18th November 9am-4pm
Potential
Hazard
Tripping over a
branch ,etc.
whilst walking
through the
woods and
filming.
Walking into a
branch,
potentially
poking the
person in the
eye.
Who is at risk?
Chance of
Injury (low
medium,
high)
Control
measures?
New
level of
risk
(low,
medium
, high)
All of us
walking
through,
particularly the
person carrying
the tripod/
filming as they
will have to
focus on the
camera.
Medium
To control this Low
we will have
to walk slowly
and cautiously
through the
woods,
keeping an eye
out for
potential
tripping
hazards.
All of us
Medium
walking through
the woods
In order to
low
control this
potential
hazard, we
will have to be
cautious whilst
walking,
checking in
front of us and
walking at a
slow pace.

3. Falling down a
slope in the
wooded area, as
it is quite sloped
everywhere.
All of us
medium
walking through
the woods,
particularly the
person carrying
equipment as
this can cause
further harm.
Walk on
low
flat areas
and walk
at a slow
and steady
pace.