Risk Assessment

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:
James
Max
LOCATION:
Reigate
DATE/TIME:
Alice
Toni
18th November 2013
Potential
Hazard
Who is at risk?
Chance of
Injury (low
medium,
high)
Control
measures?
New level of
risk (low,
medium, high)
Cars
Actors and
Camera men
High
Stay on the
pavement and
keep well away
from the kerb.
Have someone
make sure no
one goes on the
road.
Low
Building Sites
The whole
crew
Medium
Make sure to
Low
keep away from
the building site
as they may have
dangerous tools
and equipment
lying on the
ground.
Wires laying
loose in the
studio
Actors and
Camera men
Medium
Ensure that all
the wires and
loose equipment
are out of view
and not in the
way, to make
sure there is no
one tripping up
and hurting
themselves.
Low