Safety On Set

Accountability

Safety on set is a shared responsibility of the entire crew. Poor decisions to cut corners can have downstream effects on the health and safety of cast and crew members. This includes ambitious shooting schedules, skipping breaks, and the impact to turnaround time caused by inadequate pre-production.

Production should never ask someone to perform an action they know to be unsafe or to complete a task for which the person is not comfortable with or qualified to do.

Students who feel that a production is taking unnecessary risks, or taking short cuts, that could lead to someone getting harmed have a duty to report violations of this Production Safety Program to the Instructor-of-Record overseeing the project or the Coordinator of Film Production Services.

Incidents & Near Misses

Incidents are events that inflict harm to cast, crew, or property which is typically caused by some form of a hazard (e.g., equipment failure, material breakage, or human error). This includes accidents, intentional acts, and even crimes.

Near-Misses are events that almost inflict harm to cast, crew, or property caused by some form of a hazard.

Students are expected to treat incidents and near-misses as serious issues that require analyssis and correctivre action to avoid reoccurrence in the future.

Call Sheets

Student productions are required to distribute a properly prepared call sheet to all cast, crew, their Instructor-of-Record, and the Coordinator of Film Production Services for each day of production.

Properly prepared call sheets and safety meetings are the best way to communicate important production and safety information to both cast and crew members. High-risk activities and intimate scenes should be clearly stated on call sheets, including what scene numbers the activities will be taking place.

Call sheets should be sent no later than 12 hours before call, but no earlier than 24 hours for each day of the production. To help avoid confusion, there should not be more than one version of a call sheet circulating amongst the crew for each day of the production.

Safety Meetings

Safety meetings shall be conducted at the start of each day of production to review general information regarding points of egress and exits, environmental concerns, logistical conditions, fire extinguishers, and first aids kits. Additional general safety meetings should be conducted after each company move at the new location.

When exceptional safety circumstance arises – such as high-risk activities involving special effects, working around water or fire, vehicles, stunts, prop weapons, etc. – safety meetings must include all participating parties. These meetings are typically held at the start of each production day as well as immediately before a high-risk activity takes place.

Each member of the cast and crew has the right to speak up if they are concerned that something is potentially unsafe or hazardous. It is the responsibility of the First Assistant Director (or whomever is assuming the responsibilities of that position) to organize and hold these meetings and to make sure everyone is present when they take place. It is inappropriate to hold a meeting with absent crew and cast members who are expected to be present when the high-risk activity takes place.

If safety meetings are not being held, cast and crew members should insist on them taking place.

Emergency Contact Sheet

The purpose of the document is to ensure that accurate contact information is readily available in the event of an emergency.

Students shall complete and distribute an Emergency Contact Sheet to all cast and crew members prior to filming at each location. Traditionally, the ECS is attached to the Call Sheet as well as physically posted at each location.

Emergency Action Plan

The purpose of the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is to ensure that there is a clear plan in place for dealing with on-set emergencies at each location. This includes maintaining clear lanes of escape (egress); identifying the location of first aid kits, fire extinguishers and emergency exits; and establishing a safe assembly area outside of the building.

Students shall complete and distributed an EAP for each location to all cast and crew members. The EAP shal lbe reviewed during the daily safety meeting and physically posted at each location. Further instructions are details on the EAP sheet.

Daily Production Report (DPR)

Student productions are required to complete and submit a Daily Production Report to their Instructor-of-Record and the Head of Film Production Services for each day of production. This report must be submitted at the completion of each business day for the production.

UPM’s and AD’s must document call times, meal periods, safety meetings, wrap, and release times in the Daily Production Report.

Any near-misses or incidents should be noted on the Daily Productoin Report along with a completed Incident Report. Incidents involving major injuries should also reported via phone call after situation has been reported to the appropriate authorities. Please the Emergencies section of the Production Safety Manual for further guidance.

Violations of Production Safety Manual, accidents, and near-misses should not be omitted from the report in an attempt to avoid disciplinary action. As this is a learning environment, students who operate in good faith will be given corrective guidance over punitive action whenever possible.

Production Incident Report (PIR)

Student productions shall formally document all incidents and near mises by submitting a Production Incident Report to their Instructor-of-Record and the Head of Film Production Services within 24 hours of occurance. It should also include a copy of a police report if one has been filed and, if applicable, a list of stolen or damaged equipment.