Health and Safety

HEALTH AND SAFETY

 

FILMING
Risk Assessment – potential hazards

Manual Handling
Camera operations on location do require the lifting and carrying of heavy items of equipment. Many accidents & injuries are caused by careless lifting moving, pushing or pulling of heavy objects. Tripod, camera, lighting equipment, metal boxes etc.

Carry out good posture for handling heavy items and when possible receive help from another person, if loads are very heavy. Do not overload yourself, or overstretch your own limits.

 

Be aware of the environment and work to the conditions. An easy lift indoors can be hazardous outdoors on wet, slippery or uneven ground. Use a hand trolley for moving several items between locations.

 

Weather
Cold or wet weather can reduce the crew’s effective working practice. Sunburn, dehydration and excessive heat in summer may cause exhaustion and skin complaints. Additional clothing for wet and cold conditions is carried for crews and other members of the team.

 

Working at Heights
Serious accidents can arise from working at heights and/or gaining access to and from a high vantage point. Possibility of dropping items when transporting equipment to the place of work at heights.

 

Traffic
When filming on or close to a public road the camera & crew are in danger of being knocked over or stepping out in front of a vehicle. There is also the possible “road rage” and “rubber necking”. Wear reflective jackets during the day and night. Ideally an assistant will look out for members of the crew to prevent them stepping out into the road.

 

When filming on a public road the camera & crew should be at least one meter from the edge of the road. Care must be taken to ensure the safety of pedestrians. Obstructing a public footpath, must never force a member of the public into an unprotected traffic lane or in any way place a member of the public at risk. Safe routes should be achieved bearing in mind  all potential pedestrians, including those with disabilities.

 

Mains Lighting

The use of mains electricity when lighting can cause shocks. Bulbs on lamps can blow. Cables create a high risk of tripping. Lack or no consideration by programme makers to allow time for lighting can cause increased risk of accidents owing to bad positioning / moving of lights.

If not properly secured lights may fall on people and objects. Heat radiating from the lights can cause a fire risk or personal injury if touched when hot.

 

Public
Members of the public can get upset with the actions of crews on location. Obstruction, lack of consideration of privacy and bad communication with the public often cause stress and confrontation. Working in areas where there is a background of disturbances or violence can lead to public disorder.      

     

Filming in/from vehicles
In car camera / recording equipment could injure passengers in vehicles. There is the chance of physical injury to crew or the driver. Potential risks to members of the public / onlookers. Car may become unstable if used for car-to-car shots at high speeds with the tailgate open.

Equipment, which is not stowed correctly, can cause injury to passengers in a vehicle. If an accident happens heavy metal boxes, equipment etc may hit/kill people owing to force of collision. The equipment and any operator must not obstruct the driver’s view.

There must be effective measures to prevent equipment striking any occupant in the event of an emergency stop or collisions. As far as possible, roads with light traffic should be used.

 

Night Working
When working at night there is a higher risk of personal accidents owing to low light conditions and tiredness.
Additional battery lighting is required to provide safe access. Reflective waistcoats, warning triangles and torches are available and should be used when appropriate. Allow additional time on the schedule to safely rig/de-rig.

Fire Exit Access
Fire is the most dangerous and potentially damaging hazard that the
majority of people may encounter in their lives.

All corridors, walkways, stairs, routes and doorways, etc, used for movement and circulation in and around a location workplace must not block or hinder any evacuation exits. Cameras or lighting equipment must be positioned to allow a clear passage, and maintain a fire exit route free from a risk of slip, tripping or falling.

All production personnel are to be made aware of Fire Exits and Emergency Evacuation Procedures, which may have been put into place by the owners of the location or building.

 

Hygiene
When a location is dirty, unhygienic, contaminated, dusty and precautions needs to be taken.

 

EDITING

Using Computers - Health and Safety Advice

Take a Break

Take a break for 10 minutes after every uninterrupted 60 minutes of computer work. Short, frequent breaks are more helpfull than occasional, longer breaks.

 

Posture - Sit Correctly and Stay Comfortable
Sitting in a hunched, or slumped position while using a computer may eventually lead to muscle, joint, and back pain. Avoid these problems by remembring to sit correctly while you are working.

Adjust your chair so that:

-Your lower back is supported.
-Your knees are level with your hips.
-Your feet are flat on the floor.
-Your eye level is just above the top of the screen.

Repetitive Strain Injury – RSI
This is a general term for a number of painful conditions caused by incorrect and constant over-use of tendons and nerves. It may only develop after some time.

A search for ‘Repetitive Strain Injury’ on the web will produce many pages with information on the subject, which can help you decide if you may be at risk of developing RSI.

Learn to touch type as it encourages the correct positioning of your hand and wrist.

If your arms are raised or your wrists are bent for very long periods of keyboard use then tendon and nerve disorders can result.

Using the mouse a great deal may put a strain on your hand and wrist muscles.

 

Eye Strain
According to medical evidence, computer use is not associated with damage to your eyes or eyesight; nor does it make existing defects worse. However, the eye muscles that shift focus between your source document and a screen can tire.

Contact lens wearers may experience the sensation of dry eyes as you may blink less often than usual whilst using a computer.

Symptoms of eye-strain can include:

Headaches
Itching eyes
Burning sensation in the eyes
Blurred vision
Nausea
Fatigue.
 

The symptoms listed above could also indicate many other illnesses or conditions, and if you regularly experience any of them then you are advised to raise your concerns with your doctor.

 

The Health and Safety Executive state that there is no evidence that electromagnetic radiation emitted from computers causes miscarriages, cataracts or skin diseases.