91Èȱ¬

The guidance is principally aimed at those who work in Radio who need to carry out such 'interactive filming' or 'visualisation'.

What Can Go Wrong? 

• Use of staff inexperienced in assessing and managing the risks created during normal filming activities.
• Electric shock, burns, injury & fire resulting from poorly maintained or incorrectly operated equipment.
• Slip, trip, fall incidents from kit left lying about and poor cable management.
• Musculoskeletal (upper body) injury, from poor manual handling technique whilst moving or transporting equipment/kit about.

Legal/91Èȱ¬ Requirements

• When hiring lights, it is mandatory to use a pre vetted contractor in the UK. See 91Èȱ¬ Pre Vetted List.
• Only staff or contractors who have watched the Electrical Safety Academy Film and attended the 91Èȱ¬ Academy Location Lighting 1 day course, may use power up to 2kW (this would normally be a three lamp lighting kit or similar).
• Lighting above 2kW but less than 6kW should be organised by a trained and experienced lighting cameraperson.
• Over 6kW, a contractor from the 91Èȱ¬’s vetted list must be used for wet or dry hire. 
• A designated ‘Senior Responsible Person’ must be appointed to take responsibility for any mains powered equipment and must ensure that the equipment is not left unattended when powered-up.

Control Measures

Competent staff / contractors 

• If you are using a third party Independent company to undertake this filming, then ensure they have been Health and Safety vetted prior to using them. A questionnaire H&S Vetting for Independents is available.  Contact 91Èȱ¬ Safety Advice Line for advice.
• The Indie must be able to demonstrate that the staff employed to carry out the filming activities are competent to do so.
• The Independent must have provided the 91Èȱ¬ Production team with a risk assessment covering the activities they have been contracted to undertake.

 Emergencies

• Ensure equipment is PAT tested and maintained in line with manufacturers recommendations to avoid emergencies like electric shock, burns, injury and fire, resulting from poorly maintained equipment.
• 91Èȱ¬ Production to ensure staff, contributors and guests are made aware of the building’s emergency exits and fire evacuation procedures and assembly points.
• If possible, find out in advance, if any of your staff, guests or contributors may require any assistance evacuating the premises, in an emergency.
• If assistance is required, then you will need to discuss and agree with the individual, what help is needed and document a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) for them.  

Slip, trip, falls

• Undertake regular safety inspections and monitoring to remove hazards such as kit left lying about and to check cable management.
• 91Èȱ¬ Production to make sure that all emergency exits and fire lanes are not blocked /obstructed in any way, by cables or equipment.
• All equipment cases will be stored carefully away from the work area. 91Èȱ¬ Productions will ensure that staff/ contractors keep the work area clear and tidy.
• All cables will be routed around the work area to prevent trip hazards.
• Where cables are required to cross the work area, they must be tapped down, matted or flown.
• Low level lighting, high contrast lighting and or glare can cause staff, contributors or guests to bump into or trip over equipment in the working area.
• Everyone present must be advised of potential trip hazards before work commences.
• Lighting tripods must be located in areas where legs will not protrude into walkways. If necessary, a white tape area must be marked out around the tripod, to warm approaching people of the trip hazard.
• Always ensure that a single tripod leg faces forward (not a pair) so that should the tripod be knocked over, it will fall to the side; not directly forwards.
• Ensure staff employ appropriate manual handling technique whilst moving or transporting equipment/kit about to avoid Musculoskeletal (upper body) injury. Read topic on Manual Handling. 

Communication of roles & responsibilities

• Lack of communication between parties involved, can lead to misunderstandings, resulting in injury.
• The 91Èȱ¬ Producer will ensure all parties are informed of the role they are expected to perform.
• The 91Èȱ¬ Producer will liaise between contractors, performers and 91Èȱ¬ Teams, to ensure clear lines of communication.
• If work is expected to be carried out over many hours, the crews will be allowed to take sufficient rest break. Read the topic Tiredness & Fatigue Recommended  and the 91Èȱ¬ Scheduling Guidelines.

Division Specific Issues

• No division specific issues.

FAQs/Did You Know?

• BS7909 - Code of practice for temporary electrical systems for entertainment and related purposes, sets the standards to be met when using temporary mains power, which the 91Èȱ¬ has agreed to follow and adhere to.