Controlling Physical Hazards

Once hazards are identified, you put controls (precautions) in place. A good control makes an accident less likely or the harm less serious.

Heights, electricity and heavy kit

Working at heights, such as a camera on a raised platform, is controlled with safety barriers to reduce the chance of a fall, plus personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a hard hat for anyone working underneath.

Electrical risks are controlled by managing cables and choosing the location carefully. Wall sockets are safer than extension leads stretching across open floor, because there is less to trip over and less chance of damage.

For heavy equipment, set weight limits for one person, so heavier items become a two-person lift, and move very heavy kit on wheels or with a hoist rather than carrying it.

Slips, trips and movement

Carry out a location recce and allow time on arrival to walk the site, so loose flooring, low doorways and uneven ground are spotted before people carry kit. Wear suitable footwear: sturdy shoes with a good grip that cover the foot.

Avoid trailing cables; any cable that stays on the floor should be secured or covered so it cannot catch a foot. Film from a static position where possible; if the camera must move, a colleague walks ahead and calls out obstacles so the operator can watch the shot.

Vehicles, stunts and fatigue

Keep the walking route between the vehicle and the set separate from moving vehicles. Pick a firm, level, well-lit way in with clear edges and no steps, so everyone can reach the set safely, including wheelchair users and people with sight impairments. Control or stop public traffic while filming, use trained stunt performers for collisions, and manage fatigue with an agreed schedule that has realistic hours and breaks.

For a two-day garden centre shoot, controls could include barriers around the raised platform, lighting cases unloaded at the door so nothing heavy is carried across the site, a marshal stopping customer cars at the entrance, a level boardwalk over gravel, and a timetable with proper breaks.