Media Basics: Health & Safety

What Health and Safety laws require

'The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 is the primary pieced of legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain' [1]. 

'Slip and Trip' Hazards

A 'slip and trip hazard' is simply when there is something that could be hazardous to anyone present is on the floor. Typically the manager or 'head' of the shoot and location will run a trip and hazard control assessment. Risk Assessments taken should be as followed:

- Identify the hazard - looking for the hazards around the location and shooting site.

- Decide who might be harmed and how - looking at an employment list and consider whether or not they are at risk.

- Consider the risks, and decide whether or not enough precautions have been taken or more needs doing.

- Record all findings

- Review regularly and revise if necessary

Risk Factors

The type of environments can vary between shoots which will affect the amount of danger and the type of hazard it is; it will also affect the way the hazard can be dealt with. Each risk will need to be assessed separately and multiple practical measures will be taken to control the risk, which are  all dependent on the assessment. Risk factors to consider include:

- Environmental - floor, steps, slopes, etc.

- Contamination - water, food, litter, etc.

- Organisational - task, safety, culture, etc.

- Footwear - 'sensible footwear' for the office might not always be appropriate, for example the shoot could be at an industrial site which would require boots to be worn at all times.

- Individual Factors - training, supervision, pedestrian behaviour, animal and trainers, etc.

Sources:

1 - HSE Gov Official Website [online] available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htm [Accessed 24th October 2018]
2 - https://www.michaelwayneplant.com/health-safety-photographers/