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Coming back from COVID on a risk-free set

March 16, 2021 by Martin Papworth

We have all had to make changes and compromises, even sacrifices, in order to get over the real threat of COVID. It has had a massive impact on the whole entertainment sector, not just filming.

As the shadow of COVID still hangs in the air, and we are dealing with those risks, we are slowly returning to the sometimes chaotic world of location filming.

On a busy location shoot, there are other risks lurking around in addition to COVID-19. As individual crew members focus on their particular roles, hazards can sometimes be overlooked which can quickly turn into a serious risk.

A hazard IS a risk, right?? No. Think of a sandy beach, with a shark-infested sea. You’re standing on the beach. The shark infested sea is a hazard, but if you remain on the beach you are safe. The risk  occurs when you get into the sea with those pesky sharks. Similarly, on a film set a steep but grassy bank can be turned into a hazard by rain and mud during use, and continued use makes it a risk for the crew and their equipment. Add to this darkness or time pressure, and you’ve got an even bigger risk.

So what to do about it? Take the last picture above. The hazard is the vertical drop to the quarry floor 100 feet below. There is very little risk as the Spark is located behind a bund of rock. Should the DoP have wanted the light closer to the edge, the hazard is the same, but the risk is much greater. In this particular instance, we had pre-rigged ropes with harnesses and tether points for the equipment, with two safety technicians on hand at all times. The hazard remains, but the risk is mitigated.

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About Location Safety

If you have location shoots that may have environmental hazards such as height, water, coastal or remote locations, quarries, steep ground or confined space, please do pick up the phone for a chat to see if we can help.

Our aim is simple:

Getting the shots you want, SAFELY

Filed Under: Risk Management

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Recent credits

‘Dr Who’ – BBC Drama
‘The Spanish Princess’ – New Pictures
‘Britannia’ – Britannia TV 2 Ltd
‘Keeping Faith’ – Keeping Faith Productions
‘The Widow’ – Adamaarku Productions
‘Will’ – Monumental Television
‘A Casual Vacancy’ – BBC Drama
‘Casualty’ – BBC Drama

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Contact us

Need assistance with on-set safety?
For advice and bookings, please get in touch and we will be more than happy to help.

Email: filming@tvandfilmsafety.co.uk

Martin Papworth
+44 (0) 7988 658807 / Email Martin

Ian Burton
+44 (0) 7976 315121 / Email Ian

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Keep on filming
..with no worries

On Sight Safety Solutions Ltd

Email: filming@tvandfilmsafety.co.uk

Ian Burton
Director
+44 (0) 7976 315121 / Email Ian

Martin Papworth
Director
+44 (0) 7988 658807 / Email Martin

Duncan Massey
(Non Executive Director) / Email Duncan

Office and postal address:
69 Park Road, Congresbury, Bristol, BS49 5HE

Swallet Farm

On Sight Safety Solutions Ltd, Registered company number 13005629
TV, film and advertising location safety. Wire restraining, technical rigging and training for actors and crew.

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