Introduction
This information sheet is one of a series produced in
consultation with the Joint Advisory Committee for
Broadcasting and Performing Arts. It gives specific
advice on the design, manufacture and build of
production sets used for television, film or media
productions.
Poorly designed, manufactured and built sets can
present hazards to those working or performing on and
around them. Priority should be given to design
considerations and through design to manufacture and
build. Safety of the overall production design is
paramount and especially with any relationship to
associated visual or special effects.
Legislation
The main legal requirements covering special and
visual effects are the Health and Safety at Work etc Act
1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at
Work Regulations 1999 (the Management Regulations).
The Management Regulations require a suitable and
sufficient risk assessment to be carried out by
employers (or self-employed people) to assess the risk
to employees and others who may be affected by their
activities and to determine the control measures
necessary to avoid risk or reduce it to acceptable
levels. An opportunity arises during risk assessment to
consider the application of any other relevant health
and safety legislation, including the requirement to
consider fire precautions and emergency procedures.
You must consult employees on health and safety
matters, either directly or through elected safety
representatives.
The Construction (Design and Management)
Regulations 1994 affect everyone who is involved in
the construction process. Although the CDM
Regulations are not likely to apply to most set building
activity, there may be occasions when they will. This is
most likely to be the case where particularly large or
complex sets are involved. More sources of information
on the CDM Regulations can be found in ‘Further
reading’.
Hazards
These include:
●
unsafe structures resulting from poor design;
●
use of poor quality or unsuitable materials (sharp
or unfinished edges, protr