SAFETY ON SET - The dreaded Induction

SAFETY ON SET - The dreaded Induction!

People always ask me what is the scariest stunt I’ve ever had to do?

I would, in all reality, have to say that none of them compared to the safety briefing, especially when it’s in front of an entire feature film crew… Nothing is more daunting.

The combination of curious new comers, frustrated older crew, critical producers hoping they get what they pay for, bored technician and piss takers that pull faces in the background.

A solid combination of what the f%$# was I thinking when I said yes to this? And can I go home now?…

Between the mandatory sleepless night, the night before, the far too long or not long enough drive to work… The drive always seems to last forever until you turn in the studio car park, that coupled with the sweaty palms and pits, the head spins, the shoulder aches, the dry mouth, and throat dries, and that’s all before having to actually get up in front of a crew to do the induction.

In my case it’s not good writing yourself notes, because almost every time I am set to begin my eyes seem to fill up and everything gets blurry anyway.

I am happy to say that after all these years it is slowly getting easier, and I do hope for everyone’s sake I am getting better at it.

The induction should be a welcome to the crew and an opportunity to point out any of the potential hazards that may be present or arise in direct reaction to your planned activities for the day.

More often than not, these are done immediately after breakfast before everyone disperses, ?and it's usually kicked off by the 1stAssistant Director who gives a quick description of the location and what scenes are planned. Now, unless the 1st decides to cover off everything that’s required, they will more than likely then hand the mic’, so to speak, over to the onset Safety Supervisor…

The best advice I could give anyone starting out, is to keep things short and to the point, highlight what’s important to the crew.

I would encourage you to prepare introduce yourself, confidently and clearly, while most people will know you ?already, not everyone will and it’s good to let them know who you are early on and re enforce it, re-introduce yourself-afterwards as you walk around set let them know who you are and that you are there to give them a hand if they need it, the last thing you need to do is to start introducing yourself to someone if you need them to hear is’ who the hell are you to tell me what to do?.. When you need them to halt or stop what they are doing immediately because they are in danger.

Like I said, the safety brief should outline what is planned on the call sheet and any foreseeable hazards for the day, regardless if you say it or the 1st AD does.

?Critical elements that should be pointed out.

First is the location of the emergency assembly areas, if the site has one use that if it doesn’t it should be unit base or where the crew is having breakfast or lunch, everyone on set know that location it’s a no brainer – Unless of course that’s where the danger is – then Crew should be told to remain on set – again unless in danger – Until safe.

The second is emergency exits especially if they are covered or altered for the shot.

The location of the 1st Aid Officer, Medic or Nurse, fire extinguishers, and as a courtesy, toilets, tea and coffee etc… then the specific hazards.

Ask if anyone has any questions if not welcome them wish them a good day and finish off…

Like is said keep it short everyone has a lot to get done.

Something to remember.

Don’t tell the experts how to do their job – Point out things they might not know about

Most departments will conduct what’s known as a ‘Tool Box Talk’.

Now this can be as formal or as relaxed as the HOD see fit usually it’s just a chat with the team while they are prepping gear with a more focussed brief of what is expected or required of their department for the day/job the HOD was on the location survey they have had pre-production there’s a good chance they know as much of not more than you about what’s expected of them.

It will do no one any favours if you start telling experts how to suck eggs early in the piece.

People ask why do we have to do a safety brief? The following has been taken from an excerpt from an Australian governing safety body about the motion picture industry, but it is a law that stand in all industries.

And the law states: (This bit needs to be said)

A PCBU ?(A Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) must eliminate risks in the workplace, or if that is not reasonably practicable, minimise the risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

PCBUs have a duty to consult workers about work health and safety and may also have duties to consult, cooperate and coordinate with other duty holders.

The motion picture industry involves people working in a dynamic and ever-changing environment. Hazards and risks change frequently on a site as the production progresses and as crews move from location to location. A large majority of the industry’s workforce is employed by sub-contractors who undertake work on many different sets managed by different contractors, and often within different environments.

The instruction and training required to ensure people can work safely on locations and studio sets needs to recognise the pattern of employment and the way the motion picture industry operates. Therefore, three types of work health and Safety induction training may be required:

General induction provides persons entering the motion picture industry with a basic knowledge of requirements under work health and Safety laws, the common hazards and risks likely to be encountered on film sites and how these risks should be controlled.

Site induction provides information and instruction to anyone engaged on a particular construction site with a knowledge of the contractor’s rules and procedures for site safety, emergency management, the supervisory and reporting arrangements and other site-specific issues.

Task-specific induction provides information and instruction to anyone undertaking a particular motion picture activity of the risk factors and control measures relating to that task.

Work health and Safety induction training on its own is not sufficient to fully discharge all legal obligations in relation to training. Other forms of training, instruction, information and supervision may be needed on a regular basis to ensure currency of skills and knowledge and to manage risks associated with the changing nature of the work and workplace.

While a safety briefing is mandatory it doesn’t have to be mind numbingly boring, keep things light keep things brief and when you need to get serious or say something people will listen, if you ramble on the crew will shut down on you and won’t listen to anything you have to say.

Safety on set is for everyone.

Jon Heaney - SAFETY ON SET

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