Health and Safety Executive Stunts, fights and other potentially hazardous production activities HSE information sheet Entertainment Information Sheet No 17 Introduction provide advice and guidance on the safe design and execution of the activity. When filming these, a stunt This information sheet is one of a series produced by coordinator may be required to oversee the activity, the Joint Advisory Committee for Entertainments eg where direction requires modifications for dramatic (JACE). It gives specific guidance about controlling the effect. risks from stunts, fights and similar hazardous activities in the broadcast and film industries. What the law says It is aimed at production organisations, their The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (the employees and freelancers who may be exposed HSW Act) requires employers and the self-employed to risks to their safety from these activities during to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure the broadcast or filming. health and safety of themselves, all employees and Examples of activities this guidance relates to are: anyone who may be affected by their work. This will include affected freelance staff and members of ■ performing stunts that have the potential to cause the public. harm to the performer or others; ■ stunts that include the use of external hazards Reasonably practicable means balancing the level of such as fire and explosives; risk against the measures needed to control the real ■ the use of aircraft, motor vehicles or unmanned risk in terms of money, time or trouble. However, you aerial vehicles (UAVs) for filming or as part of the do not need to take action if it would be grossly activity; disproportionate to the level of risk. ■ sequences performed in confined spaces, Other legislation may apply depending on the details underwater or in other areas where breathing may of the work being carried out. For instance, the be impaired; Management of Health and Safety at Work ■ fights, with or without weapons. Regulations 1999 build upon the requirements in the In this information sheet, ‘must’ is used only where HSW Act and require dutyholders to assess and there is an explicit legal requirement to take a certain control risks. action, ‘should’ is used to indicate what to do to Other regulators (the police, Civil Aviation Authority comply with the law – although dutyholders are free etc) using other legislation (the Firearms Acts, Violent to take other action if that would result in compliance. Crime Reduction Act etc) may place further duties on For the purposes of this guidance, a stunt is where producers regarding the safe use of real and imitation a competent person, such as a professional stunt weapons, aircraft, explosives and vehicles. This performer or coordinator, simulates or coordinates should be taken into account early in the planning a dangerous or apparently dangerous activity in a process. controlled manner during the production of a cinema film or television production. Roles and responsibilities This guidance does not cover private individuals The legal duties for health and safety rest with the engaging in adventure activities or dangerous sports. employer. This normally means the production For dangerous sports or other physically demanding company. On a day-to-day basis, the overall production activities, a competent specialist should responsibility for ensuring that the appropriate Page 1 of 4 Health and Safety Executive standards of health and safety are achieved and something required by law. If there are fewer than five maintained throughout the production process employees it does not have to be written down. normally rests with the producer. The risks to people from stunts, fights and other In this information sheet, the term producer is used potentially hazardous production activities must be to represent the person in overall control of the assessed and controlled in the same way as any other production activity. risk to the health and safety of those involved in film and broadcasting. The risk assessment must be The producer is responsible for ensuring appropriate reviewed as necessary in light of new information and communication, coordination and control of the overall as the situation changes. This process is sometimes event, taking into account any risk assessments from called dynamic risk assessment. others, including the stunt coordinator and any other specialist contractors involved in the production. The risk assessment will inform discussions about how to proceed with the production, what controls The stunt coordinator should also liaise closely with the director to make sure there is no conflict between must be put in place and whether and how changes the proposals and editorial intent that could adversely to those controls should be made to ensure safety. affect safety. Risk management Hazards HSE produces general guidance on the safe The hazards which may be present will depend on the management of a number of hazardous activities that nature of the proposed stunt/activity. Typical hazards may be involved in stunts and fights. This can be may include, but are not limited to, the following, found on the HSE website. either in isolation or combination: Hierarchy of risk control ■ fire, heat and/or explosion from pyrotechnics; ■ noise; When deciding how to control risks from stunts, fights ■ moving vehicles or equipment; and similar production activities, you should consider: ■ manned or unmanned aircraft: ■ eliminating the risk by redesigning the stunt so ■ animals; that the hazard is removed or eliminated (eg Can ■ weapons; the risk to stunt performers be avoided by using ■ water; CGI techniques?); ■ confined spaces, oxygen-deficient or suffocating ■ substituting materials or processes with a less atmospheres; hazardous version, for example: ■ projectiles and other flying debris; ■ where there is more than one way to achieve ■ mobile phones and other radio signals that could the desired artistic effect, such as a ‘jerk interfere with both firing and control systems; back’ stunt, use the safest method possible; ■ falls from height; ■ construct sets and props with materials that ■ light sources; would be less hazardous if they fail/fall etc. ■ broken, uneven or slippery surfaces; ■ extreme weather. Where it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate or substitute, you must implement effective risk control Risk assessment measures in the following order. The producer in control of broadcast or film Engineering controls – Design or engineer the work production work must ensure risks arising from the so that risks are reduced to the minimum to achieve work are controlled. To do this they must think about the necessary end and give priority to measures what things in the workplace might cause harm to which protect collective over individual measures: people and take such steps as are necessary to ■ Ensure flash and/or radiant heat is limited to the eliminate or reduce the risk to acceptable levels. minimum necessary and controlled so that it This process is known as risk assessment and it is cannot cause injury or fire. Page 2 of 4 Health and Safety Executive ■ Reduce or control noise so that it cannot cause closely and advise the producer accordingly. damage to people’s hearing. ■ Ensure all personnel that are involved or could be ■ Control blast to ensure it is directed into areas affected by the stunt are fully briefed as to their where it is required or where it can safely roles, what will happen and how they can stay dissipate. safe. ■ Reduce flying debris, shrapnel, particles etc to the ■ Build sufficient planning and rehearsal time into minimum necessary to achieve the effect and the production to allow for changes and to make provide protective screens, establish exclusion sure those involved know exactly what is zones etc to protect workers and others who may happening and can work safely. be affected. ■ Stunt coordinators may be required to oversee the ■ Wherever possible, design moving parts of sets to dramatic effects when activities such as circus reduce the risk of injury should they malfunction or performers, free runners or precision drivers are come into contact with people. used on a production. Administrative controls – Identify and implement Personal protective equipment (PPE) – Only after the procedures you need to work safely: all the previous measures have been considered and ■ Use competent people to advise on, plan and found not to be effective in controlling risks to a execute stunts and other hazardous activities. See reasonably practicable level, must properly-fitted PPE detail under Competence. be used: ■ Reduce risks to camera crews and stunt ■ Any necessary PPE, eg safety glasses, work- performers by using cutaways, camera angles etc. positioning equipment, hearing protection etc, ■ Ensure safe working distances are identified by must be suitable for the hazards involved, must competent people and are adhered to. be fitted, and must be worn and used correctly. ■ Have an agreed system in place to make sure ■ People using PPE must be trained in its use. stunts can be stopped promptly and safely if something happens that may affect the safety of Execution any person. ■ Cueing for stunts, fights or other hazardous The stunt coordinator should monitor the safety activities should only take place once all the arrangements during the rehearsal and execution necessary risk control measures are in place. of the action. ■ Ensure contingency plans are in place for Before commencing any stunt or fight action, the unexpected situations/outcomes, eg first aid, producer and stunt coordinator should make such firefighting. checks as are necessary to ensure that control ■ Plan and manage exclusion zones with outside measures such as exclusion zones, emergency agencies such as the police/local authorities as arrangements, PPE etc are in place, and are effective. necessary. ■ Ensure specialist advice is available during The stunt coordinator should have best sight of the particularly hazardous work involving, for example: action and its immediate area at all times and be able ■ structures; to communicate with all key personnel.