Safety Practices During Production

Safety is a Mindset

Every creative decision should begin with one question: Can this be done safely? 

No shot, no scene, no schedule, and no creative ambition is ever worth risking someone’s health or life. Professional filmmakers solve problems creatively, they do not solve them by accepting unnecessary risk.

Safety is not the responsibility of one department or one individual. It belongs to everyone on set. Every member of the cast and crew has both the right and the responsibility to recognize hazards, speak up, and help create a safe working environment.

For the purposes of this handbook, any location where filming occurs—whether it involves two people or two hundred—is considered a film set. Every set is a workplace, and every workplace deserves careful planning, communication, and respect.

Safety Begins Before the Camera Rolls

The safest productions are rarely the luckiest, they are the best prepared. Every production should identify potential hazards before arriving on location. Ask yourself:

• What could go wrong?
• How likely is it?
• What would happen if it did?
• What can we do now to eliminate or reduce the risk?

Proper planning prevents accidents. Rushing, poor communication, and last-minute decision making are among the leading causes of injuries on film sets. Whenever possible:

• Scout every location in advance.
• Identify parking, restrooms, shade, emergency access, and staging areas.
• Review the shooting plan with department heads.
• Identify nearby hospitals, urgent care facilities, fire stations, and police departments.
• Include emergency addresses and phone numbers on every call sheet.
• Make sure every cast and crew member knows where to meet in an emergency.

Communication Saves Lives

Communication is one of the most effective safety tools available. Every member of the production should feel comfortable asking questions, raising concerns, or reporting unsafe conditions without fear of criticism or embarrassment.

If something doesn’t look right, stop and ask. If something feels unsafe, speak up. If you don’t understand an instruction, ask for clarification. Professional productions value communication because it prevents accidents before they happen.

Stop Work Authority

Every person on the production has the authority to stop work if they observe an unsafe condition. If an activity appears dangerous, immediately notify the Producer, First Assistant Director, Production Manager, Safety Officer, instructor, or faculty advisor. No student will ever be criticized for raising a legitimate safety concern in good faith.

Creating a culture where people feel comfortable speaking up is one of the most important responsibilities of any filmmaker.

Safety Meetings

Every production should begin with a general safety briefing. Additional safety meetings are required whenever the production involves:

• Stunts
• Fight choreography
• Weapons
• Vehicles
• Water
• Animals
• Fire or pyrotechnics
• Special effects
• Elevated work
• Hazardous locations
• Any activity involving unusual risk

Everyone involved should understand the plan before filming begins.

Call Sheets

The call sheet is one of the most important safety documents on a production. In addition to scheduling information, every call sheet should include:

• Emergency contacts
• Hospital information
• Maps
• Weather forecast
• Parking information
• Location hazards
• Safety reminders
• Emergency meeting location
• Contact information for key crew members

Review the call sheet before arriving on set.

Situational Awareness

Working conditions change throughout the day. Stay aware of:

• Equipment being moved
• Vehicles operating nearby
• Electrical cables
• Weather conditions
• Changes in lighting
• Uneven terrain
• Overhead work
• Trip hazards
• Other crew members

Avoid distractions while working. Cell phones should only be used when necessary for production. Earbuds and headphones should never be worn while actively working unless required for your specific job.

Good Housekeeping

Clean sets are safe sets. Keep walkways clear. Return equipment after use. Cover cables crossing walkways using mats, cable crossovers, or properly secured gaffer’s tape. Store tools properly. Remove trash throughout the day. Horseplay, practical jokes, and roughhousing have no place on a professional film set.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Dress for the work you are performing. Loose clothing, jewelry, untied long hair, or anything that can become caught in machinery should be secured before beginning work. Wear appropriate PPE whenever conditions require it.

Foot Protection

Closed-toe work shoes or boots are required. Flip-flops, sandals, high heels, or bare feet are never appropriate on a working set. If performers must appear barefoot on camera, shoes should be worn during rehearsals and whenever they are off camera.

Hand Protection

Wear work gloves whenever handling grip equipment, construction materials, rigging, scenery, or objects that could cause cuts, burns, or abrasions. Never wear gloves around machinery where they could become entangled.

Eye and Face Protection

Wear safety glasses or goggles whenever there is risk from flying debris, hazardous materials, dust, or wind effects.

Hearing Protection

Provide hearing protection whenever cast or crew will be exposed to excessive noise.

Weather Safety

Environmental conditions change quickly. Plan for:

• Extreme heat
• Cold weather
• Rain
• Lightning
• High winds
• Wildfire smoke
• Poor air quality
• Sun exposure

Encourage hydration throughout the day. Drink water before you become thirsty. Provide shade whenever possible. Recognize the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and seek medical attention immediately if symptoms develop.

Working at Heights

Falls remain one of the leading causes of injuries on film productions. Never rush while working above ground. Use guardrails, fall protection, spotters, or other safety systems whenever required. If conditions begin to feel rushed or chaotic, slow the pace down. Most falls occur when people sacrifice safety for speed.

Ladder Safety

Inspect every ladder before use. Never use damaged ladders. Never use metal ladders near electrical hazards. Never place ladders in doorways without protection.

Maintain three points of contact while climbing. Never overreach. Face the ladder while climbing. Lock rolling ladders before use. Only one person should work from a ladder at a time unless designed otherwise. Move the ladder instead of leaning beyond the side rails.

Fire Safety

Fire lanes and emergency exits must remain clear at all times. Do not block exit signs, fire extinguishers, or emergency access routes with equipment, scenery, or props. Know the location of fire extinguishers before filming begins. Smoking should only occur in designated smoking areas.

Vehicle Safety

Only qualified personnel should operate production vehicles. Seat belts must always be worn. Never ride unsecured in truck beds, camera vehicles, trailers, or moving equipment unless specifically designed, permitted, and supervised for filming.

Whenever vehicles are backing up or operating in tight spaces, use a designated spotter. Production Assistants and crew members may never stop or direct public traffic. Only authorized law enforcement or approved traffic control personnel may do so.

Fatigue

Fatigue contributes to poor judgment, slower reaction times, and increased accidents. Whenever possible, production days should not exceed twelve hours from the arrival of the first crew member until the last person leaves the location. Watch for signs of fatigue including:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Frequent yawning
• Poor decision making
• Slower reactions
• Irritability
• Microsleeps while driving

If you are too tired to drive safely, notify your supervisor immediately so alternate transportation can be arranged.

Incident Reporting

Every accident, injury, property damage incident, and near miss should be reported immediately. A “near miss” is an event that could have caused injury but did not. Near misses are valuable learning opportunities and should be treated just as seriously as actual accidents. Reporting hazards helps prevent future injuries.

Brent’s Rule

One of the most important safety lessons in the film industry is known as Brent’s Rule. 

Brent Hershman was a 35-year-old camera assistant who died in a single-car accident in 1997 after working multiple consecutive eighteen- and nineteen-hour production days. His death became a turning point for the motion picture industry and inspired a movement to reduce excessively long working hours.

Organizations including IATSE, the Directors Guild of America (DGA), and SAG-AFTRA continue to advocate for safer working hours because fatigue remains one of the greatest hazards on film productions.

The School of Film/Video strongly encourages every production to observe Brent’s Rule. Limit production days to twelve hours or less whenever possible, measured from the arrival of the first crew member until the final crew member leaves the location. After a twelve-hour workday, allow at least twelve hours before the next call time.

Your schedule is never more important than someone’s life.

Final Thoughts

Professional filmmakers are judged not only by the images they create, but by how they create them. The most successful productions finish safely because they make safety part of every decision, not just when something goes wrong. Develop these habits now. They will protect you, your collaborators, and everyone who trusts you to lead a production.