ScreenSkills has created a visual digest of the relevant industry guidance on working in the coronavirus pandemic, called Tips to help productions develop protocols for working safely during Covid-19. The PDF is designed to be printed on A4 or A3 paper so it can be put in a pocket or hung on a wall.
Alternatively, read the text of the PDF, below:
Plan and communicate
- Assign a team member to the role of trained Covid-19 supervisor
- Carry out a risk assessment
- Involve cast, crew and unions to help keep everyone safe
- Ensure all cast and crew undertake basic training in Covid-19 awareness
- Set a Covid-19 symptom checking, testing, isolation and return-to-work policy
- Create a clear symptom response plan
- Make sure all staff understand this
- Comply with UK-GDPR when recording and storing data
- Regularly review the risk assessment during production
- Have a clear system for updating cast and crew on Covid-19 procedures
Include and protect
- Identify who can work from home and talk about it
- Discuss safe options for work with any cast or crew classed as clinically vulnerable or clinically extremely vulnerable
- Respect the needs of those with different protected characteristics and ask what you can do to help them participate
- Ensure people have the right equipment for remote systems
- Keep them included in all relevant communications
- Be aware of the impact that Covid-19 has on the wellbeing of cast and crew, and signpost support
- Keep using chaperones to ensure regulatory compliance relating to child performance, but ensure this can be done in line with social distancing requirements
Prioritise hygiene
- Encourage people to wash hands regularly and thoroughly
- Provide hand sanitiser round the whole workplace
- Frequently disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched regularly
- Enhance cleaning for high-traffic areas, including sets and locations
- Provide low-touch facilities such as pedal bins and soap dispensers
- Avoid sharing equipment
- Sanitise equipment between uses if sharing is essential
- Provide single-serving food where sanitisation isn’t possible
- Use single-use items where sanitisation isn’t possible but try to use biodegradable ones
- Apply procedures to all workspaces, e.g. set, location, base, office, trailers and vehicles
Maintain distance
- Adopt a managed, secure process for entry and exit
- Limit the number of cast and crew on set
- Display signs to remind people of social distancing
- Mark areas to help people keep apart
- Stagger call times and consider shift patterns
- Set up one-way routes through workspaces, including catering areas
- Limit visitors to set and try to block-book dailies
- Keep spaces well ventilated
- Use remotely operated kit where possible
- View action remotely to avoid congregating around monitors
- Maintain distancing in all areas, including eating areas
- Maintain distancing at all times, including break times
Manage risk
- Consider whether an activity is really needed
- Keep the time in close proximity as short as possible
- Use screens or barriers to separate people from each other
- Position people back-to-back or side-to-side whenever possible
- Use ‘fixed teams’ to reduce how many people each person has contact with
- Create designated areas, e.g. mark out the stage with an area for each department before shooting
- Follow government guidance on use of PPE and face coverings
- Prioritise emergency procedures over Covid-19 safety, e.g. do not have to maintain social distancing if evacuating from fire
Stay up-to-date
Government guidance
- England: Coronavirus (Covid-19)
- Scotland: Coronavirus in Scotland
- Northern Ireland: Coronavirus (Covid-19)
- Wales: Cornavirus (Covid-19)
Health and safety executive
- England, Scotland and Wales: Coronavirus (Covid-19) latest information
- Northern Ireland: Covid-19, advice and guidance for places of work
Heath information
Mental health information
About the tips
The tips are based on:
- UK broadcasters and Pact: TV Production Guidance: Managing the risk of coronavirus in production making
- British Film Commission: Working Safely During COVID-19 in Film and High-end TV Drama Production
ScreenSkills’ icons are based on an original concept by Ian Murphy and Allan Burrell with additional design by Dave Gray. The PDF was designed by ScreenSkills in June 2020.
To see the industry guidance in full go to: Safe working guidance.