Health and safety in the screen industries isn’t just about compliance, it’s about protecting people, preventing disruption, and running your business responsibly.  

Whether you manage a studio, coordinate crews for location shoots, or produce content for broadcast, your legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 apply fully, even for short-term projects, freelancers, or unpaid contributors.  

Failure to comply could result in serious harm, reputational damage, or enforcement action from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, all businesses have a legal duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees and others affected by their work. This includes freelancers, contractors, and the public. 

Breaches of the Act can lead to enforcement by the HSE, including fines, improvement notices, and, where there is serious negligence, criminal prosecution. In extreme cases, businesses may also face charges under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, which applies when a death results from gross breach of duty by a company or organisation. 

In addition to following HSE guidance, all businesses must meet statutory duties under the Act and related regulations. These include: 
 

• Employers’ Liability Insurance is a statutory requirement under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. All employers must hold a policy that covers at least £5 million and is provided by an authorised insurer. 

   

• Public Liability Insurance, however, is not required by law. It is strongly recommended, especially for businesses that interact with the public or clients, but it is not a statutory duty. Some industry regulators or clients may contractually require it, but there is no general legal obligation to hold it. 
   

• Reporting certain work-related incidents, diseases, or near misses under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013). 
   

• Consulting with workers on health and safety matters. 
   

• Displaying the HSE health and safety law poster or providing each worker with the equivalent leaflet. 

In line with the Act, the HSE outlines four core responsibilities for businesses working in film, TV, and broadcasting:  

Define responsibilities and duties 

1. Your business must clearly allocate responsibility for managing health and safety.  

2. In most productions, this will be the producer or production company — even when using freelancers or subcontractors.  

3. You can’t legally delegate your responsibility to a consultant or external contractor.  

Put a system in place  

1. Establish a management system that fits the size and complexity of your work.  

2. For high-risk activities (stunts, pyrotechnics, working at height), bring in qualified advisors, but retain legal responsibility.  

Assess and manage risks  

1. Identify hazards (e.g. lighting rigs, fatigue, vehicle use).  

2. Assess who might be harmed and how.  

3. Apply proportionate control measures and update them regularly.  

Review and improve  

1. As work progresses, check whether risk controls are still effective.  

2. After wrapping a production or event, review what worked and what needs to change next time.  

For more information, please visit: HSE guidance for the screen industries  

The list below combines legal obligations and recommended practices from the HSE’s INDG360 guide for employers. Always check which duties apply to your business based on its size and nature. 

Legal obligations (statutory duties): 

• Consult with workers and freelancers on health and safety matters. 

• Display the Health and Safety Law poster (or provide each worker with the INDG360 leaflet). 

• Keep written records of risk assessments if you have five or more workers. 

• Appoint a competent person to manage health and safety. 
  (This is a general legal duty under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.) 

• Provide health and safety training and information to all workers (including freelancers and casuals). 

• Appoint a competent person even in very small businesses, if possible. 

• Include freelancers and casual workers in your risk assessments, training, and communications, even if not legally required. 

• Keep records of training and reviews to demonstrate compliance and continuous improvement. 

Beyond physical hazards, ACAS guidance encourages businesses to address the broader human realities of screen sector work:  

• Mental health and stress: The Health and Safety at Work Act requires employers to manage risks to both physical and mental health. In high-pressure screen sector environments, long hours and tight schedules can take a toll. ACAS recommends early support and open dialogue. 

• ACAS: Supporting mental health | Managing stress  
   

• Fatigue, extreme conditions, and long COVID: Plan for adequate breaks, consider working conditions, and accommodate individual needs.  
  ACAS: Long COVID | Extreme temperatures  

   

• Inclusion and individual health needs: Address menopause, chronic illness, and other conditions with empathy and flexibility.  
  ACAS: Menopause at work  
   

• Leadership matters: Your tone from the top influences how seriously health and safety is taken across teams.  
  ACAS: Leadership  

Everyone working in your business should be able to:  

• Identify and respond to risks in their working environment  

• Follow health and safety procedures specific to the production or site  

• Use PPE and safety equipment when required  

• Report hazards or near misses  

• Participate in safety briefings and emergency drills  

• Understand their role in safeguarding themselves and others  

Businesses are expected to ensure these competencies are met through inductions, briefings, and supervision, especially with new hires or freelancers.  

ScreenSkills: Health and Safety Competencies

• Assign a competent person to manage safety on each job  

• Review and update risk assessments regularly  

• Keep written records of training, incidents, and reviews  

• Include freelancers and casual workers in safety briefings  

• Build a culture where people feel confident raising concerns  

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 sets out clear legal duties for all businesses—including production companies, studios, and freelancers operating as employers. Meeting these obligations isn’t optional: failure to do so can lead to fines, criminal charges, or reputational harm. 

But legal compliance is only the starting point. A strong safety culture goes further, by embedding clear responsibilities, following HSE guidance, supporting mental and physical wellbeing, and ensuring all workers meet industry safety competencies. 

Behind the scenes, within the law, that’s how we keep the screen sector safe.