Under the Regulations, all businesses must: 

• Carry out a 'suitable and sufficient' risk assessment for work activities and workplaces. 

• Put in place measures to manage risks, based on the outcomes of those assessments. 

• Appoint competent people to help meet health and safety duties. 

• Establish procedures to deal with serious and imminent danger. 

• Provide workers with clear information and training relevant to risks they may face. 

In high-pressure and creative environments like film and TV production, it’s vital that risk assessments are more than a tick-box exercise. They must be tailored to each production’s working conditions, whether on set, on location, or in post-production. 

Risk assessments should address both physical hazards (such as equipment, stunts, and location risks) and psychosocial risks, including bullying, harassment, fatigue, and long working hours. 

Key steps: 

• Identify hazards—think about all aspects of the production, from equipment to working patterns. 

• Evaluate the level of risk—who might be harmed, and how? 

• Record and implement actions—put controls in place, assign responsibility, and follow up. 

• Review and revise regularly—especially when circumstances change. 

Tip: Use plain language and visual formats when sharing assessments—everyone should understand the risks and how to manage them. 

• Make health and safety a standing agenda item in production meetings. 

• Assign a clear lead for safety on each shoot or stage of production. 

• Schedule regular breaks and reasonable working hours to prevent fatigue. 

• Have clear, confidential reporting channels for health and safety concerns. 

• Proactively address issues that may lead to harassment or mistreatment. 

• Ensure all workers know who to talk to if something feels unsafe. 

Tragic incidents including those reported in the news are stark reminders of the consequences when safety protocols fail. Businesses have a legal and moral responsibility to protect workers before something goes wrong. 

While there are industry-led training programmes, such as ScreenSkills' Production Safety Passport, businesses should ensure that everyone working under their management receives accessible, practical safety training as part of their onboarding or project briefing. 

Safe working conditions don’t happen by accident. They are the result of intentional planning, clear communication, and a workplace culture where people feel empowered to speak up. The law provides a framework, it's up to businesses in the screen industries to bring it to life on every set, shoot, and shift.