Rules & Guidelines

12.0 HEALTH & SAFETY AND RISK ASSESSMENT

12.1 Full consideration of Health & Safety issues for all employees must be taken and proven by the producer.

12.2 The producer must appoint a competent person to act as the Health & Safety representative (with a minimum of NVQ Level 3) and a full risk assessment of the location must be carried out in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Management of Health & Safety at Work regulations (1992) .

12.3 Types of Risk Assessment that may be required for filming activities include stunts, the use of flammable or toxic materials, construction work, working at heights and the use of cranes and cherry pickers. This is in addition to a comprehensive risk assessment of the location

12.4 The Health & Safety representative appointed must be on location at all times to co-ordinate and monitor the Health & Safety systems and any control any measures put in place as a result of the risk assessment.

13.0 HIGH-VISIBILITY CLOTHING

13.1 Crew members and production personnel working on the highway must wear high-visibility clothing to standard EN471. This is an essential safety requirement under the New Roads and Streetworks Act and it is a criminal offence not to comply.

13.2 Failure to wear appropriate high-visibility clothing invalidates any insurance provision for the entire shoot.

14.0 HOURS and BREAKS

14.1 Proper breaks must be given to crews as statutorily laid down.

14.2 The normal filming day is a scheduled 12 hours i.e. from call time to wrap less one hour (to allow for de-rigging and clear-up)

14.3 There is to be no infringement of the 11-hour break between shooting days for any member of crew.

15.0 INDEMNITY and INSURANCE

15.1 The production company must indemnify the local authority, its officers and employees against any claims or proceedings arising directly from any injury to persons or damage to property as a result of the activities of the production company or its agents.

15.2 All Production Companies working on location in public places, of whatsoever size, last have public liability insurance with a limit of indemnity of not less than £3,000,000 (three million pounds) in respect of any one accident or series of accidents arising out of the presence of the film unit at the location. The FiLM Office must see proof (i.e. the insurance cover note) that such cover is carried and is current prior to the filming taking place. Failure to carry adequate insurance may be a breach of the Factories and Offices Act and, as such no shoots will permitted without such cover.

16.0 LIGHTING, LIGHTING TOWERS, SCAFFOLDING AND GENERATORS

16.1 The construction and positioning of lighting towers and scaffolding must be discussed with the Borough FiLM Office at least one week in advance of the shoot.

16.2 Any scaffolding constructed must be certified by the Local Authority via the FiLM Office.

16.3 When placing lighting stands on the carriageway or the footway the Borough FiLM Office must be informed and clearance given.

16.4 The following considerations should be taken to prevent any risk to the public or production company employees;

a) All lights above ground level and lighting stands are properly secured

b) Lighting stands placed on a footway must be attended at all times

c) Lights do not dazzle motorists

d) Lights are not shone directly towards residential properties at any time without specific permission.

e) flare from Portland stone building should be minimised so as not to disturb residents

f) where there is a potential that residents may be distrubed by lighting effects they are to be offered the facility of having their bedroom windows blacked out to avoid light penetration.

16.5 Any generator used should comply with the specific requirements of the Environmental Protection Act (1990) and be positioned as far away as possible from all residential properties. The Borough FiLM Office can advise on the correct positioning.

17.0 LITTER

17.1 All the crew must ensure they dispose of litter responsibly. The FiLM Office may be able to arrange a rubbish pick-up if requested.(see RUBBISH below)

18.0 LOSS OF TRADE

18.1 Where a shoot has caused a loss of trade to a local business this must be compensated for. The FiLM Office recommends that agreement is reached with traders liable to be affected in advance of the shooting day. The following formula has proved equitable: take the average turnover of the previous two days of the week (i.e. previous two Thursdays if the shoot is on a Thursday) and take the average. Deduct the actual turnover at the end of the shoot day from the average to give an indication of the loss of turnover. Compensation should be for loss of profit only, which on dry goods is usually 40% rising to 60-70% on perishable goods or labour intensive ventures.

19.0 NIGHT FILMING (20.00-08.00)

19.1 All night shoots are to be co-ordinated with the local FiLM Office.

19.2 The FiLM Office will need to see the script for the scene(s) to be shoot so that they have an accurate idea of what is intended: a realistic wrap-time for the amount of action to be shot is to be given. Night shoots in residential areas are naturally sensitive and it is essential to consider and consult with local residents and businesses in the planning process.

19.3 All residents and businesses are to be contacted by letter at the earliest opportunity explaining in some detail what is proposed and how this is to be achieved. The FiLM Office telephone number is to be quoted as the contact number for residents who wish to voice concerns. Adequate time (a minimum of two weeks) must be allowed for residents to voice their concerns. The FiLM Office will advise the location manager of local concerns and these must be resolved to his or her satisfaction prior to the shoot taking place.

19.4 Whenever possible night shoots should be scheduled for nights when there is no working day following. Companies intending to shoot in residential areas beyond 23.00hours (or after 20.30hours in areas where there are young children and there is a school day following) on a night when there is a working/school day following will be subject to stringent requirements to ensure no legitimate complaints ensue.

19.5 Any activity, including filming, is subject to the Environmental Protection Act (1990) regarding noise and nuisance. A legitimate complaint about noise or nuisance from a resident to the local authority can result in the termination of the shoot and the confiscation of equipment. Therefore, it is advisable

a) to shoot all scenes requiring noise above conversational level before 22.00hrs.

b) that conversation at the location is limited to what is essential to achieving the shoot and then at whisper level.

c) that walkie-talkies should be turned down to a minimum and earpieces used.

19.6 There may be cases when equipment or heavy vehicles that cannot be removed silently at the end of filming must be left in situ until 7:00 hours and attended throughout the night by security. This must be cleared by the Borough FiLM Office one week before filming.

Only essential vehicles will be allowed close to the location. Personal vehicles and facilities should be parked away from the location and residences to minimise noise at the end of filming. The FiLM Office will be pleased to co-ordinate the use of local car parks, schoolyards etc. for this purpose.

So as to minimise the impact of extra vehicles parking in the area and specifically the noise of departing vehicles at the end of the shoot, personal vehicles should not be parked in streets designated by the FiLM Office in the immediate vicinity of the location. A plan of 'off-limits' streets is to be carried in the call sheet.

These conditions are to be published in the call sheet in addition to any Hazard assessment so that the entire crew is aware of them.

20.0 NOISE AND NUISANCE

20.1 Noise should be kept to a minimum when setting up early in the morning. Generators should not be switched on until after 08.00 hours unless they are silent and approved by the FiLM Office.

20.2 Local authorities have the right to take action under the Environmental Protection Act (1990) as a result of any unreasonable noise and nuisance caused by filming.(refer to section 12.2)

Notes: The descriptions highway, carriageway and footway used in this document are in conjunction with The Highways Act (1986)

The description Production refers to every type of filming. In particular, feature films, television productions, commercials, pop-promos, corporate and stills.

The FiLM Office will accept no liability for loss, financial or otherwise, alleged to have incurred as a result of use of this document.

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