1.1 Describe key elements of health and safety regulations, relevant to working in the Creative Media sector
The key elements to health and safety regulation are as follows –
Policy – This is rules that are put in place, e.g. If you spill something mop it up.
Organising – What protocols need to be put in place to avoid problems eg Wires covered to avoid anyone tripping over them.
Planning and implementing – Making sure that your Health and Safety policy has been trialled and used and up to the legal standard.
Measuring Performance – This will allow the policy to be tested by seeing what accidents continue to arise in the Creative Media sector; this could be measured through a company Accident Book.
Reviewing Performance – From the data collected measuring performance, the management board can meet and discuss this information so improvements can be implemented.
1.2 Explain safe working practices for a specific job role in the Creative Media sector
Safe working practices for a Production Assistant at a Film Production company would involve, keeping film sets safe and secure and ensuring the general public are kept at a safe distance away, especially with hot lighting equipment.
Other safe work practices would include keeping equipment away from fire exits and clear of passageways. Also it’s very important making sure that when you carry equipment you carry it safely and do not attempt to lift anything to heavy.
1.3 Describe the main employer responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act
General duties of employers to their employees.
(1)
It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
(2)
Without prejudice to the generality of an employer’s duty under the preceding subsection, the matters to which that duty extends include in particular—
(a)
the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health;
(b)
arrangements for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances;
(c)
the provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees;
(d)
so far as is reasonably practicable as regards any place of work under the employer’s control, the maintenance of it in a condition that is safe and without risks to health and the provision and maintenance of means of access to and egress from it that are safe and without such risks;
(e)
the provision and maintenance of a working environment for his employees that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe, without risks to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work.
(3)
Except in such cases as may be prescribed, it shall be the duty of every employer to prepare and as often as may be appropriate revise a written statement of his general policy with respect to the health and safety at work of his employees and the organisation and arrangements for the time being in force for carrying out that policy, and to bring the statement and any revision of it to the notice of all of his employees.
(4)
Regulations made by the Secretary of State may provide for the appointment in prescribed cases by recognised trade unions (within the meaning of the regulations) of safety representatives from amongst the employees, and those representatives shall represent the employees in consultations with the employers under subsection (6) below and shall have such other functions as may be prescribed.
F1(5)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6)
It shall be the duty of every employer to consult any such representatives with a view to the making and maintenance of arrangements which will enable him and his employees to co-operate effectively in promoting and developing measures to ensure the health and safety at work of the employees, and in checking the effectiveness of such measures.
(7)
In such cases as may be prescribed it shall be the duty of every employer, if requested to do so by the safety representatives mentioned in [F2subsection (4)] above, to establish, in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State, a safety committee having the function of keeping under review the measures taken to ensure the health and safety at work of his employees and such other functions as may be prescribed
Unit 10.2 – Be able to comply with relevant health and safety procedures
2.1 Describe the differences between hazards and risks
Hazard - A chance of being injured or harmed – Something that can cause you mental or physical hard, could be through stress or using equipment chemicals
Risk - The possibility of suffering harm or loss – This is based on the chance of a hazard arising; this is usually assessed on a low, medium and high rating.
2.2 Carry out a risk assessment
During pre production we had to carry out a risk assessment on scenes that posed a risk to the actors, employees, and the general public prior to production. This consisted of a low, medium, and high scale of an accident occurring in different situations (such as the likelihood of someone getting burnt, or getting hit by a car etc etc) This was also filed with the local authorities and our insurance company.
2.3 Report identified hazards and risks to the appropriate parties
In my work place if there was an issue with say, equipment, or a chair that wasn’t fit for sitting etc, I would let the company director know the situation before a potential accident arose. This way eliminating any potential accidents to company visitors or other employees, how ever if there were a problem with an electrical object I would probably arrange for an experienced electrician to come fix it.
2.4 Suggest ways of reducing risks to health and safety in a specific Creative Media job role
As we all know most risks can be avoided with a simple guideline of what IS and what ISN’T acceptable at work. Some that pose the biggest risks are wires – these can easily be secured with gaffer tape or even specific wire covers. Spillages also cause many falls and a very simple way of warning people could be putting out a ‘wet floor sign’ that way your covering your arse if an accident did occur. Stress is also a big work risk that I guess can be abit hit and miss at being avoided, but generally by having clear communication and a friendly work atmosphere this should be avoided.
