Health & Safety and Mental Health

Depending on the content being filmed, productions should also consider:

· Engaging an Injury Prevention Consultant (IPC) such as www.thisisipc.com, to support physical welfare of actors on set and supervise all directed movement and choreography in a production. Visit the Best Practice Guidelines For Injury Prevention In Stage & Screen Production

· Bringing in an intimacy coordinator for scenes involving sexual content and nudity. To find out more, visit www.intimacyonset.com/intimacy-on-set-guidelines.html

There are mental health and welfare resources available to productions, including:

· The Mark Milsome Foundation Film and TV Online Safety Passport Course which covers topics such as Speaking Up, The Law, Working Hours, Health and Safety, Mental Health, Bullying and Discrimination

· Mental health awareness training: https://6ftfrom.org/, www.screenskills.com/, www.solasmind.com/. For more support and advice visit: https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/

Depictions of Suicide

The Samaritans has produced guidance that productions are encouraged to follow when filming any scenes portraying suicide and self-harm.

Guidelines can be accessed here: Samaritans' Media Guidelines

Contact mediaadvice@samaritans.org for more information.

Stunts

All stunts should be under the direct supervision of a recognised British Stunt Register (BSR) Action Coordinator or a person of similar experience *

Stunt professionals from overseas working with British teams should be well practised in the filming conventions and language of the British film and television industry or it may be necessary to use a British-trained stunt coordinator to ensure the safest performance and most effective results.

No member of production crew or acting cast may dictate who is cast in a stunt role when the stunt coordinator has doubts about their suitability and competence for the performance. If the stunt coordinator has such qualms and is under duress to proceed on location regardless, they should report their concerns to the Film Contact immediately: safety is paramount for all cast and crew and the general public.

* A person of similar experience to a British Stunt Register Coordinator may be deemed so by the production company if they are satisfied that the person can fulfil the following criteria:

- Was a graded and paid up Full Member of the former JISC, at its dissolution in 2017†
(The BSR office may be able to help if confirmation is required).

AND

- Has undertaken Health & Safety training as befits their supervisory and creative role. Training has been taken or refreshed no longer than 5 years prior and the person has worked regularly supervising stunt action.

OR, can prove all of the following:

- Has undertaken Health & Safety training as befits their supervisory and creative role. Training has been taken or refreshed no longer than 5 years prior and the person has worked regularly supervising stunt action.

- Must be familiar with UK Health & Safety regulations.

- Their abilities are graded or recognised by a body with a methodology and process that can be verified.

- Has proven experience in performing and coordinating comparable stunts as will be filmed on the day. In the event that it has never been done before, the stunt coordinator should consult with or employ an expert with relative knowledge.

- Has demonstrated thorough risk assessment skills and effective application of control measures on other productions.

- The person can demonstrate an understanding of the differing degrees of applicable skills that will be required of their stunt team.

† JISC: The former Joint Industry Stunt Committee whose members were graded by JIGS (the Joint Industry Grading Scheme). The core of the British Stunt Register grading scheme is based on the former JISC grade model, it has been updated and incorporates H&S training as a mandatory condition of BSR membership.

For more information on stunts Download the Code of Practice for Location Filming

Confirm British Stunt Register Membership Status
Understand the Stunt Grade Scheme
BSR Website | BSR Office: 01753 652 821 | info@thebritishstuntregister.com