FIRST AID REQUIREMENTS

Cal/OSHA and Federal OSHA regulations require that every employer shall ensure the ready availability of medical personnel for advice and consultation on matters of industrial health or injury. In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace, which is used for the treatment of all injured employees, a person or persons shall be adequately trained to render first aid. This training shall be equal to that of the American Red Cross.

There shall also be adequate first aid materials readily available for employees on every job site. A frequent inspection shall be made of all first aid materials, which shall be replenished as necessary.

Generally, when working on a major motion picture studio, medical services are provided to the production under contract by the facility. It is customary practice on motion picture shooting and construction locations for a medic or first aid provider to be assigned to provide first aid services to the cast and crew. It is important that the current credentials (nursing license, EMT certificate, etc.) and evidence of blood­-borne pathogen training for all medics be checked and documented.

It is recommended that a production medic be present in the following situations:

• When the Production is shooting on stage and/or location
• During production activities where saws or other power tools are being utilized
• During activities when people are working at heights (ladders, rigging, lifts, etc.)
• Whenever stunts or special effects are being prepped, rigged or shot

Depending on the number of cast and crew at a location and the nature of the work to be conducted at the site, the first aid requirements will be different for each location. The level of training as well as the amount and the type of first aid supplies required at each location will depend upon:

• The number of workers on location at any time
• The nature of the work being performed
• The response time for local fire department and paramedics
• The travel time to a medical facility

Due to the variety of occupational activities involved in motion picture production some activities will have a moderate degree of hazards while other activities such as stunts, pyrotechnics, and certain construction and rigging work involve a potentially high degree of hazard. In some cases, such as when filming stunts or special effects it is standard practice to have a paramedic and ambulance with advanced life support capability or other emergency medical provider standing by. All cast and crew should be made aware of the following:

• Location of first aid stations and medical facilities
• Identification of first aid attendants / production medics
• Identification of other staff trained in first aid and/or CPR
• Procedure for summoning medical help
• The exact work location (address, building or stage number, mile marker, etc.) so they can direct medical personnel should the need arise
• Procedure for transporting injured employees
• Procedure for reporting injury or illness

It is the responsibility of the Safety Program Director to ensure that appropriate medical
services are available to all production employees during the course of employment.

REQUIREMENTS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE and PREPAREDNESS 

When an emergency occurs, decisions must be made quickly to minimize the degree of injury, suffering, and property damage. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP) deals with a serious accident or emergency including, but not limited to the following: a fatality; member(s) of the public injured as a direct result of production; cast or crew seriously injured; employee heat illness; earthquake; fire; flood; explosions; major releases of hazardous materials; or violent occurrences.

An EAP should be in place for all production locations, including stages and production offices. As every location is different, additional emergency preparedness procedures may be required.

The development of the plan should consider the following:

• All potential emergencies (e.g., fire, earthquake, storm, flood, etc.)
• Possible consequences of each emergency
• Required control measures
• Individual roles and responsibilities
• Training requirements
• Required resources needed to carry out the plan

The plan must be communicated to all cast and crew. At the beginning of production, on the first stage or location, an EAP meeting should be held for the entire cast and crew.  This meeting can be part of the general safety meeting. The following information should be included in this meeting:

• The location of all emergency exits and escape routes;
• The location of all fire alarm pull stations and fire extinguishers;
• The local emergency response phone number or other means of contacting emergency responders;
• Employees should be aware of the cast and / or crew members who are working with them in case it is necessary to notify emergency personnel of missing persons;
• Employees must know clear and precise directions to work area so this information can be provided to emergency responders in the event of an emergency;
• Designate a post­ evacuation assembly area, where cast and crew should gather by department.
• HODs should know the names and the number of employees in their department so that an accurate count can be made and any missing employees noted
• Cast and crew should be instructed to never re­enter an evacuated building until it has been cleared by emergency personnel
• EAP information specific to each location should be attached to the daily call sheet
• Emergency egress and / or evacuation information should be addressed in the daily safety meeting and noted on the daily production report.
• Training and / or periodic drills may be necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the EAP.

SERIOUS INCIDENT / SET EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES 

A serious incident / set emergency includes but is not limited to the following – a fatality, an amputation, a member(s) of the public injured as a result of production, cast or crew seriously injured, earthquake, flood, fire, etc.

Emergency help will be summoned immediately in the event of a serious incident or set emergency. The 1st AD will notify the production executive and Production Safety Consultant. The incident / set emergency notification information must be posted and made available at all times during pre­production and filming. Phone numbers must be filled in and kept up to date for personnel specific to the Production. If the incident warrants, notification should be made immediately, regardless of the time of day or night.  The 1st AD must use his/her own judgment as to the gravity of the situation and must speak personally with each person on the list; messages are not acceptable.

It is the responsibility of the 1st AD, or in her / his absence, the UPM, to notify the persons
on this downloadable PDF.