Overview

Production environments often involve elevated work areas, ladders, uneven terrain, cables, platforms, low-light conditions, and other situations that can increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls. This resource outlines common falling hazards and the precautions productions are expected to take when working in these environments.

Falls are among the most common and preventable production-related injuries. Building stronger awareness of environmental hazards and safe working practices helps productions reduce unnecessary risk while encouraging crews to approach physical safety more proactively during filming activities.

General safeguards

1. Use appropriate fall protection equipment whenever you are working greater than 30 inches (general use) or 6 feet (during construction) above the floor, ground, or other working area, when standard guardrails or other equivalent protection are not available.
2. Unprotected work areas such as platforms, sets, walkways, cliffs, floor openings, shafts and rooftops (when approaching within 6 feet of the roof’s edge) require the use of approved fall protection measures. These measures include but are not limited to guardrails, barriers, safety net systems, a written Fall Protection Plan, and/or the use of personal fall arrest, fall restraint, or work positioning systems.
3. Fall arrest equipment is always required when working in the permanent grid and truss system (perms) outside the catwalks and handrails.
4. Do not use fall protection equipment without proper training and instruction. Only use appropriate anchorage points.
5. Temporary stair railings and guardrails are required around elevated surfaces, pits, holes or other unprotected openings.
6. Ensure proper lighting in such areas and post signs as necessary.

Scaffolds

1. Only use scaffolds with the appropriate guardrails, mid rails and toe boards.
2. Do not remove guardrails; contact a qualified person if they need to be removed to perform special work. Report any missing guardrails at once.
3. Do not climb across braces.

Ladders

1. Inspect all ladders before each use for broken or missing rungs, steps, split side rails or other defects.
2. Never place ladders in doorways unless protected by barricades or guards.
3. Never stand on the top two rungs of a ladder.
4. Use only approved ladders or steps. Check the labels for compliance.
5. Always use both hands while climbing.

Safety bulletins

The Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee provides the following safety bulletins related to falling risks:

Download the relevant bulletins for your production here.