Ensuring Safety in the Film Industry

NOTE TO EDITORS: An electronic version of the health and safety guidelines for the Nova Scotia screen-based production industry can be found at http://film.ns.ca/news/health_and_safety_guidelines_nova_scotia_screenbased_production_industry .

Everyone in the audiovisual industry has a responsibility to ensure the safety of cast and crew on set.

To help productions create safe work environments, the Film Industry Health and Safety Committee was formed in 2011 to develop guidelines that explain government legislation in a user-friendly guide. The committee, with support from the Department of Labour and Advanced Education, developed the health and safety guidelines for the Nova Scotia screen-based production industry.

"Government, employers and employees share the responsibility of keeping workplaces safe, and I am pleased to see the film industry is protecting a sector that is increasingly important to our economy," said Minister of Labour and Advanced Education Marilyn More.

The committee, chaired by Film Nova Scotia, has representatives from: The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) - Maritime Branch Council, Canadian Media Production Association, Directors Guild of Canada - Atlantic Regional District Council, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Locals 849 and 667; producers from Big Motion Pictures and Magic Rock Productions; and the Department of Labour and Advanced Education.

"It was very beneficial to have a variety of experts around the table to share their perspectives when developing these guidelines," said committee chair Linda Wood, director of business and legal affairs at Film Nova Scotia. "In the end, we were able to create a living document that will act as a reference point for productions."

On set, producers must be vigilant to identify potential hazards. The guidelines recommend precautions to protect the health and safety of industry personnel. The document will not replace the Occupational Health and Safety Act, but sets minimum standards on set.

"As Nova Scotia producers, we are extremely happy to have updated guidelines that reflect the latest protocols in safety practices," said David MacLeod, executive producer at Big Motion Pictures. 'We really appreciate the efforts of the committee and the Department of Labour and Advanced Education in making this happen."

Film Nova Scotia is a provincial Crown corporation reporting to the Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism. The corporation provides a wide range of programs and services to support the province's audiovisual industry. Nova Scotia is among the largest production centres in Canada.