PRODUCTION SAFETY & COMPLIANCE
Health & Safety Policy
Safe, well-planned filming in offices, venues and working environments
MJ Films is committed to planning and carrying out video production in a way that protects crew, contributors, clients, visitors and other people who may be affected by the work.
This page summarises our general health and safety arrangements. Project-specific risk assessments, method statements and site documentation can be prepared where a production requires them.
Policy summary
Last reviewed: 28 August 2026
Next review: 28 August 2027, or earlier if activities materially change
Applies to: location filming, venues, workplaces, travel and post-production
Project documentation: risk assessments and RAMS where required
OUR POLICY
Health and safety is part of production planning
MJ Films aims to identify foreseeable production risks early, remove hazards where reasonably practicable and reduce remaining risks through sensible controls, clear communication and appropriate equipment.
We expect anybody working on an MJ Films production to follow agreed controls, venue or site rules, use equipment responsibly and raise any safety concern that could affect the production. No shot is more important than working safely.
Health and safety arrangements are proportionate to the job. A small interview in a quiet office will not require the same controls as filming beside moving vehicles, machinery or live construction activity.
Scope
This policy applies to MJ Films production activities including:
• offices and interview locations
• studios and event venues
• construction and industrial sites
• exterior and public-location filming
• equipment transport and setup
• travel connected with production
• editing and post-production work
RESPONSIBILITIES
Clear responsibilities on every production
MJ Films / production lead
Plan the production, identify significant risks, select suitable equipment, communicate controls and coordinate with the client, venue or site where responsibilities overlap.
Crew and freelancers
Follow the agreed production controls, site rules and inductions; use equipment appropriately; work within their competence; and report hazards, incidents or changes that could affect safety.
Clients, venues and sites
Provide relevant information about local hazards, access, restricted areas, emergency arrangements, required PPE, permits, inductions and any rules that the production team must follow.
HOW WE MANAGE SAFETY
Production Arrangements
The controls used on a particular shoot depend on the environment, equipment and activity. The following arrangements form the basis of our production planning.
Risk assessment and RAMS
Foreseeable hazards are considered before filming and reviewed as conditions change. Written risk assessments and method statements can be prepared where the client, venue or nature of the production requires them. Dynamic assessment continues on the filming day.
Site induction and production briefings
Where a venue or working site requires an induction, permit or toolbox briefing, the production team follows that process before entering controlled areas. Crew are briefed on relevant hazards, access, responsibilities and emergency arrangements.
Equipment and electrical safety
Production equipment is selected for the task and checked before use. Damaged or unsuitable equipment is removed from service. Battery-powered camera, audio and compact lighting equipment is used where practical to reduce trailing mains cables and allow safer movement between working areas.
PPE
Standard high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and hard hats are available for site work. Additional PPE such as eye, hearing or other protection is used where identified by the site rules or risk assessment. Specialist PPE requirements should be advised before filming.
Manual handling
Unnecessary lifting is avoided. Equipment loads are kept manageable and suitable cases, trolleys or assistance are used where practical. Heavy or awkward items are not handled by one person where additional help is required.
Tripods, lights and cables
Camera supports, light stands, cases and cables are positioned to avoid creating unnecessary trip or access hazards. Busy public or working areas may require a smaller equipment footprint, cable management or a crew member to supervise the setup.
Machinery, vehicles and live operations
Filming around machinery, moving vehicles or active operations is coordinated with the responsible site contact. Safe camera positions, exclusion zones, escorts and timing are agreed where required. The production does not override operational safety controls for the sake of a shot.
Working at height
Filming at height is not treated as an ordinary camera position. Where a production genuinely requires access at height, suitable access arrangements, equipment and competent supervision must be agreed before filming. Improvised climbing or unsafe positioning is not acceptable.
Drone operations
Aerial filming is planned separately and is subject to aviation requirements, airspace, permissions, weather, people on the ground and site controls. See our professional aerial filming service.
Travel and fatigue
Production travel is planned realistically, including breaks and accommodation where appropriate. Driving while fatigued is avoided and mobile devices are not used while driving other than through lawful hands-free arrangements where safe.
Incidents, near misses and changing conditions
Incidents and significant near misses are reviewed so lessons can be carried into future productions. If weather, access, site activity or another condition changes materially, the filming plan and controls are reassessed before continuing.
Welfare and reasonable adjustments
Productions should allow appropriate breaks, access to welfare facilities and reasonable adjustments where these are required and can be accommodated safely. Contributors are not expected to continue filming if they feel unwell or unsafe.
WORKING ENVIRONMENTS
Construction and industrial filming
Working sites may involve moving plant, restricted areas, PPE, noise, live processes, contractors and safety systems that the production must work around.
These projects are planned around the site rather than expecting the site to stop for the camera.
SITE-SPECIFIC PLANNING
Safety controls should match the environment
For construction video production, construction site filming and industrial video production, we normally establish the site contact, access arrangements, induction requirements, PPE, restricted areas, machinery or vehicle movements and any filming limitations before the shoot.
Where relevant, the client or principal contractor's existing site controls take priority. Our production risk assessment covers the filming activity and how it interacts with those controls.
PROJECT-SPECIFIC DOCUMENTATION
Risk assessments and RAMS when the production requires them
Where required, project-specific documentation can be prepared to reflect the filming location, equipment, crew, activity and client or venue requirements.
Clients should provide relevant site information early enough for it to be incorporated into planning, including induction arrangements, emergency procedures, restricted areas and any mandatory PPE or permits.
Documentation available where applicable
• project-specific risk assessment
• method statement / RAMS
• equipment and crew information
• relevant evidence of insurance
• drone documentation where aerial filming forms part of the project
Requirements vary between clients and sites, so documentation is prepared around the actual production rather than using a generic form for every job.
POLICY REVIEW
Health and safety arrangements are reviewed as the work changes
This policy is reviewed at least annually and sooner where there is a significant change in production activity, equipment, working practices or relevant requirements.
Last reviewed: 28 August 2026
Next scheduled review: 28 August 2027
This page is a summary of our general arrangements. Where project-specific RAMS or site documentation are issued, those documents provide the detailed controls for that production.
Need documentation for a shoot?
Send the filming location, date, type of activity and any venue or site requirements. We can confirm what production documentation is appropriate before the filming day.
REQUEST A QUOTE
Tell us what needs to be filmed
Share the location, preferred dates, crew, intended audience and the videos or photographs you need. We will respond with a practical production approach and clear quotation.