PPE for you and me.
Look after yourself on set…
You are the most important person, look after number one, they say, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a dick about it…
From time to time our job will ask us to do some pretty weird and wonderful stuff and sometimes the by-product of doing that stuff means you will have to wear or use certain apparatus to help protect you during the time of the proposed event.
Now these activities can range from very simple, working near roads or populated areas to high end action working with or near explosions, major stunts, highly exposed areas such as cliff or roof tops, on or under water even in the air.
We work in an amazing industry that allows us access to places where very few others ever get to go and do activities most will only dream of. But taking part in these activities shouldn’t be at the risk of getting hurt or injured.
That’s where the safety guy should come in and these are the times where you may need to use or wear some safety gear.
Common statements on set range from ‘Really? Do I have to?’ Through to ‘I don’t need that crap I’ve been doing this for years’…and then get belligerent about being offered safety gear.
Common statements on set range from ‘Really? Do I have to?’ Through to ‘I don’t need that crap I’ve been doing this for years’…and then get belligerent about being offered safety gear
I don’t understand why anyone would get upset with another person for basically saying can I offer you this to help ensure your safety… Instead more often than not we are met with hostility.
I thank God that the world has changed, and people are slowly becoming more accepting of safety in the film industry, not all unfortunately but we’re getting there.
I remember being frightened to offer some people PPE because I knew the abuse, I was about to receive just for offering it to them. It was as if I was insulting them and suggesting that they couldn’t look after themselves I guess, nowadays, I look back and think how insecure they must have been to be that reactionary, it was such a simple gesture, and to crave power that much as to want to bully another crew member like that as a Head Of Department with their entire team standing with them at the time… Funny they never did it one on one, anyway no hard feelings Kenny, I hope you’re well.
Like, I said these days things are different and in part it’s because of those days, things are different in many ways the most important change to note is that it is now illegal to not only to refuse PPE but also bully the person that is offering it to you ( or anyone on set for that matter).
As an on-set Safety Supervisor I can tell you we don’t like wearing the stuff either, but you only have to wear it for a short amount of time and it’s there for a purpose. I can also tell you we don’t want or need to be wandering around set chasing you guys to get you to take the stuff either, we have better things to do with our time. The act of handing out PPE to crew is a courtesy, production is obliged to supply the PPE and leave it at an accessible location for distribution, the practice of wandering around and handing items out stems from the courtesy of knowing that sometime crewmembers can’t break away from what they are doing and tie is money if the safety guy has and can make the time they are more than happy to hand out or deliver the gear.
I have and will continue to boycott not only the hand out but help as well certain departments or people who still think it’s ok to be rude and bully safety guys who like you are just trying to do their job – You guys can get the stuff yourselves, it’s over there. We will always look after your safety and well-being that goes without question, but don’t come around and ask for a hand carrying something, if you’ve been a prick to my guys all day their help in that regard is entirely voluntary. What goes around they say.
Now back to the point, it is now mandatory under law that if offered any Personal Protective Equipment, you must take it and use it as per manufacturers recommendations and at the appropriate time. If you damage it or lose it you can, and are obliged to request for a replacement, however it is up to the PCBU (the Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking) if they wish to charge you for the replacement, which they would be well within their rights to do. If you can’t look after the equipment you’ve been given, then maybe you’ll look after the stuff you pay for.
If you refuse to take the PPE or take it and refuse to use it, no one can stop you, they may stop the shoot until you leave the area or decide to use the PPE, but they can’t force you to use it, however if you suffer an injury during the course of the event after being offered PPE and deciding not to use it then the fun begins.
If found negligent in your duties resulting in injury you can be found liable to prosecution which can and more than likely result in hefty fines, which then can result in denial of all insurances. A breach of contract suit from the production company is also likely to take place, as they would be well in their rights to do.
If someone is injured at work the domino effect is outstanding, you see if it is a major event with hazardous action and you’re injury divides the focus of the safety and medical team, no other action can take place until they can resume their required duties which is ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone else on the crew. It is hard to fathom how much halting production must cost, I’m sure there are bean counters out there that can figure it out and if you are found to be liable and your refusal to wear PPE and injuries were the course of the stoppage and they can chase you for the loss, you will be the first one to meet those bean counters who will be more than happy letting you know how they came to their final figure.
Dramatic I know but a distinct possibility especially in this day and age where someone has to be held accountable and no one wants to pay.
You can’t fight it, If the producer has done their job, commissioned a safety report and risk assessment, which will outline the scenes that require PPE, hired a Safety Supervisor, supplied and distributed adequately the required PPE, they are gold, their legals and insurances companies will love them and, if you are found to be negligent they will love you too but in a completely different way…