Download Yes No N/A - 1st Option Safety

Safety Checklist for Buildings/Studios/Film Stages to be
used as Locations/Unit Bases, or Production Offices
Structural Safety:
The building needs to be safe for its intended use and not be likely to collapse – it needs to be able to take the extra
weight of production equipment and personnel.
Yes

No
N/A
Has the landlord/owner provided you with any relevant safety documentation?
(eg structural engineer reports, inspection certs, weight loading restrictions for
floors, maintenance records, records of any repairs or building work carried out etc)

Is the flooring secure and stable? – ie no loose floorboards/holes in floor

Are staircases in a safe & stable condition? – ie no missing/broken steps, no
unprotected edges, handrails provided

Do the roof/ceilings look to be in a safe condition? – ie not fragile, no falling plaster
or other materials

Are windows/glass doors in a safe condition? – ie no broken glass, glass panes not
likely to fall out

Are doors in a safe condition? – ie not falling off hinges
If you have answered “no” to any of the above questions, further actions must be taken by production to help to ensure
the structural safety of the building before using it as a location. Further actions should include the following:
Yes

If no relevant safety documentation can be provided from landlord/owner & there
are doubts about the structural safety of any areas of the building, then production
will seek advice from a suitably qualified structural engineer

All relevant repairs/strengthening of structure as required will be carried out to the
building by competent & qualified persons

Any areas of the building which are known to be unsafe, but are not required by
production, will be made out of bounds with access restricted to prevent injury to
No
N/A
any persons.
Any further comments on controls in place or actions needed:
1st Option Safety Group, Registered Office: 16 Mortimer Street, London, W1T 3JL
Registered No: 5533445, VAT No: 868 6859 42, www.1stoptionsafety.com, 0845 5004545
Utility Supplies:
The building needs to have safe electricity, gas and water supplies.
Yes

Has the landlord/owner provided you with any relevant safety documentation?
(eg safety certification for electrical circuits, inspection certificates, Gas Safe registered
documentation, maintenance records, records of any repairs carried out, water
testing results, tank chlorification records etc)

Do electric sockets look to be in a safe condition? – ie not cracked, no wires
hanging out
No
N/A
If you have answered “no” to any of the above questions, and you intend to use the buildings utility supplies, further
actions must be taken by production to help to ensure the safety of the utility supplies. Further actions should include
the following:
Yes

If no relevant safety documentation can be provided from landlord/owner & there
are doubts about the safety of the utility supplies, then production will ensure tests
are carried out by competent, qualified persons – eg electricians, Gas Safe Registered
personnel, water board authorities

All relevant repairs/improvements as required will be carried out by competent &
qualified persons, or else production will not use the utilities & will provide their
own – eg use of generators, gas cylinders, bottled water etc.
No
N/A
Any further comments on controls in place or actions needed:
Hazardous Substances & Materials:
Some buildings (including their surrounding areas) may contain hazardous substances or materials – eg asbestos,
chemicals, radiation etc.
Yes

Has the landlord/owner provided you with any relevant safety documentation?
(eg asbestos register which shows the location and condition of any asbestos in the
building)

If asbestos is present, is it in a safe encapsulated condition, and in an area where
production will not be drilling or cabling?

Have you checked if any hazardous substances are stored in the building at present
or if they might have been if the building was previously used as a warehouse for
example?

Have you checked with the environmental health dept of the local authority
regarding the previous use of the land to ensure it is not contaminated?

Are there any sources of Ionising Radiation present? – eg transmitting satellite
dishes, X-ray machinery?

Are there any sources of Non Ionising Radiation present? – eg UV Lights, lasers
No
N/A
2
If you have answered “no” to the first 4 points above and “yes” to the last 2 points, further actions must be taken by
production to help to ensure that no hazardous substances or materials would cause harm to anyone if the building is to
be used as a location. Further actions should include the following:
Yes

If no documentation can be provided from landlord/owner which states if asbestos
is present in the building or not, and production activities may risk disturbing any
asbestos that may be present, then an asbestos survey will be carried out by a
competent person.

All relevant actions following asbestos survey and advice from competent person
will be carried out – eg removal or encapsulation, or if there is still a risk of
encapsulation being disturbed another location will be found.

Any areas of the building which are known to contain asbestos, but are not
required by production, will be made out of bounds with access restricted to
prevent any possible asbestos disturbance.

Any hazardous substances stored in the building, eg chemicals, or anything that is
contaminating the land, will be removed by a specialist contractor, or the area will
be made out of bounds with access restricted.

If any sources of radiation are present, expert advice will be sought from
competent person and suitable controls implemented – eg switching power off
if possible, safe distances & time limits, shielding etc.
No
N/A
No
N/A
l
Any further comments on controls in place or actions needed:
Fire Precautions & Means of Escape:
Yes

Has the landlord/owner provided you with any relevant safety documentation?
(eg Fire Risk assessment for building, Fire Certificate for building, Emergency
instructions, info on fire detections & fire fighting equipment in place etc)

Have you checked if there is a working fire alarm system in place and if so have
you asked for a demonstration of what is sounds like?

Are there adequate numbers of working fire extinguishers in place?

Are there a minimum of 2 fire exit routes which are clearly sign posted and not
blocked/restricted in any way that might cause access/egress problems?

Are fire exit doors easy to open and not locked or blocked in any way?
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If you have answered “no” to any of the above questions, further actions must be taken by production to help to ensure
adequate fire precautions and emergency arrangements are in place. Further actions should include the following:
Yes
No
N/A

If no relevant safety documentation can be provided from landlord/owner, then
production will ensure a fire risk assessment is carried out by a competent person
and all relevant controls implemented.

If there is no means of raising the alarm in an emergency, production will ensure
that a system is implemented and known by all.

If the building does not contain adequate fire fighting equipment, production will
ensure that adequate numbers of fire extinguishers etc are brought onto site.

Production will ensure that fire exit doors and routes are clearly signed & not
blocked. If a minimum of 2 fire exit routes are not available, production will take
advice from competent person on further controls needed.
Any further comments on controls in place or actions needed:
Machinery & Equipment in the Building:
Any machinery or equipment in the building that production may use needs to be suitable for the task and in good
working order. Anyone operating it needs to be trained in its use.
Yes

Has the landlord/owner provided you with any relevant safety documentation?
(eg Testing & Inspection Certificates, maintenance records, working instructions,
risk assessments etc)

Any protective devices necessary, eg guards, are in place when machinery is
operating?

There are exclusion zones in place around any dangerous or redundant equipment?

Safe working Loads (SWL) are clearly marked on hoists etc?

Are there high noise levels when machinery/equipment is operating?
No
N/A
If you have answered “no” to the above questions, or “yes” to the final question, further actions must be taken by
production to help to ensure that nobody is injured through any machinery/equipment in the building. Further actions
should include the following:
Yes
No
N/A

If no documentation can be provided from landlord/owner which shows that
Machinery/equipment is in good working order and suitable for the task, production
will not use machinery.

Production members will only operate machinery/equipment when there are clear
operating instructions, they have been briefed/trained in its use and are competent
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
Production will ensure that all protective devices are in place and any exclusion
zones are adhered to.

Appropriate noise controls will be implemented by production as necessary – eg
safe distances, time limits, PPE etc.
Any further comments on controls in place or actions needed:
Debris, Pests & Vermin:
Yes

Are there large amounts of debris (broken glass, hypodermic needles, general
rubbish in and around the building?

Is there evidence of pests/vermin – eg mouse/rat droppings or bird droppings?
No
N/A
If you have answered “yes” to any of the above questions, further actions must be taken by production. Further actions
should include the following:

All debris will be removed by competent contractors prior to the use of building as
a Location

Any bird droppings will be cleaned up by a competent contractor to reduce risk of
diseases such as psittacosi

Any vermin infestations will be eradicated by competent contractors.
Yes
No
N/A
Yes
No
N/A
Any further comments on controls in place or actions needed:
Welfare Facilities:


Are there adequate toilets in building?

Is clean drinking water provided in the building?

Is there adequate heating and ventilation in the building?

Is adequate lighting provided in the building?

Is there adequate storage for clothing and possibly the means of drying it in the
building?

Are there adequate catering, dining and rest facilities in the building?

Are there adequate first aid/medical facilities in the building?
Are there adequate washing facilities in the building?
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If you have answered “no” to any of the above points, further actions must be taken by production. Further actions
should include the following:

If toilets, washing facilities, storage for clothing, catering, dining and rest facilities
are not provided in the building, then production will provide them in the form of
facilities vehicles.

If no clean drinking water is provided in the building, then production will provide
bottled water and will ensure that any water not fit for drinking is clearly marked.

If adequate heating and ventilation is not provided in the building, then production
will provide through portable heaters, fans, air conditioning units etc.

If adequate lighting is not provided, production will provide extra working lights in
all areas that require it (any lights provided will not dazzle or cause glare)

If adequate first aid/medical facilities are not provided, production will provide
through first aiders, unit nurses etc
Yes
No
N/A
Yes
No
N/A
Any further comments on controls in place or actions needed:
Outside Locations:

Are ground conditions suitable? – ie even ground, no potholes, open drains,
changes in levels/slopes, no slippery paths/walkways etc

Is the area free of overhead electric power cables?

Is the area close to any open waterways?

Are adequate parking arrangements for all production vehicles in place?
If you have answered “no” to any of the above questions, further actions must be taken by production. Further actions
should include the following:
Yes

If unsuitable ground conditions exist, then production will ensure controls are put
in place – eg repair of potholes, cover open drains, lay boarding, clear snow/ice/wet
leaves/algae etc.

If unsuitable ground conditions have to be in place to portray a scene for example,
then warnings will be placed on call sheets and briefings given.

If overhead electric power cables are present, safe distances will be strictly
adhered to.

If close to open waterways, suitable controls will be implemented – eg safe
distances, safety equipment provided.

If parking areas are unsuitable, production will improve by making ground even
with boarding etc
No
N/A
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Any further comments on controls in place or actions needed:
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