Occupational health and safety in the film industry

When you think of the entertainment industry, you envision a talented ensemble cast and an intriguing storyline that you can relay to friends and family. If you watch a movie with stunts, you may be in awe of the actors, and you may forget that the actual workers in the entertainment industry are surrounded by hazards lurking behind the screen.

Behind the glamour: Hidden risks on set

Think about it! Behind the scenes, workers in the film industry work extremely long hours, often starting early in the morning with hair and makeup. They are prone to workplace stress and medical conditions like fatigue and sleep deprivation. To transform into “the Grinch” who stole Christmas, Jim Carrey had to spend eight hours in makeup every day before he started on the set.

Actors also prepare for their roles by training at the gym day and night, and by trying out extreme diets that aren’t always the healthiest way to lose weight. This isn’t the safest scenario for starting a new job on a movie set.

While filming, workplace accidents often occur on a film set as actors – or their stunt doubles – perform extreme stunts to get the perfect shot and to make the story alive. On the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” set, Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double David Holmes suffered a serious spinal injury during the filming of an aerial sequence, which left him a tetraplegic. Steve Irwin, an Australian who got famously known as the “Crocodile Hunter” was stung and killed by a stingray while filming “Ocean’s Deadliest.” These dangers are not just limited to actors or presenters. Film crew members and technicians on set also face hazards such as pyrotechnics, falling objects, and electrical faults – especially if risk assessment, safety protocols and safety equipment are not properly implemented.

Risks beyond the set: Broadcasting and live TV

These potential hazards extend beyond the movie industry. Think about the risks of being a broadcaster. The broadcasting industry often exposes news anchors and production teams to violent protests, war, hurricane, smoke and fog. Television production workers may be required to work in challenging environments with minimal oversight of personal protective equipment.

A regulatory gap – and steps forward

Even though countries generally have laws pertaining to occupational health and safety, these regulations don’t specifically address the entertainment industry specifically. This results in a major gap in regulation that can place workers in this sector at risk. That said, some safety measures are emerging to improve protections for workers in film production.

Canada: Progressive guidance for film sets

Canada provides a good case study of a country with increasingly detailed safety regulations that apply to the entertainment industry. In British Columbia, updated WorkSafeBC regulations now include revised requirements for film production environments. These include guidance on safety equipment for electrical setups, general fall protection, and tobacco exposure controls.

Regulation on footwear requirements, which had already required employers to conduct risk assessments when safety footwear was impractical for performers, now comes alongside clearer expectations for engineering and administrative controls.

Quebec also recognizes the risks and safety concerns related to film and television work. The CNESST (Quebec’s regulatory authority) requires all performers to be declared and covered under occupational health and safety insurance by the production company. From gaffers to grips, safety training is increasingly mandatory – and supported by provincial resources.

United Kingdom: From ‘Working Minds’ to industry practice

The UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) maintains a comprehensive set of resources tailored to the entertainment sector, including guidelines for rehearsal spaces, set construction, live performance, and broadcasting. Since 2023, the HSE has partnered with the entertainment sector in its Working Minds campaign — highlighting mental health as a critical occupational concern.

While there is no statutory requirement mandating set medics, many UK productions now consider it best practice to ensure a qualified medic is present on set, in line with broader duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Production companies are expected to designate a competent person, often a safety supervisor, to oversee compliance and medical readiness.

ISO 45001 and global benchmarking

On the international stage, ISO 45001 — the global standard for occupational health and safety management systems — continues to gain traction. Although not sector-specific, it applies to any production company seeking to formalize and continually improve its health and safety systems. Some film production houses have voluntarily adopted ISO 45001 to address growing legal liability and to improve internal safety measures.

US and union-led initiatives

The United States has not issued new federal rules specific to the entertainment industry, but OSHA’s general duty clause and baseline requirements still apply. In practice, state-level laws, and union agreements (such as those negotiated by SAG-AFTRA and IATSE) fill in the gaps, addressing concerns from heat illness to mental health breaks and emergency planning. In wildfire-prone states like California, some productions have faced shutdowns due to air quality risks — prompting stronger hazard planning.

Australia: Risk management on set

Australia follows a model Work Health and Safety (WHS) framework applicable across most states and territories. Safe Work Australia provides general duty requirements for employers, including production companies, to eliminate or minimize risks to health and safety. Specific industry guidance for the performing arts and film production includes control measures for rigging, pyrotechnics, and fatigue management. Unions such as MEAA also play a strong role in safety advocacy and enforcement.

European Union: Evolving frameworks

Within the European Union, occupational health and safety is governed by the EU OSH Framework Directive (89/391/EEC), which applies across all industries. While there is no directive specific to entertainment, member states may introduce national legislation that extends to film and television production. Countries like Germany and France have labor inspection authorities with dedicated guidance for audiovisual productions. Topics such as working at height, night shoots, and young performer protections are frequently addressed under broader workplace safety rules.

Tragedies that highlight safety gaps

High-profile injuries and tragedies continue to draw attention to set safety. In 2021, the fatal shooting on the set of “Rust” underscored the urgency of enforcing firearms safety procedures. More recently, several UK production companies were fined in 2024 after preventable accidents on location shoots — reinforcing the need for stronger compliance across the motion picture industry.

Safer sets: What needs to happen

Ideally, all workplaces including rehearsal spaces, film sets, editing suites, and studios should be safe from imminent threats and dangers to health and safety. Where safety regulations don’t explicitly cover the film industry, the responsibility falls on each production company to ensure that appropriate safety protocols are implemented, that safety training is provided to the film crew, and that a safety supervisor is appointed. Even Superman himself (and his stunt doubles) deserve comprehensive protection at work.