Screen Health and Safety Specialist Frans Jonker outlines some of the ways the Screen Auckland team keeps our region’s screen sector safe on the job.
Screen Auckland’s role
Health and safety in New Zealand is regulated by the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. When it comes to filming in Tamaki Makaurau, Screen Auckland has overlapping duties as ‘Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking’ (PCBU), receiving and reviewing film permit applications for public open spaces.
In this role, we promote and advise productions on how to implement and follow health and safety best practice guidelines, with a focus on preventing harm to production teams and protecting public safety while filming in public spaces.
We encourage all productions to become familiar with ScreenSafe best practice guidelines and resources for the New Zealand screen sector.
Film permit applications
Productions are required to submit supporting health and safety documentation with all film permit applications. The Site-Specific Health and Safety Plan must include a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) or Risk Assessment, outlining steps to identify hazards, controls that will be in place and the person responsible for the planned shoot.
Film permit applications, including health and safety documentation, are submitted to Screen Auckland via FilmApp. From there, our Screen Health and Safety Specialist will provide advice and recommendations to the production as part of the permit approval process.
Spot checks
Each month, our Screen Health and Safety Specialist conducts random health and safety audits of productions filming across the region. This involves a visit to the shoot location to check the production is complying with health and safety measures outlined in its Site-Specific Health and Safety Plan.
At these spot checks, the Screen Health and Safety Specialist will provide advice and recommendations for the production to implement. It’s a great opportunity for Screen Auckland and productions to proactively work together to improve health and safety across the screen sector.
Filming in a pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has added a new layer of risk to film shoots. To help prevent the spread of the virus, controls must be incorporated into a production’s COVID-19 Site-Specific Health and Safety Plan for Alert Level 2 and above.
Endorsed by WorkSafe, the ScreenSafe COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols for the New Zealand Screen Sector outline the minimum standards productions must implement to manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
As a result of changes to alert levels for the Delta variant, the ScreenSafe COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols have been revised by industry. Some important points to remember:
- All productions must register with ScreenSafe
- Productions must appoint a designated and competent COVID-19 Officer for the duration of filming activity. This person must have experience and in-depth knowledge of COVID-19 health and safety protocols
- Wearing a face covering (mask) is recommended when filming at Alert Level 2 and 3
- Physical distancing requirements remain at one metre within a controlled working environment and two metres from members of the public
- A fully controlled production environment includes:
- Mandatory contact tracing using the NZ COVID Tracer app
- Completion of a health questionnaire by everyone on site
- Required hygiene and PPE measures
- Contact minimisation controls
- Required airflow
- The World Health Organisation and New Zealand Ministry of Health recommend vaccination against COVID-19
- Surveillance testing is recommended to assist in supporting a COVID-free workplace
Screen Facilitation Manager Marie Jenkins and Frans have also contributed to a nationwide working group between industry, New Zealand Film Commission, Regional Film Offices of New Zealand and WorkSafe to create safe-set standards and guidelines for crews to operate under COVID-19 Levels. You can find industry-specific COVID-19 health and safety updates and resources on the ScreenSafe website here.
The next generation
Our next generation of filmmakers is learning how to keep safe onset through a partnership between Screen Auckland and Yoobee Colleges.
Frans works with Kate Cresswell, Head of Production Management at South Seas Film & Television School (a Yoobee campus) to teach students basic health and safety principles such as identifying hazards, implementing controls and completing JSA – all needed to submit a permit application with Screen Auckland.
If you have any questions about screen health and safety, please contact Screen Auckland's specialist, Frans Jonker.