HEALTH & SAFETY

Purpose of a risk assesment

The purpose of a risk assessment is to identify any risks to a person’s health or safety in the workplace and for an employer to provide any relevant information, training and equipment required to minimise the risk, it also gives the employee a point of reference so that he/she can check that they are equipt to deal with the situation at hand, in photography that can be either in a studio or on a location.

On location

Are you allowed to be on site and are you okay to take pictures there? If you are shooting in a building, is it structurally sound? (Especially in old or derelict sites). If shooting outdoors, do you have the appropriate clothing or clothing that’s suitable in case the weather changes? Do you have protective equipment for your kit from the elements if outdoors, or from dust and debris if not. Are you prepared for any change in lighting conditions? If you’re shooting on location for example on a hillside allow time to travel back from location safely if it gets dark. If possible, always try to do a location shoot with a minimum of 2 people, then if you have a problem the other person can always go for help. One of the best things to help with risk assessment on site is to do a “recce” – visit the site before the shoot so you can make sure you have anything you may need beforehand, rather than arriving on the day and putting yourself or others t risk.

Key aspects of a risk assesment

In the studio

Shooting in a studio brings its own risks, when shooting in a dark room you need to be wary of trailing cables for equipment such as lights, tripod legs, chairs etc. If using electrical equipment like lighting all appliances should be PAT tested to make sure they are safe to use, and you should be familiar with how they work to make sure you are using them in the correct manner (lighting especially bulbs can get VERY hot, so care should be taken to hold them correctly to prevent an injury).

Working with screens

Care should be taken when working with computer screens while editing your images, your seating position should be comfortable to prevent back pain, screen brightness adjusted to prevent eye strain and headaches, if in any discomfort or pain you should always take a break, if it becomes continuous then you should seek immediate medical advice, spectacles should be work when required, a pair specifically designed for screen work may help.

Camera use

You should be aware of your cameras functions and how to use it properly and safely, what products or features are at hand to prevent damage to your kit and yourself. A neck strap is always good just in case you lose your grip or your footing. If you must change a lens this should be done as quickly as possible to prevent as much dust entering the camera as possible, for longer periods a body cap can be placed on the camera. When not taking pictures your camera and lenses should be stored in appropriately protective pouches and bags to prevent damage during transit. Whilst shooting you can use a hood or Filter on the front of your lens to protect it from any knocks – better to break a cheap lens hood than an expensive lens! You should also use an appropriate cover or case when required to protect it from the elements, like a rain hood or an underwater case.