Safety Bulletins

About Safety Bulletins

Recommended by Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee for the Motion Picture and Television Industry

Safety Bulletins are researched, written, and distributed by the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee for use by the motion picture and television industry. The Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee is composed of guild, union, and management representatives active in industry safety and health programs.

What are Safety Bulletins?

Safety Bulletins are guidelines recommended by the Safety Committee. They are not binding laws or regulations.

State, federal, and/or local regulations, where applicable, override these guidelines. Modifications in these guidelines should be made, as circumstances warrant, to ensure the safety of the cast and crew.

The Safety Committee and the Safety Bulletins are representative of the commitment of both labor and management to safe practices in the motion picture and television industry. The members of the Safety Committee and all those who contributed to its work have devoted a great deal of time and effort to these guidelines because of the importance of safety to our industry.

All Industry personnel have legal and moral responsibility for safety on the set or wherever they may be working. The Safety Bulletins may be reproduced and attached to call sheets or otherwise distributed to affected employees.

Safety Bulletin Library

No. Description Date Released
1 Recommendations for Safety with Firearms
And Use of “Blank Ammunition”		 Revised 04/16/03
2 Special Use of “Live
Ammunition”		 Issued 04/16/03
3 Guidelines Regarding the Use of
Helicopters in Motion Picture Productions		 Issued 08/15/01
3A Addendum “A” External Loads
– Helicopter		 Issued 08/15/01
4 Stunts Revised 01/26/05
5 Safety Awareness Issued 06/19/02
6 Animal Handling Rules for the Motion Picture Industry Revised 08/05/21
7 Recommendations For Diving Operations Revised 08/29/07
8 Guidelines for Traditional Camera Cars Revised 07/19/06
8A Addendum “A” – Process
Trailer/Towed Vehicle		 Revised 08/28/12
8B Addendum “B” – Camera Boom
Vehicles		 Revised 08/28/12
8C Addendum “C” — Power
Line Distance Requirements		 Revised 08/28/12
9 Safety Guidelines for Multiple Dressing
Room Units		 Revised 10/03/95
10 Guidelines Regarding the Use of Artificially Created
Atmospheric Fog & Haze		 Revised 06/28/19
10A Addendum “A” — Atmospheric Fog &
Haze – Technical Awareness Sheet		 Revised 06/28/19
11 Guidelines Regarding the Use of
Fixed-Wing Aircraft in Motion Picture Productions		 Issued 08/15/01
11A Addendum “A” – External Load
Guidelines		 Issued 08/15/01
12 Guidelines for the Use of Venomous Reptiles Revised 08/05/21
13 Gasoline Operated Equipment Revised 10/04/95
14 Parachuting and Skydiving Revised 01/06/06
15 Guidelines for Boating/Watercraft Safety
for Film Crews		 Revised 08/20/13
16 Recommended Guidelines for Safety with
Pyrotechnic Special Effects		 Revised 05/22/09
17 Water Hazards Revised 08/20/13
18 Guidelines for Safe Use of Stunt Air
Bags, Boxes or Other Freefall Catch Systems		 Revised 04/17/13
19 Recommended Guidelines for the Use of
Open Flame on Production		 Revised 09/18/09
20 Guidelines for Use of Motorcycles Revised 02/23/96
21 Guidelines for Appropriate Clothing and
Personal Protective Equipment		 Revised 06/05/09
22 Guidelines for the Use of Scissor Lifts
(Elevating Work Platforms) and Aerial Boom Lifts (Extensible Boom Platforms)		 Revised 09/05/17
22A Addendum “A” – Power Line
Distance Requirements		 Revised 07/15/11
23 Guidelines for Working with Portable
Power Distribution Systems and Other Electrical Equipment		 Revised 08/20/13
23A Addendum “A” – Power Line
Distance Requirements		 Revised 07/15/11
23B Addendum “B” – Basic
Electrical Safety Precautions for Motion Picture and Television Off Studio
Lot Location Productions		 Issued 08/01/00
23C Addendum “C” – Working
With 480 Volt Systems		 Revised 08/20/13
23D Addendum “D” – Common
Motion-Picture/Television Tasks and Associated Personal Protective Equipment		 Revised 02/07/20
23E Addendum “E” –
Guidelines for Meeting National Electrical Code (NEC) Grounding Requirements
for Portable Generators Supplying Portable Equipment
in the Motion Picture and Television Industry		 Issued 04/04/13
24 California OSHA Safety Requirements for
Handling of Blood and Other Potentially Infectious Materials		 Revised 03/23/00
25 Camera Cranes Issued 12/16/98
25A Addendum “A” – Power Line
Distance Requirements		 Revised 07/15/11
26 Preparing Urban Exterior Locations for
Filming		 Issued 09/20/00
27 Poisonous Plants Issued 02/21/01
28 Guidelines
for Railroad Safety		 Revised 04/16/19
29 Guidelines for Safe Use of Hot Air
Balloons		 Issued 08/15/01
29A Addendum “A” – External Load
Guidelines for Safe Use of Hot Air Balloons		 Issued 08/15/01
30 Recommended Guidelines for Safely
Working with Edged, Piercing, and Projectile Props		 Revised 07/18/17
31 Safety Awareness When Working Around
Indigenous Wildlife		 Issued 08/05/21
32 Food Handling Guidelines for Production Under Review
32A Addendum “A” – Los Angeles
County Approved Film Production Food Services		 Revised 09/01/13
33 Special Safety Considerations when
Employing Infant Actors (15 days to Six Months Old)		 Revised 01/22/97
34 Guidelines for Working in Extreme Cold
Temperature Conditions		 Revised 01/05/16
34A Addendum “A” Wind Chill Chart Revised 11/22/19
35 Safety Considerations for the Prevention
of Heat Illness		 Revised 10/17/07
36 Recommended Guidelines for Safely
Working Around Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)		 Revised 11/01/17
37 Vehicle Restraint Systems – Seat Belts
& Harnesses		 Revised 12/19/02
38 Guidelines for Inclement or Severe
Weather		 Revised 07/27/09
39 Safety Guidelines for Using Foam(ed)
Plastics in Set and Prop Construction		 Issued 01/18/06
40 Guidelines for Non-Camera Utility
Vehicles		 Issued 10/17/07
41 Recommended Guidelines for Safely
Working On and Around Gimbals		 Issued 08/07/12
42 Guidelines for Alternative Driving
Systems		 Issued 06/16/15
43 Recommended Guidelines for Free Driving Issued 05/01/18
44 Guidelines for Working Safely with Radiofrequency (RF)
Transmitters		 Issued 07/31/19

Covid-19 Response

These Safety Bulletins were issued prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In some cases, they may require modifications by productions in order to conform with current local public health guidelines. To help ensure the safety of cast and crew, this may include, for example: wearing face coverings, maintaining at least 6-foot physical distancing where feasible, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of shared objects or vehicles, etc.

In addition to public health guidelines, please refer to the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee’s “White Paper” and your company’s COVID-19 safety plan.

Click here for the white paper.

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