Safe work procedures and practices are directions on how work is to be carried out safely and are required for all hazardous tasks performed at your workplace. They identify hazards and clarify what must be done to eliminate or minimise risks. 

Getting work health and safety right can deliver many benefits to people and to organisations. This includes:

• improved health and wellbeing

• greater productivity

• higher performance

• increased job satisfaction

• greater work participation and increased social inclusion

• increased individual, team and organisational resilience

• lower absenteeism rates

• less workplace injury and workers’ compensation claims

• faster return to work

• lower workers’ compensation premiums.

The PCBU should provide information regarding safe systems of work.

• the physical boundaries of the workplace

• entry and exit points

• evacuation procedures and assembly points

• location of first aid equipment and first aid officers

• amenities – drinking water and toilets

• handling of waste materials

Within the entertainment industry there are many people entering a workplace for various reasons. All workers entering an entertainment venue are required to be given a safety induction to ensure their safety. As an entertainment industry worker you may need to do a general safety induction for your worplace as well as separate inductions for specific work activities or specific sites that you need to visit within your job. Watch the video 'Sample Site Safety Induction' (left) and make a summary of the important inclusions required for a safety induction.

Have a look through the sheet (left) to learn about some of the important safety documentation. Discuss with the class why these documents would be helpful to maintain safety in the workplace.

These should be stored in a safe and organised way which allows them to be retrieved again safely. The way materials and equipment are stored should also be in line with Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and legislation where this applies.  

• correct handling, application, labelling, transport and storage

• safety data sheet (SDS)

Watch the video (right) to learn more about dealing with hazardous material.

Good housekeeping is essential to a safe workplace.  This means everyday cleanliness, tidiness and good order in all parts of your work area. This includes maintenance of machinery and equipment to ensure they are in safe and efficient working order. 

Debris should continually be removed from a workplace to prevent build up. Build up could affect entry to or exit from site, pose a fire hazard, or affect floors and surfaces. You must ensure that disposal of debris does not create a risk to the environment. 

Litter must be disposed of in correct containers (such as garbage bins). Disposal or storage of litter should not pose a risk to the environment, for example it should not be allowed to enter waterways or stormwater drains. 

In removing debris and rubich we must be conscious of the environment. This means we should try to recycle and reuse where possible and dispose of material in the appropriate way to help reduce out impact on the environment.

It is important in all areas of the entertainment industry that you employ good housue keeping. The safety implications are obviously with such departments as set building but it is also important in other areas like lighing, audio, vision, etc, because a messy area can cause injury at any time. On top of that, it is harder for you to actually do your job properaly when you have a messy work area. Take the time regularly to tidy up your work space so it is ready for you (or the person coming in after you) to be able to work effectively and remain safe.

We must think of good manual handling techniques when participating in the following activities:

• moving, lifting, carrying and placing items down

• bending and twisting

• loading and unloading

• working with tools, machinery and equipment

• undertaking repetitious tasks

• using mechanical aids/lifting equipment

Watch the video (right) to learm more about manual handling and the dangers in not using proper manual handling techniques.

No specific weight limits are outlined in legislation. It really comes down to common sense and assessing the risk. If in doubt, get help from another person or use a lifting aid such as a trolley. 

Saying this, left is an image outlining some recommendations in terms of approriate weights. This is only a guide so, again, assess the risk based on your capability and employ help when needed.

Proper methods of lifting and handling protect against injury. Proper lifting makes work easier. You need to "think" about what you are going to do before bending to pick up an object. Over time, safe lifting techniques should become a habit. Following are the basic steps of safe lifting and handling. Make it a habit to follow the steps below when lifting anything-even a relatively light object.

1. Size up the load and check overall conditions

Don't attempt the lift by yourself if the load appears to be too heavy or awkward. Check that there is enough space for movement, and that the footing is good. "Good housekeeping" ensures that you won't trip or stumble over an obstacle.

2. Make certain that your balance is good

Feet should be shoulder width apart, with one foot beside and the other foot behind the object that is to be lifted.

3. Bend the knees, don't stoop

Keep the back straight, but not vertical; there is a difference. Tucking in the chin straightens the back.

4. Grip the load with the palms of your hands and your fingers

This ensures the palm grip is much more secure. Tuck in the chin again to make certain your back is straight before starting to lift.

5. Use your body weight to start the load moving

Then lift by pushing up with the legs. This makes full use of the strongest set of muscles.

6. Keep the arms and elbows close to the body while lifting

7. Carry the load close to the body

Don't twist your body while carrying the load. To change direction, shift your foot position and turn your whole body.

8. Watch where you are going!

Obvious Right!

9. To lower the object, bend the knees

Don't stoop. To deposit the load on a bench or shelf, place it on the edge and push it into position. Make sure your hands and feet are clear when placing the load.

And remember, if something is too heavy, ask for help or use mechanical equipment.

• Team lifting must be coordinated

• If the weight, shape, or size of an object makes the job too much for one person, ask for help.

• Ideally, workers should be of approximately the same size for team lifting.

• One individual needs to be responsible for control of the action to ensure proper coordination. If one worker lifts too soon, shifts the load, or lowers it improperly, either they or the person working with them may be injured.

In class you will go through safely lifitng a number of object both individually and in a team.

Watch the video (left) to learn about the benefits of good postures. 

Discuss as a class the areas of the entertainment industry where your posture could be affected and identify solution to help in these situations. You might want to think about some of the following: 

• correct placement of equipment

• sitting and standing positions

• task rotation

• use of adjustable furniture and equipment

Tools, equipment and materials are commonly used in many creative industry jobs, especially in stage and set construction and setup and prop building.

Using any hand tools and powered hand tools requires attention to the safety requirements in its use.

Safety issues can arise if the hand tools and powered hand tools are not checked before use. It could be damaged, need of repair, have loose parts, or needing adjustment before it is safe to use.

Then the hand tool and powered hand tools would need to be used for the purpose they were designed to be used for.

While using any hand tool and powered hand tools, there is always a need for personal protection equipment, or PPE. The common PPE used include:

• Hats and hard hats

• Ear and hearing protection

• Face shields and/or safety glasses

• Dust mask or respirators

• Gloves

• Safety footwear

• Protective clothing

For example, welders would need a welding helmet, heat resistant aprons and heat resistant gloves.

In set and prop construction where items are spray painted, the painter would require breathing apparatus.

Although there are laws and regulations relating to workplace health and safety, safety is a state of mind. A person should consider the following when using hand tools:

• Is the tool in good condition?

• Is it the right size for the job?

• Is it in the proper working condition?

• Every tool was designed to do a certain job. Use it for its intended purpose.

• Keep your tools in good condition: sharp, clean, oiled, dressed and not abused.

• Worn tools are dangerous. For example the teeth in a pipe wrench can slip if worn smooth, an adjustable wrench will slip if its jaws are sprung and hammer heads can fly off loose handles.

• Tools subject to impact (chisels, punches, hammer heads, etc.) tend to ‘mushroom’. Keep them dressed (sharpened) to avoid flying spalls. Use tool holders.

• Do not force tools beyond their capacity.

• Secure your work in a vice whenever possible. Never hold small work in your hand when using a screwdriver.

• Chisels, screwdrivers or other pointed tools should never be carried in clothing pockets. Use tool belts designed for carrying tools.

• Hammers should have heads ground properly. Should not have broken claws or handles.

• Check for loose handles. Always use the proper size and weight for the job.

• Cutting tools should be kept sharp to ensure good smooth cutting. Always use proper handles.

• Screwdriver points should not be badly worn and handles should be in good condition. Use the proper size and type of screwdriver for the job.

• Wrenches, if adjustable, must work freely and adjust properly. Gripping teeth or smooth jaws should not be worn. Always use the proper size for the job.

• Always wear the personal protection equipment (PPE) required for the job. Protect your eyes, hands, ears and other body parts. Keep clothing out of your work.

• All hand tools need to be checked before use.

• Any tools that have any damage or look to be faulty would need to be set aside and tagged “DO NOT USE”.

• In most cases the organisational procedures would have you place them in a specific location after being tagged and then report the damaged or faulty tool to your supervisor for either repair, or replacement.

• While using the hand tool, it may get damaged. If this was the case, you would cease using the tool immediately, tag the tool “DO NOT USE”, place in the designated location and report it to the most appropriate person for repair, or replacement.

• And finally, after using the hand tool, you would need to clean and inspect the tool. After inspection, should the tool have any damage or look to be faulty it would need to be set aside and tagged “DO NOT USE” and again reported for repair or replacement.

• Lockout is a system used with safety tags to prevent operation of equipment by an unauthorised person. It can be part of the isolation control within the hierarchy of control. The lock prevents the isolation switch or valve from being activated.  

• Test and tagging should be done every 12 months.

In the creative industries, the type of equipment greatly varies.

In set and prop construction, equipment could include:

• Table saws

• Cut-off saw

• Pedestal drills

• Lathes

• Welding machines

• Bench and pedestal grinders

...to name just a few.

In stage construction, equipment could include:

• Generators

• Winches

• Forklifts

• Elevated platforms

...to name just a few.

In a design office environment, equipment could include:

• Guillotines

• Electric shears

• Sewing machines

...to name just a few.

There are hazards associated with the use of equipment. These hazards and safety issues are called ‘mechanical hazards’.

Any piece of equipment can be dangerous if not used properly. Operators must read the owner's manuals carefully. Operators must receive complete instructions and are properly trained before using any tool and/or equipment. Have a look at the document (left) for a list of guidleine that should be follwed in order to lessen the risk of injury when using equipment.

When working at height you must remember to always have 3 points of contact. This means that you should have two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand.

Each year there are dozens of serious incidents where workers have fallen from ladders. Most of these incidents involve a ladder being used incorrectly or inappropriately. Only use ladders for simple access jobs, or for a short duration. It’s best to work from ground level whenever possible. You should also consider alternatives to a ladder, such as scaffolding or an elevated work platform.

If a ladder is your only option, the following precautions can help you avoid injury.

• Choose the right ladder for the job. It should meet Australian standards and the load requirements of the job.

• An A-frame or extension ladder may be appropriate for some tasks, but a platform ladder is safer.

• Inspect the ladder for damage before each use.

• Only use a ladder if you are physically-capable of doing so.

• Always set up the ladder on a flat, stable surface. If this isn’t possible then use a ladder that includes ladder safety devices like leg levellers, anti-slip gutter guards and stabilisers.

• Always maintain three point of contact when climbing or descending the ladder. This means two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand.

• Only take small items up or down a ladder – never large or heavy items such as building materials. Only carry items that allow you to maintain three points of contact.

• Never lean or reach away from the ladder while using it.

• The combined weight of the person using the ladder and any items or tools should never exceed the working load limit on the ladder.

• A-frame ladders should only be used when locked in the fully-open position.

• If you’re using an extension ladder, secure it at the top, bottom or both. If this isn’t possible then have someone hold the ladder in place while in use.

• Extension ladders should be angled at a ratio of 1:4. That is, position the base of the ladder 1 metre away from the structure for every 4 metres of height.

• Do not climb or work past the second-last rung of a ladder, and never straddle the top of an A-frame ladder.

• When climbing down, remain facing the ladder and climb to the bottom rung before stepping off.

Watch the video (left) to see this in action.

Elevating Work Platforms (EWPs) are also a very common way for workers to access height. They include scissor lifts, cherry pickers or boom lifts and operators must be trained and hold licences. 

Precaution when working on and around EWPs

Scaffolding is also used in the Entertainment Industry quite frequently, particularly in stage installation work during a bump in or bump out. It is also very commonly used in outdoor events for constructing stage spaces and equipment towers.

Harnesses are a good way to reduce you chance of faliing when working at heights. 

atch the video (left) to learn about putting on and using a harness.

Security is a prominant consideration in the entertainment industry whether it be the normal issues with security such as protection of money, documents, and security of buildings and equipment within your workplace, as well as general protection of personnel (staff, customers/client and others) while on site but in this industry we must consider security in terms of personnel such as artist at live performances, people trying to enter events without tickets and people bring banned substances and equipment into events.

Just as with other WHS hazards breaches or suspected breaches of security must be reported to the appropraite person/people to take action and keep all invloced safe.

Discuss with the class some possible breaches of security in the entertainment industry.

Complete the section on 'Tools, Equipment and Materials' in your workbook (pages 42-57).