@The Arts Unit Creative Classes

Safety in the entertainment industry

Explore safety requirements within the entertainment industry

Student VET entertainment resource developed by The Arts Unit

Years 11 and 12 VET entertainment

What will I learn?

You will:

  • identify safety signs and symbols

  • explore safe work practices

  • discuss safety issue within the entertainment industry

  • participate in the risk management process

  • discuss WHS consultation

  • explore workplace injuries

  • identify WHS incident and emergency procedures.

Schools Spectacular 2019 Photo Credit: Anna Warr

Before you begin

Welcome to this @The Arts Unit Creative Class on safety in the entertainment industry.

  • Lesson 1 explores safe work practices used by workers throughout the various stages of production.

  • Lesson 2 explores the risk management process, including hazard identification, risk assessment and control measures.

  • Lesson 3 explores workplace injuries and emergency situations within the entertainment industry.

Each lesson has both theoretical and practical components for you to complete.

Schools Spectacular 2019 Photo Credit: Anna Warr

WHS defined

Discuss the meaning of:

  • health - the state of being free from illness or injury, including a person's mental, or physical condition

  • safety - the state being protected from harm in an environment which is unlikely to cause anyone or anything danger, risk, or injury

  • duty of care - an obligation imposed to take reasonable care and ensure the safety or wellbeing of others.

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 defines:

A person conducts a business or undertaking (PCBU) as a person conducting business or undertaking alone or with others; whether or not the business or undertaking is conducted for profit or gain.

A person is a worker if the person carries out work in any capacity for a PCBU, including work as an employee, a contractor or subcontractor, an apprentice or trainee, a student gaining work experience or a volunteer.

A union as an association of employees or independent contractors, or both, that is registered or recognised as such an association under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory industrial law.

A health and safety representative (HSR), in relation to a worker, is the health and safety representative elected for the work group of which the worker is a member.

A workplace is a place where work is carried out for a business or undertaking and includes any place where a worker goes, or is likely to be, while at work, including a vehicle, vessel, aircraft or other mobile structure; and any waters and any installation on land, on the bed of any waters or floating on any waters.

WHS Legislation

In 2011 new federal Work Health and Safety laws came into place.

Watch the video 'WHS law changes'.

Define the difference between:

  • an act

  • regulation

  • code of practice.

WHS law changes

Duration: 01:56

Discuss the purpose and intent of WHS legislation and codes of practice. Ensure you consider their specific application to the entertainment industry and workplace and specific job roles.

The current WHS legislation can be found at:

Live Performance Australia (LPA) provides detailed resources on the industry's code of practice which are the Safety Guidelines for the Entertainment and Events Industry.

This code of practice provides information on areas including:

  • WHS commitment and responsibilities

  • hazard identification and risk management

  • the work environment hazard guide

  • performer hazard guide

  • audience and crowd management hazard guide

  • guides to working with heights, electricity, manual handling, rigging, special effects, hazardous chemicals, temporary structure, general operations, stage machinery and traffic management.

TASK:

Explore the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Safety Guidelines for the Entertainment and Events Industry and create a summary of the key points regarding each of the areas in the entertainment industry outlined in the document.

Safety guidelines of the entertainment industry summary.docx

Explore the following video and websites to discover more about the role and function of key bodies involved in WHS including:

  • Safe Work Australia

  • SafeWork NSW

  • unions, including MEAA

  • professional associations, including LPA

  • local councils.

About Safe Work Australia

Duration: 01:36

Lesson 2 - Hazard identification and risk management

Lesson 3 - WHS incidents and emergencies

Be sure to explore all of our @The Arts Unit VET Entertainment Creative Classes:









HSC Hub

To assist with your HSC exam preparations you might like to also visit the Department of Education's HSC hub.


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Safety in the entertainment industry - Explore safety requirements within the entertainment industry.
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Spectacular entertainment - Using Schools Spectacular to apply safety, lighting, audio, staging and vision knowledge.
Working effectively in the entertainment industry - Develop skills and knowledge required to work effectively in the entertainment industry.

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