@The Arts Unit Creative Classes
WHS incidents and emergencies
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:
explore workplace injuries
identify WHS incident and emergency procedures.
Workplace injuries
When exploring workplace injuries considerations include:
types of workplace injuries
causes of workplace injuries
prevention of workplace injuries
cost of workplace injuries.
TASKS:
Explain how each of the following injuries could occur in an entertainment industry work environment:
electric shock
burns and scalds
cuts and abrasions
falls
machine injuries
strains and sprains
occupational overuse syndrome (OOS)
chemical injuries.
2. Identify examples and explain how the following circumstances can cause workplace injuries:
lack of protection and safety equipment
poor maintenance
inadequate lighting
spills and obstructions
faulty or incorrect equipment
poor ergonomics
inadequate instruction, training and supervision
personal factors including stress, tiredness and inappropriate behaviour
unrealistic timeframes
negligence
fatigue.
The cost of a workplace injury is significant and has an impact on not just the individual person injured.
Watch the video 'Cost of workplace injury'.
Cost of workplace injury
Duration: 01:03TASKS:
Define the 4 different costs to workplace injuries:
human
social
economic
organisational.
Identify 5 common workplace injuries that could occur in the entertainment industry.
Discuss the human, social, economic and organisational implications for these injuries.
Basic first aid
All entertainment workplaces are required to provide adequate facilities for the administration of first aid. This includes:
providing a suitably equipped first aid kit and/or trained personnel with equipment
recording all persons receiving basic first aid in a First Aid Register
record of major medical accidents
posting emergency contact information near the phone
‘000’ – landline number
‘112’ – mobile phones.
Knowing how to respond to a basic first aid incident in a workplace is essential for all employers and employees. If a patron or fellow worker presents with an injury or illness an immediate response is vital in the outcome of the situation.
The St John 'DRSABCD Action Plan' is a free poster available to be printed and displayed in all workplaces as reference to how to respond in first aid incidents.
Emergency situations
There are many situations that can occur in any industry. These situations can mostly be categorised as an:
incident
accident
emergency.
Watch the video 'Incidents, Accidents and Emergencies'.
Define each of the situations and identify relevant examples of each that could occur in the entertainment industry.
Incidents, Accidents and Emergencies
Duration: 01:11Responding to an emergency
Watch the video '6 Steps to Developing an Emergency Action Plan' to explore the processes required in preparing for the response to a workplace emergency.
6 Steps to Developing an Emergency Action Plan
Duration: 02:42Key points when responding to emergencies in the entertainment industry
activate signal, alarms and exits
STAY CALM!
assess the situation
identify the extent of the emergency
activate emergency evacuation procedures
contact emergency services
account for staff and patrons
complete venue check
provide first aid where needed
report on emergency after its resolved.
TASK:
Discuss and document the specific emergency procedures an entertainment industry workplace if the following emergencies occurred:
bomb threat
accident/serious injury/illness to a patron during a performance
accident/serious injury/illness to a performer prior a performance
fire on stage
robbery/armed hold-up in a ticketing agency
natural disaster (flood, storm or power outage) during a performance.
Case Study - Manchester Arena concert
The Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017 is an example of a recent entertainment industry emergency.
Explore the details of the event through ABC news report and 'The Guardian' webpage and discuss the response to the emergency.
ABC News - Ariana Grande concert explosion at Manchester
Duration: 03:17Fire equipment
There are various ways to effectively extinguish different types of fires, including fire hoses, extinguishers and fire blankets.
Fires can occur in the entertainment industry during all stage of production, anywhere in a theatre.
TASKS:
Identify different situations when fires could occur, both backstage and front of house.
Explore the 'Fire extinguisher selection chart' from Fire & Safety Australia and outline which would be the most appropriate method to respond to each type fire you have identified.
Reporting and recording
All industries, including the entertainment industry, have workplace requirements for recording and reporting in relation to work, heath and safety. This also includes understanding the role and responsibility of relevant personnel and levels of authority within the workplace.
When reporting it can be:
formal/informal
written
verbal.
It is essential to apply all workplace policy and protocols and regulatory requirements when recording and reporting in relation to WHS.
TASK:
Identify and discuss the different types of reports or record documentation used in the entertainment industry.
Safety in context
Watch the video 'WHS in major events' from Safe Work Australia' as an insight into the safety measures taken by the national organisation to ensure that all major events are fun, exciting and safe.
WHS in major events
Duration: 1:04:24Congratulations!
You have completed this @The Arts Unit Creative Class.
Third-party content attributions
Schools Spectacular images, 2019, photographer: Anna Warr.
St Johns DRABCD action plan © Copyright 2019. St John Ambulance Australia (NSW), All Rights Reserved, accessed 29 July 2020.
NSCA Fire extinguisher chart © Copyright 2018, Fire & Safety Australia Pty Ltd, All Rights Reserved, accessed 29 July 2020.
Entertainment Industry Curriculum Framework Stage 6 Syllabus, © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2020, copied under s113P, accessed 29 July 2020.