Homes

You need to consider how your work could injure others, including children. You must be aware that the standards of safety and maintenance at a location may be unsatisfactory and you may have to take additional precautions.

What Can Go Wrong?

• Shocks or burns from poorly maintained electrical/ gas installations
• Fires from inadequate precautions
• Injuries / infections from pets, some maybe dangerous
• Slips trip and falls from poor maintenance
• Additional risks from production people and activities
• Lone working may add additional risks. This should be avoided where possible
• Child protection issues
• Limited access to first aid treatment
• Attack or abuse from residents

Legal/BBC Requirements

• BBC Child Protection policy may apply.
• All temporary electrical systems however small, must comply with BS7909. Refer to guide page on Production Electrical and Lighting if relevant. 

Control Measures

General Controls

• Ensure all the electrical equipment to be used is suitable for the purpose. Refer to Electricity: Working with pages where relevant.
• Ensure that any electrical cabling does not draw above its safe rated capacity (e.g. 13 amp).
• If using lighting refer to guidance and controls on the Production and Electrical Lighting page.
• Ensure the existing fire precautions are adequate for the number of persons involved in location work and the nature of the work.
• Ensure there are control measures to cover any shortcomings in fire precautions; and for any hazards introduced by the work, such as the proximity of hot lamps to combustible materials. (e.g. provision of additional fire extinguishers).
• Properties with only one entry/exit might need extra precaution.
• If children or minors are present, a parent or other responsible adult must be present at all time. Refer to the Children and Young People topic.

Hazards from production activity/ equipment

• Ensure equipment and cables are positioned so as not to present risk to occupants, especially the infirm or children. Supervise if this is unavoidable.
• Ensure all personnel can exit the property easily in the event of an emergency.
• Nominate one person (e.g., Gaffer or Chief Electrician) to accept responsibility for location lighting and electrical requirements. Make sure this person has the appropriate level of competence.
• Ensure this person inspects, rigs, operates and de-rigs all lighting and electrical equipment used or supervises these activities appropriately.
• Make arrangements with the owner / occupier in advance and agree the purpose of filming. Discontinue questioning if owner becomes upset or aggressive. Try to calm the situation, or leave.
• Consider if any occupiers of other properties in the vicinity could pose a threat to personnel.

Animals

• Consider the guidance and controls in the Animals topic.
• If pets will be present check to see if any of the team suffer from phobias or allergies and take appropriate action.
• It is best to keep pets in a separate room, unless they are part of the action.
• Check if it’s a potentially dangerous animal.
• Consider hiring a cleaning contractor before using a property for a long period.
• Wash hands after handling pets, particularly before eating.

Division Specific Issues 

• No division specific issues.

FAQs/Did You Know?

• People often undertake DIY to electrical supplies etc. in their own homes which may not be to an acceptable standard to use.