Risk Assessment - Field / Wood Location

Risk Assessment - Field / Wood Location

A risk assessment is essential before any type of filming because it makes you aware of what risks there are on set and how you could go about preventing these risks from happening; ensuring you and your cast / crew are safe. The table below features potential hazards in the locations chosen for my music video and their risks. I have also explained the likelihood of the risks happening, the potential severity of them and, most importantly, how to prevent them...

Hazard	Risk	Likelihood	Severity	Action
Tree roots	Someone could trip over the roots	Tree roots are common at the location; quite likely.	Can range from bruising and grazing to cuts and broken bones.	Before filming, do a walkthrough of the area being used and make note of any roots.
Loose shoe laces	The actress on the bike could get loose laces caught in the gears.	Quite likely, since the actress’ required movements are quite dynamic.	Severe. The bicycle could land on top of the actress and they could not be able to free themselves.	Either frequently ensure that the laces are not loose, or design the costume without laced shoes.
Walking backwards to film shots	Uneven ground could cause cameraman to trip.	Very likely – the location is not man-made, the terrain is uneven.	Bruising and broken bones (including coccyx if falling backwards).	A walkthrough of the area being used is necessary. A smooth surface should be selected when choosing a location to film backwards.
The use of a bicycle as a prop	The actress could fall off.	Quite likely, especially since falling off the bike is required for the narrative.	Can be extremely severe, should any head injury occur.	The actress must wear a helmet while riding the bike. If possible, the bike sequence should be shot on softer ground such as grass rather than concrete.
Discarded litter at the location	Sharp objects such as glass or cans could hurt an actress who is using the floor for a shot.	Not very likely - the litter should be seen before shooting.	Potentially very severe, since it could lead to cuts which could lead to infection in extreme cases.	Double check the area before shooting and use natural objects such as leaves (or a coat outside the frame) to protect the actress.
Logs and stumps as props	A log or stump could be unstable to be used as a prop and the actress could fall from it.	Quite likely, because it is not always obvious which logs are safe for use as a prop.	Bruises and grazes and maybe fractures could be caused as a result of the fall from height.	Double check that the log is stable or that the stump is well rooted before using it in the video. This could be done by kicking or pushing the log or stump beforehand.