In short: A studio safety induction covers exits and assembly points, electrics, working at height, clear walkways, floors, haze and water. This is general guidance. HSE guidance says work at height must be planned, supervised and carried out by competent people, and a competent person must assess the actual job before anyone starts work.
A safety induction is the short briefing that tells everyone on a set what can hurt them and where to go if something goes wrong. This page sets out the general points a studio briefing should cover. It is general guidance. A competent person must assess the actual job before anyone starts work, and the studio's own arrival brief is the place to check the specifics for your booking.
Exits, assembly and calls
Everyone should know where the exits are, where the assembly point is, and who calls it. Ask on arrival, and check the route before the first setup. Keep the exits clear of cases, cables and stands, every hour of the day.
Electrics
HSE says around 1,000 electrical accidents at work are reported to it each year and about 25 people die of their injuries. Check leads and plugs before use, and report any damage at once. Keep cables off walkways and out of water. Do not overload extension leads, and do not run kit from a supply you have not been shown. Portable appliances that travel between jobs need testing, and the PAT testing guide explains what to ask for.
Working at height
HSE guidance says work at height must be properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people. The first question is whether the work can be done without going up at all. Ladders, rigs and the grid need trained people. Do not stand on set furniture, flats or cases to reach something. The working at height guide covers the basics, and a competent person must assess any rig or lift.
Walkways and floors
Keep one clear route from the doors to the set, and mark any trip point with tape on the flat. Ask whether the studio has rules for footwear or floor protection on a painted cove. Heavy items and vehicles need floor protection laid first.
Haze and water
Tell the studio before the day about haze, smoke or any water effect. Haze can set off smoke detection in many buildings, and a rain set adds water to an electrical environment. The haze guide and the rain rig safety guide cover what to plan.
Worked example
A crew arrives for a day with a grid rig, a rain set and a dozen cases. The induction covers the exits and the assembly point, the leads that cross the walkway, and the rule that nobody climbs the rig without a competent person. The rain set is planned with the studio before the day, and the production names one person to call the studio about any problem.
Common mistakes
- Briefing once and forgetting it. Brief again after a crew change or a new set.
- Treating the induction as the risk assessment. It is a briefing. The job still needs its own assessment.
- Leaving cases in the route. A clear route is part of the exit plan.
- Using untested kit. Check it before it goes on set.
- Keeping haze and water from the studio. Tell the studio early, not on the morning.
For the arrival walk through the building, what happens when you arrive at the barn describes the route from the lane to the cove.
Sources
- Health and Safety Executive, Work at height: the law, read 5 November 2026
- Health and Safety Executive, Electricity at work, read 5 November 2026
Related guides
Questions we get asked
What should a studio safety induction cover?
Fire exits and the assembly point, electrical kit, working at height, clear walkways, floors and footwear, haze and water, and who to tell about a problem. Ask the studio what its own arrival brief covers before your day.
Who is responsible for safety on a shoot?
HSE guidance places the duties on those who control the work. The production and the studio share responsibility for the set, and a competent person must assess each task. This page is general guidance, not a risk assessment for your job.
Do I need a risk assessment for a studio shoot?
Usually, yes, for anything with height, power, water, haze or a large crew. A risk assessment template is a useful start, but a competent person has to assess the actual job.
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