During outdoor shooting and other related work of the media and entertainment industry, facilities like changing rooms and make-up rooms are put up on lorries or caravans. To access these vehicles, there are generally stairs leading to the entrance. However, the common practice among employers is to do away with the handrails needed to guard a fall from the stairs. This seemingly minor absence can sometimes cause serious accidents.

The Film Artistes Association (FAA), which works for the benefit of background artistes and looks after the interests of the staff working on outdoor locations, has now taken up the issue of absence of handrails and has decided to build awareness about the risks posed by the same.

A recent accident owing to lack of handrails has raised the concern of the people working in the media and entertainment industry. A female staff slipped on wet and muddy stairs, and since there was no handrail, she fell from the height. The fall resulted in hip and arm fractures along with facial injuries, and it has incapacitated the woman from work for a long time.

The chief of the FAA explains that the normal practice among the employers is to set up temporary structures and hence, safety issues are generally overlooked. Now however, the FAA has found that accidents due to lack of handrails is not uncommon, and so it is urging employers to fit handrails wherever needed. It is also urging employees to try to sensitise the employers regarding the same, failing which they can report against an employer to the union.

Protecting the health and safety of employees or members of the public who may be affected by your activities is an essential part of risk management. NEBOSH Training can be of benefit to organisations in providing the knowledge to manage safely and effectively in compliance with both legislative requirements and best practice.