Health & Safety Guidance
Grip Dept Reccomendations
In the interest of Health and Safety, the Grips Branch have the following requirements for safe working practices within the Grip Department.
1 / Proper Crewing Levels
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Min. Crew Size for 1 x Camera (with Dolly)
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1 x Grip
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1 x Trainee
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1 x Standby Carpenter
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1 x Standby Rigger/Stagehand
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Each additional camera should have at least 1 x addtl Grip.
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Dolly Lifts should be a minimum of 4 people, and 6 for larger dollies, or use suitable lifting equipment and be given the time to do so.
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All Camera Cranes 50' and UNDER - 1 x Crane Technician and 2 x Grips required + Head Technician for Stabilised Head, if used. (Scorpio 45 requires 2 x Techs if on location or tracking the base)
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All Camera Cranes OVER 50' - 2 x Crane Technicians and 2 x Grips required + Head Technician for Stabilised Head, if used.
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Off-Road Crane Bases - 1 x Additional Technician.
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Additional Crane information available here in the ASPEC guidance.
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2 / Use Qualified Crew
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A Dolly should be operated under the supervision of at least 1 x Level 2 Grip.
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A Crane should be operated under the supervision of at least 1 x Advanced Level 3 Grip and 1 x Level 2 Crane Technician.
3 / Tracking Vehicles and Car Rigging
1 x Additional Grip required per camera/tracking vehicle
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Tracking Vehicles and Exterior car mounts being used on public roads should be supervised by an Advanced Level 3 Grip, as per the Met Police Guidance 2016 (available here).
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Tracking Vehicles should be fit for purpose with necessary fixing points for the working load expected.
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Tracking Vehicles should only be driven by an experienced Precision Driver approved by the Key Grip.
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All crew travelling on the vehicle should wear harness/seat belt and all cameras and accessories must be fixed with a secondary safety line in case of accident.
Cameras should NOT be placed within the path of a moving vehicle unless it is an un-manned lock off or remotely operated. Crew should not be placed in the path of a moving vehicle, horse, carriage or heavy moving object.
4 / Excessive Working Hours
Excessive Working Hours should be minimised where possible and accommodation requests from the Key Grip & Best Boy Grip should be taken seriously.
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De-rig time must be allowed to prevent rushing. It's been shown that most accidents happen on wrap.
Be More Mark.
On 18th November 2017, Mark Milsome was killed on a British run film set in Ghana whilst operating a camera for a stunt that went tragically wrong. The Mark Milsome Foundation was set up in 2018 at the request of Mark's wife, Andra, and at launch the industry witnessed over 4,000 cast & crew wearing Black T-Shirts in Mark's honour. A truly moving event.
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