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HANDBOOK

Production Start-Up Guidelines For Warner Bros. Productions

To help you take the first steps toward keeping your production in compliance with safety regulations, we have provided the following “Warner Bros. Production Start-Up Guidelines.”

  • 1.
    Have your UPM or Production Office Coordinator call your Production Safety Representative to set up your Pre-Production Safety Orientation Meeting.

All Warner Bros.-affiliated productions are to meet with a Production Safety Representative prior to the start of production. All key department heads should attend the meeting, including but not limited to: Unit Production Manager (UPM), First Assistant Director, Second Assistant Director, Construction Coordinator, Location Manager, Key Grip, Gaffer, Best Boys, and Transportation Coordinator.

  • 2.
    As required by Warner Bros. policy, make sure that the General Safety Guidelines for Production (Form 1) is attached to the production’s deal memo prior to hiring, and that each employee’s signed Safety Guidelines Acknowledgement Form is on file before they start work. These documents are available at www.safetyontheset.com. Keep the original signature sheets on file and send copies to your Production Office Coordinator.
  • 3.
    Ensure your production hires only CSATF Safety Pass trained crew members by checking the CSATF Experience Roster at csatf.org.
  • 4.
    Have your Production Coordinator fill out Form 2 (IIPP Contact List) and Form 4 (Serious Accident or Set Emergency Notification Procedures). Keep a readily accessible copy for production.

The State of California (Cal/OSHA) requires every employer to have its own Injury & Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). For Warner Bros. productions, Safety & Environmental Affairs has already written your productions IIPP.  It is available for download on S&EA’s website: www.safetyontheset.com. This site provides access to Form 2 and Form 4.

  • 5.
    Review the Position Safety Responsibilities section on the safetyontheset.com website. Have applicable members of the production also review this document, which outlines the safety responsibilities of every position on production. This is required by Cal/OSHA, which mandates that the IIPP assign safety duties appropriate to employees’ positions. Cal/OSHA requires every IIPP to assign safety duties.
Also available at www.safetyontheset.com are the following:
  • Safety Forms
  • Tool Box Talks
  • Codes of Safe Practices
  • Links to AMPTP Safety Bulletins
  • Links to check with CSATF that employees are fully trained
  • Links to other helpful safety information and safety resource website
  • 6.
    Productions working on the WB Main Lot or WB Ranch should review the Safety Manual Supplement for Productions found on the safetyontheset.com website. This portion of the website contains information on environmental regulations impacting productions—and other information.

Call WB Safety (818-954-2890) when:

  • 1.
    Planning your first Production Meeting of the season so that your Production Safety Representative can arrange a Production Safety Orientation. You may also contact your Production Safety Representative directly.
  • 2.
    Planning a major stunt, car chase, or special effect.
  • 3.
    Flying rigs are used.
  • 4.
    Helicopters, aircraft, watercraft, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s) are used.
  • 5.
    Prior to any use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or Unmanned Aerial Camera Platforms (i.e. drones).
  • 6.
    Planning to film in, on, or around water.
  • 7.
    Intending to drain the Lagoon, Stage 15 or Stage 16 water tanks, or Ranch pool, or any other filming pool.
  • 8.
    Production may impact the public at large, public waterways, streams, lakes, reservoirs, or public lands.
  • 9.
    Using a warehouse as a soundstage.
  • 10.
    Contemplating demolition of any major set or structure.
  • 11.
    Drums of hazardous materials not associated with your production are present upon arrival.
  • 12.
    Production employees may be exposed to safety hazards or hazardous materials that are present as a result of the proximity to another employee, production company, or vendor.
  • 13.
    Scaffolds three stories (36 feet) or higher are being constructed.
  • 14.
    Cranes and equipment exceeding 10,000 lb. are used on a soundstage.
  • 15.
    You have questions about the load-bearing capacity of a stage floor, truss, or backlot platform (roof, fire escape, etc.)
  • 16.
    You suspect the presence of asbestos, lead paint, or another environmental hazard on location.
  • 17.
    You need safety equipment, such as fall protection.
  • 18.
    An employee lacks safety training to operate equipment or perform a task.
  • 19.
    You need assistance with ergonomics issues relating to your workspace.
  • 20.
    You have food safety concerns.
  • 21.
    You have questions about the “Safety Pass Program.”
  • 22.
    A Cal-OSHA or other governmental agency inspector visits your stage or location. The inspector should be asked to wait, if possible, until a representative of S&EA is on site. (See Inspection Procedures for OSHA and Other Regulatory Agencies on the following page.)

Please fax or email script pages and complete appropriate Production Safety Forms to S&EA for review.

This website and the information contained in the Injury & Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) are intended and authorized for the use of employees of this Company only; they are not intended for, nor should they be used by, the general public or any third parties. If you have not been expressly directed to this site by the Warner Bros. Studio Operations Department of Safety & Environmental Affairs, you are not authorized to use this website and you must exit now. The IIPP is a general outline of safe work practices to be used as a guideline for our productions to provide a safe work environment for our employees. Because each particular work situation is different, these IIPP guidelines are intended to be used in conjunction with consulting the appropriate production supervisors and seeking the assistance of our Production Safety personnel. The information contained in this IIPP is not a legal interpretation of any federal, state or local regulations, laws or standards. No warranty is made about any of the contents of this website.