Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016

22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

22307VIC Certificate III in

Acting (Screen)
Year One

OHS must be in everything we do.

When the students warm up, improvise,
rehearse they must be cognisant of how
they are behaving, are they wearing
socks, are they twisting in a way that is
harmful, do they climb across seats? As
teachers with duty of care in mind we
must help them be aware of OHS
processes.

CUSOHS301A Follow occupational

health and safety procedures
Australian College of Dramatic Arts
STUDENT WORKBOOK
Name: …………………………………….
School:……………………………………

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

Workbook developed by Merilyn Brend © 2016

WELCOME TO UNIT CUSOHS301A:
Participate in OHS processes
The date due for this workbook is by ACT 19

What This Unit Is About

Some information about the Film and Television
Industry
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to
participate in workplace occupational health and safety (OHS) processes to
protect workers own health and safety, and that of others. No licensing,
legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of
endorsement.

This unit describes the knowledge and skills necessary to be able to work safely.
Within the Screen Industry there are a range of different conditions and hazards
that are normal in the workplace and some conditions that are not. This unit will
give you the chance to understand how to work safely on a personal level, within
a group, at work and also to experience what a crew and cast have to do when
working on a set or on location. It will also help you to be able to think laterally
and apply some level of common sense.

Competency based learning and assessment

This unit is competency-based. Competency-based learning is not only about
gaining knowledge but also about being able to put what you know into practice –
to perform a task or demonstrate a skill.

How this unit is structured

Elements: these provide a very brief statement of the skills and knowledge you
are required to develop.
Performance criteria: There are a number of performance criteria for each
element. To satisfactorily complete the unit you must successfully demonstrate
your competence in very performance criterion.

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

ASSESSMENT
Competency based assessment has no pass or fail. You are assessed as either
competent or not yet competent. Being assessed as not yet competent simply
means you need to spend more time working on the unit.

Due dates for work will have one date and then only one date for resubmission –
after that date if work is not handed in Merilyn Brend and (office) must be
notified. After that it will got to VET Coordinator and parents for intervention.

RESOURCES
This film and television industry Safety Plan uses preventative measures to
eliminate or minimise risk and injury to persons and property whilst providing
evidence to demonstrate that all parties have properly exercised their legal and
moral duty of care to self and all others affected by their work. All persons
involved in a film & television project have a role to play in eliminating or
minimising risk and injury to persons and property.

www.film.vic.gov.au

Incursion: Chris Peters – safety consultant/supervisor and stunt co-ordinator

OH&S guide lines and safety report.

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

Element 1: Work safely Think safe steps – Key Points

1.1 S.A.M.principles
a. Spot the hazard – a hazard is anything that could hurt you or anyone else

b. Assess the risk – assess the risk means working out how likely it is that a
hazard will harm someone, and how serious the harm could be.
c. Make the changes – make the changes means telling someone who is able to
fix it.

1.2 We all have a ‘Duty of Care’. Explain what it means.

All people have a general duty of care to ensure their own safety and health at
work/study/recreation.
They also have a general duty of care towards others, to ensure their own
actions or inactions do not put others’ safety or health at risk.
The duty of care applies to anyone who can reasonably be foreseen as likely to
be injured by an act or omission.
This means you not only have to be safe yourself but you must also ensure that
your actions do not affect the safety or health of others. You are also obliged to
remove or report any unsafe conditions you see in the workplace/school/on
set/on location.
Unsafe acts by others must also be stopped or reported if necessary.

1.3 Identify regulations that safeguard an actor’s wellbeing when working on set.
Hours of work and conditions on location, on set, in a simulated film environment
in the classroom
Knowledge of safety procedures
OH&S checks
Knowledge of who to go to on set for help eg. Safety coordinator, first aid officer,
OH&S designated person (these positions could be 1st, 2nd or 3rd AD)

1.4 When on set there is either a nurse or a person assigned as a first aid officer.
How do you identify them?

Should be wearing a tabard – Green cross on a white background.

2nd AD will tell you who is the designated First Aid person.

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

Can also go to Safety Office.

1.5 Give an example of a safety problem on set?

Faulty equipment.
Physically hard work for the role that you have been booked for
No physical checks for basic action acting work
Working too long hours

1.6 How would you report the safety problem?

There will be an OH&S person on set, possib;y one of the crew. As the 2AD is
the designated person looking after actors. They should be the person you can
go to for advice.

1.7 If you are working with a group of actors on a physical ensemble drama
scene without a supervising teacher, how do you organise to work safely?
Identify the physical scene work.
Identify individual student medical problems eg diagnosed back/knee problems
Assess risk
Block physical scene but do not run the scene without the teacher being present.
General common sense.

1.8 Where are the fire alarms, emergency exits and fire extinguishers? Draw a
diagram of your filming room showing where the first aid kit is.
Smoke detector should have been written into this question.
Green exits should be at every entry and exit door
Smoke detectors should be in every main area – bio box, foyer, backstage etc
Fire alarms are built in to all large building and mandatory in new building – film
studio/schools
Fire extinguishers: yellow extinguisher near all electrical equipment, red
extinguishers (water) near entry/exit door, in theatre, foyer, backstage, green
room – every area where people congregate
Use observation – get students to check

1.9 On a personal and group level explain how you could feel harassed by
another actor. Here are some examples.

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

 tactility: touch
If the touch is within the script then it’s fine. If you, as an actor can’t handle it then
maybe you shouldn’t have taken on that role. You would have had the script
before the shoot date.
Misconstrued touch (probably accidental but not sure)
If there is an inappropriate touch from another actor then once is possibly OK but
not the 2nd or 3rd time. If this occurs go to the designated assistant director
(generally the 2nd) to get advice and help advice

 having to watch what you say

not making smart, over-exaggerated statements that could open you up for
ridicule
not making statements that make you more than you are
not making conversation/statements about other people’s looks, acting, hair,
make-up, religion, background, cultural differences
Not saying phrases that could open you up for racial/religious slur eg. Oh God,
Jesus!
Not swearing, other people can/might be easily offended

 getting too familiar

Other actors/crew misconstruing what you are doing eg. flirtatious behaviour
When things go well on set/performances teens have a habit of cuddling each
other – make sure no one mistakes your intentions

1.10 Why it is necessary to have Permission/Medical/Indemnity forms filled in

when going on excursions?
Essential emergency contact and follows professional procedures

Work safe inspectors are people employed by WorkSafe Victoria, a Government

Department to ensure that workplaces comply with the OH&S laws.

1.11 Who do you go to when you identify a safety issue?

a) at school
OH&S designated teacher or staff member

b) on set
Designated OH&S crew member, safety coordinator, stunt coordinator

1.12 If you identify that your filming environment is not safe, can you refuse to
work?
Yes if justified by safety coordinator, OH&S officer

1.13 Do you have a job?………………………………………………………….

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

Do you work within your family’s business?………………………………

Do you have a first aid certificate? ………………………………………..

Have you done any aspects of OH&S training at work? ………………..

Students own answers

What do you do in an emergency situation? Describe how you react to these

situations.
you are in class and your teacher collapses
DR2ABC, call for help, other teachers, office

you are late home and you decide to hitch a ride, a car stops the look of
the driver and passenger worries you
No, never hitch a ride, if you are walking home then have mobile phone in
had ready to call 000

it is a 38 degree day, you are on the beach and you notice that someone
has fallen asleep and is becoming very red and sunburnt
Wake them up even if you get verbally abused – you might be saving a life
(from heat stress, heat stroke)

it is a 38 degree day and you have been working outside, you forgot to
take your water bottle and you have no money to buy any, your breathing
is becoming shallow and you are becoming disoriented
Seek help immediately – this is an EMERGENCY, a life or death situation.

Element 2: Implement workplace safety requirements

2.1 How do you recognise an emergency situation? Give three examples.
1. Illness
2. Threat
3. Potential hazard
4. Weather conditions affecting people – eg.
hypothermia/sunstroke/hydration

2.2 Who do your seek help from?

People in responsible positions
Emergency services
People with first aid
People near you

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

2.3 What would you do if your friend fainted by your side?

DR2ABC (attached): danger, response, airways, breathing, compressions
Response/safety position
Emergency 000

2.4 What would you do if your friend had an anaphylactic reaction to food?
Clear aIrways
Check for an epipen in school bag
Send student for teacher
Call Emergency 000
Prior knowledge of student medical conditions

Element 3: Participate in OHS consultative

processes
3.1 What is a hazard? Write down three hazards that could be dangerous when
on set.
1. Faulty equipment/electrical wires on floor
2. Unstable buildings – used because of budgetary needs
3. On location – weather events causing potential threats to impact on actors
eg. falling branches
4. Other people and thoughtless behaviour

3.2 Do you lift another actor when it says so in the script?

No – you would never be asked to do this as it requires the safety coordinator to
risk assess this move

3.3 On set would you touch hazardous substances and dangerous goods - as in
prop guns or swords? Who can?
No – you would never be allowed to do this without the permission from the
safety coordinator or the stunt coordinator. All use would be pre-blocked and
rehearsed until ready to execute.

3.4 What are the dangers associated with being in a continuously loud
environment?
Accrued hearing impairment
Inability to hear in emergency situations

3.5 Why do you keep away from electrical wires when on set?
Electrocution
Tripping and hurting self
Damage to equipment

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

3.6 The director is a perfectionist and continually asking you to improve your
acting work. After numerous takes where you think you have achieved at least a
few good takes what do you do?
As an actor you need to be objective and realize that you are not always the best
judge of your performance. In the case of an experience actor they would
probably be more aware of their best takes. The director would probably be more
amenable to talking with you. However it is fair to ask the director for advice on
what they need from your performance in that scene. As an actor it is your job to
take director critique/advice/feedback and change your performance to suit.
Inexperienced actors do not necessarily have that line of communication
however the 1st AD might take this matter to the director on your behalf.
Remember your level of professionalism and do not display an unrealistic
attitude.

3.7 When on location do you need personal protective clothing?

If the script requires a certain basic stunt/action action then it will always be
checked with the safety/stunt coordinator
You need to be aware of weather eg. very hot weather – hat/sunscreen/glasses
Cold weather – rain coat/jacket/hat/gloves/good footwear/umbrella
It is your responsible to dress for the location and weather. Clothes are part of
your personal kit – like make-up/black shoes/black tights/black trousers
Umbrellas will be provided for actors.
However you should also make sure that you do not have to pull anything over
your head as your make-up and hair will have been done.

3.8 Describe what you should carry in your personal kit/make-up/toiletries bag?
1. Tissues
2. Tights
3. Hair clips
4. Hat
5. Sunglasses
6. Sunscreen
7. Own make-up/comb/brush
8. Tampons
9. Black trousers (male)
10. Black shoes
11. Safety pins
12. Money
13. Mobile phone and charger
14. Book/ipad/charger/work to do for long waits

3.9 Do you carry family phone numbers in your mobile? How are they listed, is it
easy for someone to access them if you have an accident?
Try and make identification of parents easy to find.
Eg. Dad - Peter

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

3.10 Chris Peters is a safety consultant. After our work with Chris please write a
report on your understanding of what a safety expert has to think of.
Write your own scenario and consider
 1 .Risk Minimisation
 2. Script Integrity
 3. Physical Ability. Age and health of performers
Break the scene down on the grid on the next page

Refer to the safety report in ACT 15

Personnel Location Weather Risk is Physical Safety

ACTORS High, ability of report
Medium, ACTOR
Low
3 x actors Walking up Raining Medium Actors Pre-
a steep hill medical blocking
conditions would take
are place.
assessed Forest path
for would be
capabilitieschecked for
hazards
including
any slippery
areas
Weather
conditions
would be
checked
They find a A/A A/A Medium to Child Safety
lost child high welfare and report will
working be done by
with adults the Safety
actors coordinator
becomes of and checks
paramount will be done
importance every step
of the
shoot/action

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Australian College of Dramatic Arts © Merilyn Brend 2016
22307VIC Certificate III in Acting (Screen)

No need to
do
anymore
unless a
complex
scenario
has been
written

Write down the hours it took you to complete this workbook ……………………….

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