HSE information sheet

Special or visual effects involving explosives or

pyrotechnics used in film and television productions
Entertainment Information Sheet No 16
Introduction ● projectiles and other debris;
● unplanned spread of fire;
This information sheet is one of a series produced in ● toxic effects;
consultation with the Joint Advisory Committee for ● misfires;
Broadcasting and Performing Arts. It gives guidance for ● poor transportation, storage and handling;
those in the film and television industries who intend to ● spurious radio signals interfering with firing and
use explosives or pyrotechnics. control systems;
● flash-over from high-tension electrical lines due to
It is does not cover the issues associated with physical presence of ionised particles in the air following
effects or organised firework displays. The Association the firing of an effect.
of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) publishes a Code
of Practice for the theatre industry entitled Pyrotechnics Competence
and smoke effects which has been adopted as an
agreed standard for that industry (see ‘Further The amount of knowledge, skill and experience
reading’). someone needs to be considered ‘competent’ will vary
for different tasks. A person may be competent for
Explosives and flammable materials are used in simple tasks but not for more complicated tasks in the
pyrotechnic work to create the impression of a dramatic same area without supervision from a more
event. The aim should be to minimise the quantity of experienced (and more competent) person.
explosive or flammable material used in order to create Competence should therefore be judged in the light of
the desired effect. experience, training and the work to be undertaken.

Legislation Levels of competency are graded according to

knowledge, skill, experience and training, as
The main legal requirements covering special and recommended by the Joint Industry Grading
visual effects are the Health and Safety at Work etc Act Committee. The Committee publishes a register of
1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at grading as follows:
Work Regulations 1999 (the Management Regulations).
● supervisors: capable of planning, supervising
The Management Regulations require a suitable and and executing most effects. For major events a
sufficient risk assessment to be carried out by special effects supervisor would normally advise
employers (or self-employed people) to assess the risk and, where necessary, supervise the safe
to employees and others who may be affected by their execution of the effect;
activities and to determine the control measures ● senior technicians: supervise, control and
necessary to avoid risk or reduce it to acceptable execute special effects but would generally need
levels. An opportunity arises during risk assessment to supervision and guidance for major or complex
consider the application of any other relevant health events;
and safety legislation, including the requirement to ● technicians: competent to conduct special effects
consider fire precautions and emergency procedures. under the supervision of a special effects
supervisor or senior technician. They would not
You must consult employees on health and safety normally plan and execute effects without such
matters, either directly or through elected safety supervision;
representatives. ● trainees: can assist other grades in the
preparation of effects when adequately
Hazards supervised.

Typical hazards arising from special effects include: Responsibility

● flash or radiated heat; Responsibility for health and safety rests with the
● noise; employer, this normally means the production company.
● blast effects – pressure waves and associated On a day-to-day basis, the overall responsibility for
risks to people or surrounding buildings. These ensuring that the appropriate standards of health and
effects can be worse for people and equipment safety are achieved and maintained throughout the
under water or in confined spaces; production process rests with the producer.

1
In this information sheet the term producer is used to are communicated to the producer. Control measures
represent the employer, organisation or person in will affect the safety of:
overall control of the production activity.
● people and equipment under the control of the
The producer retains overall responsibility for the production, eg crew, artists;
production and is tasked with ensuring appropriate co- ● third parties not involved in the production, eg the
ordination and control of the overall event, taking into public.
account the risk assessment from the special effects
contractor and others. The producer should ensure The control measures may be detailed in the form of a
that: method statement. The information needs to be
provided in good time to the producer.
● the special effects contractors are competent for
the work in question; Control measures
● special effects contractors are provided with
adequate information regarding the production; Control measures may include:
● adequate time and resources are allowed for the
effect based on advice from the special effects ● determination of safe distances;
contractors; ● controls against flash or radiated heat;
● additional time should be provided for within the ● noise control;
schedule for misfires or changes of plan; ● blast control;
● an overall risk assessment for the production is ● control of fragmentation particles and other
produced; debris;
● adequate arrangements are in place for ● control of unplanned spread of fire;
communicating the risks and safety arrangements ● control of toxic effects;
to all those involved; ● cueing arrangements;
● appropriate facilities are available for the ● personal protective equipment (PPE);
assembly, fusing etc of explosive effects prior to ● emergency arrangements for dealing with effects
use. that do not go according to plan;
● other specialist advice or support used, eg
The person in charge of the special effects will remain engineering advice about structural integrity or
at all times responsible for advising the producer on the specialist dive contractor for work involving
safe planning and execution of the effect. They are underwater explosions;
responsible for: ● misfires;
● specific responsibilities of special effects team
● ensuring the effect is adequately planned, and others directly involved in managing and co-
including conducting a full risk assessment and ordinating the effect;
communicating the significant findings and ● risks to others (eg public, crew, divers, stunt
controls to the producer; co-ordinators, artists).
● procurement and specification of all explosives,
pyrotechnics and other materials; The producer should use this information to inform the
● ensuring all materials are fit for purpose; risk assessment for the whole production:
● the safe transportation, storage and use of all
explosives, pyrotechnics and other materials used ● considering the effect, timing and compatibility of
in the effects; each activity on all those involved;
● ensuring only competent persons are employed; ● making all involved aware of the significant risks;
● identifying potential emergency measures such as ● considering whether new risks occur as a result of
fire-fighting or first aid. the combined method statements and systems of
work;
Risk assessment ● complying with the relevant regulations.

The producer should ensure that there is an overall risk If there any significant changes to the production
assessment for the production. They should also activity the VFX (visual effects) contractors and
ensure that the arrangements for communicating the programme risk assessments must be reviewed to
risks and safety arrangements for the effect to all those determine if they are still valid and to ensure the
involved are adequate. controls are still adequate. Any significant changes in
the risks and controls should be communicated to all
The person in charge of the special effects is those involved.
responsible for ensuring a suitable and sufficient risk
assessment is undertaken for all the activities under
their control, and that the identified control measures

2
Communication Execution

All involved should be thoroughly briefed about the The special effects supervisor or technician in control of
effect, the risks and required controls prior to any an explosive, pyrotechnic or fire effect should have
rehearsal. There should be effective means to warn absolute authority over the safety arrangements during
and exclude people from any danger area. The the execution of the effect.
producer, in consultation with the special effects
contractor, is responsible for ensuring adequate Before commencing any effect, checks should be made
arrangements for managing and policing the controls, by the producer, supported by the special effects team,
for example any exclusion zone. The risk assessment to ensure exclusion zones are in place, emergency
should clearly identify those arrangements and also plans are in place and that all appropriate PPE is worn.
those responsible for enforcing and monitoring the The person supervising the effect should have
exclusion zone. Any persons nominated should have unambiguous confirmation that danger areas are clear,
adequate authority to ensure full compliance and for example there is a line of sight, and be in direct
should be dedicated to the task for the duration of the communication with all key players.
effect.
Firing circuits should not be connected or armed until
There should be agreed systems or code words to stop the last possible moment to minimise the risks of
the effect immediately. accidental firing.

Misfires
Co-operation
In the event of a misfire no one should approach the
All parties should ensure that adequate information is
area until an adequate time has passed. This is defined
exchanged. Special effects contractors should liaise
by the pyrotechnics and firing circuit in use.
with other contractors involved in the production.
Special consideration should be given to the
The special effects staff required to make the area safe
procedures for misfires that may impact upon others.
should wear full PPE. The required procedures for
misfires will be determined at the risk assessment
Materials stage but should include details of:
The special effects contractor is responsible for the ● PPE required;
procurement and specification of the explosives, ● exclusion zones required;
pyrotechnics and other materials to be used in the ● steps to make the effect safe;
effect, for ensuring all materials are fit for purpose and ● steps for disposing of explosives.
for the safe transportation, storage and use of all
explosives, pyrotechnics and other materials. Specific Diving and explosives in water
legislation applies to the storage and handling of
explosives and pyrotechnics. A specialist dive contractor and extraordinary controls
will be required for all work involving underwater
Cueing explosions or where, in the event of a misfire,
explosives could finish under water.
There should be an agreed system for cueing an effect
that is clear and unambiguous. The special effects Further reading
designer responsible for setting off any explosive,
pyrotechnic or fire effect should have a clear line of Management of health and safety at
sight. work. Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999. Approved Code of Practice and
The cueing arrangements should be rehearsed in situ guidance L21 (Second edition) HSE Books 2000
before the effect is performed. ISBN 0 7176 2488 9

Rehearsal Highly Flammable Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum

Gases Regulations 1972 SI 1972/917 The Stationery
Safety can be improved by rehearsing the action. Only Office
essential personnel should be in the area. To ensure
safety, there should be a thorough rehearsal of the Control of substances hazardous to health. Control of
action. All those involved in the sequence, including Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002.
artists, should be present at rehearsal or re-rehearsal Approved Code of Practice and guidance L5 (Fourth
and should be made fully aware of the action intended, edition) HSE Books 2002 ISBN 0 7176 2534 6
the risks, control measures and emergency
arrangements.

3
Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (Driver
Training) Regulations 1996 SI 1996/2094
The Stationery Office

Packaging of Explosives for Carriage Regulations 1991

SI 1999/2097 ISBN 0 11 015097 X The Stationery
Office

Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road Regulations

1996 SI 1996/2095 The Stationery Office
ISBN 0 11 062926 4

Pyrotechnics and smoke effects (Code of Practice)

Association of British Theatre Technicians

Further information

The Stationery Office (formerly HMSO) publications are

available from The Publications Centre, PO Box 276,
London SW8 5DT Tel: 0870 600 5522 Fax: 0870 600
5533 Website: www.tso.co.uk (They are also available
from bookshops)

HSE priced and free publications are available by mail

order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk
CO10 2WA Tel: 01787 881165 Fax: 01787 313995
Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk (HSE priced publications
are also available from bookshops and free leaflets can
be downloaded from HSE’s website: www.hse.gov.uk.)

For information about health and safety ring HSE's

Infoline Tel: 08701 545500 Fax: 02920 859260 e-mail:
[email protected] or write to HSE
Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park,
Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

This leaflet contains notes on good practice which are

not compulsory but which you may find helpful in
considering what you need to do

© Crown copyright This publication may be freely

reproduced, except for advertising, endorsement or
commercial purposes. First published 12/02. Please
acknowledge the source as HSE.

Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive ETIS16 12/02 C100