Live Action FX ltd Website

Risk Assessments

Live Action FX works with the Health & Safety Executive and the Explosives Industry Group of the Confederation of British Industry to develop guides on Personal Protective Equipment, Collective Protection and Practical Risk Assessment for Explosives Users - the main content of these guides concentrates on creating full and proper Risk Assessments - as required by the Management of Health & Safety at Work Act.

Live Action FX has developed its own system of risk and hazard assessment, which it uses predominantly for Fireworks and Special Effects work, however it can easily be adapted to cover any explosives application.

The following is an example of the numeric system used by Live Action FX, plus an example of a risk assessment regularly used as part of our Special Effects work:

Risk Assessments

The object of carrying out a Risk Assessment is NOT to ensure that the activity in question is completely safe. It's main function is to educate those involved in or associated with an activity, as to what hazards it may present along with the preventative and protective measures that can be used to mitigate the risk.

Risk Assessments are carried out by the supervisor of the activity in his role as Authorising Signatory.

Once presented with the facts contained within a Risk Assessment, those involved in the activity should ensure that all protective and preventative measures identified are adhered too.

So as to ensure that Risk Assessments can be carried out in a standardised fashion and so that one is comparable with another, they can be numerically assessed.

Live Action FX Ltd has implemented this by using the following system:

Take the appropriate figures from the following tables and multiply them together to give the 'Risk Rating'.

Take this figure and read off the perceived level of risk from Table 5. Take note of and adhere to the 'Action to be taken' column.

	Table 1.		Table 2.
	Probability of exposure to/contact with perceived hazard.		Frequency of exposure to perceived hazard.
0	Impossible - cannot happen under any circumstance	0.1	Infrequently
0.1	Almost Impossible - possible only under extreme circumstances	0.2	Annually
0.5	Highly Unlikely - though conceivable	1	Monthly
1	Unlikely - but could happen	1.5	Weekly
2	Possible - but unusual	2.5	Daily
5	Even Chance - could happen	4	Hourly
8	Probable - not surprised	5	Constantly*
10	Likely - only to be expected
15	Certain - no doubt

*SFX Rigging Crew are considered to be under CONSTANT exposure to pyrotechnic hazards while handing such devices.

	Table 3.		Table 4.
	Maximum Possible Loss.		Number of persons at risk.
15	Fatality.	1	1 - 2 persons.
8	Loss of 2 limbs/eyes or serious permanent illness.	2	3 - 7 persons.
4	Loss of 1 limb/eye, serious burns or temporary serious illness.	4	8 - 15 persons.
2	Break - major bone, minor burns or minor permanent illness.	8	16 - 50 persons.
1	Break - minor bone or minor temporary illness.	12	More than 50 people.
0.5	Laceration/mild ill heath effect.
0.1	Scratch/bruise.

Table 5.

Level of Risk & Action Risk Rating

Risk Rating	Level of Risk	Action to be Taken
0 - 0.9	Acceptable Risk	Actors can do it/ Audience Exposure Acceptable.
1 - 4.9	Very Low Risk	Actors can do it/ Audience Exposure Acceptable.
5 - 9.9	Low Risk	Actor or Stunt Double/ Public Exposure Unacceptable.
10 - 49.9	Significant Risk	Actor, Preferably Stunt Double/ Public Exposure Unacceptable.
50 - 99.9	High Risk	Stunt Performers Only.
100 - 499.9	Very High Risk	Stunt Performers Only.
500 - 999.9	Extreme Risk	Too Dangerous, Don't Do It
1,000 or more	Unacceptable Risk	Too Dangerous, Don't Do It

Bullet Hit Effects On Performers

Location Of Activity: On Set - Location or Studio.

Work Activity Description: The rigging and firing of Body Hits (on performers): - 'D-80' Type Bullet Hit Effects, as manufactured by De La Maire or Solar Pyrotechnics.

Responsibility for carrying out the activity: Rigging: Senior SFX Technician/SFX Supervisor or Trainee/Technician under the direct supervision of a Senior SFX Technician/SFX Supervisor.

Hazards:

a.	Blast/shock wave injuries to performer.
b.	Fragment impact injuries to performer.
c.	Burns injuries to performer.
d.	Hearing damage to performers and crew members.
e.	Fragment impact injuries to other performers and crew members.
f.	Accidental initiation of Bullet Hit Effect from R.F. radiation.
g.	Blast/shock wave injuries to SFX Rigging personnel. *
h.	Fragment impact injuries to SFX Rigging personnel. *
i.	Burns injuries to SFX Rigging personnel. *

* hazards only normally associated with accidental initiation of Bullet Hit Effect.

Safety Measure Identified:

Preventative:

e.	Remove all none essential performers and crew from the danger area.
e.	The firer (SFX Supervisor/Senior Technician or in some cases the performer) is to have an unobscured view of the devices, in order to satisfy himself that it is safe to fire the device at the required time. The decision to fire or not to fire is entirely that of the firer.
f.	Ensure that only permissible transmission sources are used within the safety zone, in accordance with BS No. 6657:1986 f. If the field strengths and frequencies of transmitters in the area can not be readily identifies, then all such transmitters are to be switched off while explosive devices are in the area (mobile phones and radios are to be switches off and batteries removed).
f.	All leg wires from Electro-explosive devices are to be kept shorted until the last possible moment, all firing lines attached to Electro-explosive devices are to be shorted until the last possible moment.
f.	Only use a firing system that has the following features: two independent safety interlocks (breaking both live and neutral power lines) the plugs/keys to which are kept in the possession of the Firer at all times. All firing lines are shorted until moments before firing commences.
g, h & i.	See f.

Protective:

a. & b.	Use suitable padding between the Bullet Hit Effect and the performer i.e. a minimum of a 1mm thick aluminium plate packed with 3mm thick leather.
b, c & e.	Eye Protection (BS. 2092 -2 or better) is to be worn by all performers and crew in the danger area, if possible the performers should continue to wear then during a take or at the very least up until the cameras roll.
c.	The 3mm thick leather, should be in the form of a jerkin/jacket that covers all exposed skin preventing contact with flames or hot gasses generated by the Bullet Hit Effect upon firing.
c.	Undergarments and any other costume worn near the bullet hit effects must be treated with flame retardant. d. Ear Defenders (EN 352-1 CE marked) are to be worn by all crew members and performers if possible. If performers heads will be seen then ear plugs (EN 352-2) are to be used instead, being camouflaged with make-up as required.
g, h & i	Eye Protection (BS. 2092 -2 or better) is to be worn by SFX rigging personnel while handling any explosive devices. Ideally protective gloves should also be worn, however this may restrict finger movement to an extent, where by the rigger considers it reasonable to do away with this hand protection to achieve more accurate and effective handling.

Assessment of Risk:

	Without the above preventative and protective measures	With the above preventative and protective measures

a.	Very High Risk	Significant Risk
b.	Very High Risk	Significant Risk
c.	High Risk	Very Low Risk
d.	Very High Risk	Acceptable Risk
e.	Low Risk	Acceptable Risk
f.	Significant Risk	Very Low Risk
g.	Significant Risk	Very Low Risk
h.	Low Risk	Very Low Risk
i.	Significant Risk	Very Low Risk

Authorisation:

Originator:

Signature: .......................................................... Date: ...................................

Name: ................................................................ Job Title: .............................

This type of Risk Assessment can easily be adapted to cover just about any other explosives activity, possibilities include:

Fireworks, Pyrotechnics, Demolition, Scientific Research, Bomb Disposal, Mining, Shotfiring in the Construction Industry, Quarrying, Agricultural Blasting and more besides.

If you need any Experienced Support with Explosives Orientated

Risk Assessments, 'Contact Us'