Working with animals in entertainment
Entertainment Sheet No 4 - HSE information sheetCONTENTS
In this information sheet 'must' denotes a legal obligation. Words such as 'do', 'should' etc are used to give advice on good practice.
Introduction
This information sheet is one of a series prepared by the Joint Advisory Committee for Broadcasting and Performing Arts. It gives specific advice for production activities involving animals, on stage or in a studio or on location, with or without an audience.
The work may involve putting animals in strange situations, getting them to do things for the purposes of the production, or simply recording what they do in nature.
Consideration should also be given to situations where animals may be present although they are not part of the script, eg location work in sewers.
While this information is primarily concerned with the health and safety of those who work with animals, consideration should always be given to the welfare of the animals themselves.
It should be noted that The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (enforced by the Local Authority) requires persons keeping specified animals to hold a licence, and there are many other legal requirements affecting work with animals - take expert advice.
Hazards
'Animals' include birds, reptiles, fish, insects, spiders and many other species. Two apparently similar animals can present very different hazards - venomous and non-venomous snakes for example, or domestic and feral cats.
Animals can cause injury, by bites, scratches, stings, kicking or crushing; infection or infestation from micro-organisms or parasites they carry; allergy, in some people.
Some people have phobias about particular kinds of animals - extreme fears about spiders or snakes, for example.
Many veterinary products are hazardous to human health. Hazards may also arise from hay or straw used in connection with an animal, eg fire, soiled materials, dust, allergies.
Risk assessment
Assessments are required by:
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992. These require a risk assessment to be carried out for all work activities. This must include the measures that are to be taken to control the significant risks that are identified.
- The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 (COSHH). These require that risks of infection and allergy be assessed and adequately controlled. Veterinary products may have an Occupational Exposure Standard (OES) under these Regulations.
Unless you have expertise, the advice of a competent person may be necessary when completing the assessments. The best source of advice is likely to be the owner, handler, trainer or keeper, since that person will understand the character of the animals that are to be used. Handlers etc may, however, underestimate the risks because of their familiarity with the animals. If there is no one directly responsible for the animals, veterinary surgeons, zoos or university departments may be able to advise.
Some animals may seem to present a negligible risk - domestic cats, rabbits and guinea pigs for example. 'Tame' or 'semi-tame' animals may, however, still cause injuries - people expect them to be safe, and the animals have less fear of people.
The main points to consider in the risk assessment are:
- What hazards does the animal present, ie what harm could it cause?
- What contact will there be with the animal? If there is no possibility of contact the risk of physical injury is low. There may still, however, be a health risk, eg of Leptospirosis which can be contracted from surfaces contaminated with rat urine;
- By what routes can any micro-organisms be transmitted to humans, eg hand to mouth contact, bites, scratches, or through the air?
- All animals (alive or dead) should be regarded as likely sources of infection or infestation. This includes those kept as pets and most laboratory animals. The most dangerous in this respect are those closest to humans in the evolutionary scale, ie other primates;
- What influence will you have on the animal? For example, filming quietly from a hidden position is less dangerous than arranging a stunt in which the animal is required to do something it does not like;
- How much contact will there be? Working from a distance is safer than holding an animal in your hand. Getting very close to wild or large animals may require a more detailed assessment of risks;
- Who is exposed? A fit and healthy technician may be able to escape when children or elderly people cannot. Do any of those involved have allergies or phobias? Are any pregnant workers involved in the project?
- What other animals may be present?
- What could go wrong? Is it possible that the tame rat will bite the performer? If wild animals turn on you, can you defend yourself? Could the animal escape into the studio or theatre?
- Is there an audience that could come into contact with the animal?
Precautionary measures
In most cases expert advice will be needed about the specifics of the production but there are some basic points to consider:
- Where practicable, risks should be eliminated or minimised, eg by selecting animals which present least risk, or by containing or restricting the animal;
- People should always be told in advance if they are to work with animals so they have an opportunity to say if they have allergies or phobias;
- Obtaining performing animals from a reputable handler should reduce the risks of the animal carrying disease;
- Everyone involved should be properly briefed on risks and control measures, eg feeding arrangements or instructions not to feed, the need to avoid disturbance, and what to do in an emergency.
- Animals can cause infections that threaten pregnancy. In particular, pregnant women should not enter areas in which mammals have recently given birth;
- You may need to have a minimum number of people to manage an animal, but everyone else should be kept well clear;
- Animals can be provoked to attack by disturbance or discomfort. Take advice about the animal's needs, provide food, water and suitable temperature. It may be necessary for the animal to be held in a quiet place until it is needed;
- Keep the length of time animals are required to a minimum. Rehearse the item last and perform it first where possible. If a retake is necessary do this straight away. A tired animal may become fractious;
- Material such as hay or straw used in studios or on stage is usually fireproofed or fire-retarded. However, this would be toxic for animals and arrangements may have to be made for untreated material with alternative fire precautions;
- In order to minimise risk, animals should be handled no more than necessary and always with at least basic hygiene - wash afterwards, and especially before meals. Protective clothing such as gloves and overalls may be required. When bites and scratches can be expected it may be necessary to ensure that those exposed have adequate immunity to tetanus - seek advice;
- Make provision for first aid. Unless they are life-threatening, bites and scratches should be encouraged to bleed, washed with clean water and dressed. The casualty should then have medical attention. Where there is the possibility of exposure at a distance from medical facilities, specific antidotes may be required for hazards such as snake bites, but this option should be considered carefully.
Useful reading and further information
Management of health and safety at work Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992. Approved Code of Practice HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 0412 8
The occupational zoonoses HSE Books ISBN 0 11 886397 5
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994. General Approved Code of Practice HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 0819 0
Additional copies of this information sheet are available from HSE Books.
Further advice can be obtained from HSE offices (see under Health and Safety Executive in the telephone directory). For other enquiries, ring HSE's Infoline Tel: 0845 345 0055 , or write to HSE's Information Centre, Broad Lane, Sheffield S3 7HQ.
HSE priced and free publications are available by mail order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 6FS Tel: 01787 881165, Fax: 01787 313995. HSE priced publications are also available from good booksellers.
This information sheet contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.
This publication may be freely reproduced, except for advertising, endorsement or commercial purposes. The information it contains is current at 6/96. Please acknowledge the source as HSE.
Printed and published by HSE 6/96 ETIS 3 C100