Working with animals in
entertainment
Entertainment Sheet No 4 -
HSE information sheet
CONTENTS
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 Infoline, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly, CF83 3GG
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