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Industry
Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee
Safety Bulletin
#6
Animal Handling Rules for the Motion Picture Industry
- The safety of working
animals and the persons working on such productions shall be of
primary concern.
- Only qualified professional
trainers and/or wranglers should be allowed to work with animals
on productions.
- Notice shall be given
prior to shooting, on the call sheet, that animals are working.
A "closed set" notice should be posted on all stages where
animals are working and every effort should be made to maintain
a closed set where animals are working on location.
- The trainer or person
supplying the animal shall be responsible for obtaining all necessary
inoculations, permits, applicable licenses and medical safeguards.
- An easily accessible
area shall be available for loading and unloading animals.
- It is the responsibility
of the trainer to convey to the cast and crew specific safety concerns
relative to the animals being used. The trainer shall address the
cast and crew (including the parent and/or guardian of any children
on the set) regarding safety precautions while animals are on the
set (e.g., maintain a safe distance from wild and exotic
animals, no personal pets, no feeding, no running, escape routes,
etc.)
- The procedures for
dealing with live ammunition previously issued by the Industry Wide
Labor-Management Safety Committee (Safety Bulletin #1- Recommendations
for Safety With Firearms) shall be observed. The level of ammunition
loads and explosives should be determined in consultation with the
trainer and/or wrangler and the firearms expert.
- The American Humane
Association (AHA) guidelines on the treatment of animals used in
film making state that "Tranquilization and/or sedation on
set for the sole purpose of film making is prohibited".
- As a safety
backup, consideration should be given to the availability of tranquilizing
equipment. Potentially dangerous or complicated animal action
should warrant the presence of a qualified veterinarian.
- Equipment operated
in conjunction with working animals should be in a safe operating
condition as determined by the trainer and/or wrangler in conjunction
with the property master. Basic animal safety equipment such as
fire extinguishers, fire hoses and nets should be readily available.
- Under no circumstances
should horse falls be accomplished by tripping or pitfalls.
- All hitch rails shall
be fastened in the ground in such a manner that the tugging of a
frightened horse cannot pull them loose (e.g., sleeve installation).
On a stage, hitch rails will be bolted or fastened in a rigid manner.
Scenery and props should be secured. Objects (e.g., ladders,
pedestals, etc.) that easily tip over can startle the animals.
- Horses being used on
a production shall be properly shod for the working surface (e.g.,
borium, rubber shoes, etc.).
- Extreme caution should
be taken when using exotic venomous reptiles. The proper antidote
(anti-venom) should be selected depending upon the type of reptile.
Location of the antidote shall be predetermined and printed on the
call sheet.
- The smell of alcohol
has a disquieting effect on animals. All precautions shall be taken
in that regard when animals are working.
- The producer shall
notify the American Humane Association prior to the commencement
of any work involving an animal or animals; script scenes shall
be made available; representatives of the American Humane Association
may be present at any time during the filming.
- There should be two
handlers for each large undomesticated animal such as a large cat
or carnivore (mountain lion or larger).
- Depending on the types
of animals being used, and the filming location, consideration should
be given to providing onsite emergency medical transportation, with
qualified medical personnel, up to and including advanced life support,
as necessary.
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