Health & Safety Policy

As a professional I have always paid careful attention to all aspects of health, safety and safeguarding. The arrival of COVID-19 meant that it was important to keep up with and apply the correct additional safety standards at all times. It is important that everyone involved in the work that I do focuses on all aspects of safety and the impact of our actions on others as well as ourselves.

Because of the pandemic health concerns were brought to the fore in ways that few of us could have predicted. More information has become available and the science has given us plenty to think about. I have followed the updated standards and advice and implemented them in my working methods.

Regulations and advice change all of the time.  Whilst life is back to something approaching normal, the thought and planning processes that we adopted at the height of the pandemic have left us all with new procedures and safety at work is almost always improved because of it.

Before accepting any assignments I am keen to discuss potential risks with clients. If a discussion isn’t sufficient to make all parties happy with provisions made then a comprehensive risk assessment will be carried out. From there a method statement can then be agreed with the client and any third parties who may be involved. Most of my work involves going to other people’s homes and places of work. That, more than ever, means prioritising their needs and wishes.

Lateral flow and PCR tests became part of our lives for a couple of years. From the first lockdown until the present day I have taken over 150 tests and am always happy to arrange whatever testing is appropriate for an assignment. I have had every vaccination that is available at this point for both COVID as well as a number of other transmissible conditions.

It keeps getting updated but here’s my list of questions that need to be answered:

Questions

• Has the client already carried out a risk assessment?
• Do any of the activities present risks that require special arrangements?
• Are there any set policies already in place that will affect the shoot?
• Is anyone involved considered to be in a high risk category?
• Are there any other non-covid safety of safeguarding concerns?
• What effect will any restrictions have on the photographs?
• Is the level of risk involved proportionate to the value of the expected images?
• Are there any PPE and cleansing requirements?

I am always happy to talk to clients about their projects, plans and concerns. Between us we can answer the questions above and plan a safe and successful shoot making sure that we apply the correct safety standards at all times. The safety of everyone concerned remains the principal consideration.

(Updated 18 February 2024)