This information is intended to assist with conducting New and Young Worker
Orientations, which is required by law in British Columbia.
“New worker” means any worker who is:
(a) new to the workplace
(b) returning to a workplace where the hazards in
that workplace have changed during the worker’s
absence
(c) affected by a change in the hazards of a
workplace, or
(d) relocated to a new workplace if the hazards in
that workplace are different from the hazards in the
worker’s previous workplace;
“Young worker” means any worker who is under 25 years of age.
Initial orientation is required every time a worker
begins work at a new workplace; this includes
studios, production offices, shops and locations. An
orientation is not required when a worker who has
had an initial orientation returns or is relocated to a
workplace or location AND there are no new
hazards or changes that may affect the worker.
Reorientation of workers is required whenever there
is a change in the workplace location or change of
hazards that may affect the health and safety of
the worker. In this case the only additional
orientation required would be the identification of
new or site-specific hazards, or changes in
emergency procedures (ie. first aid location and
contact information).
Subsection 1: An employer must ensure that every young or new worker is given a health and safety
orientation and training specific to that young or new worker’s workplace.
WHAT
It is critical for location and studio hazard assessments
to be completed and shared to all concerned
parties. Issues arise when hazards are identified on
the assessment, but that the information is not
communicated to the appropriate departments —
especially to workers who may be the first arrivals at
the worksite.
Important: There should be a documented discussion
of the hazard assessments with department heads
and supervisors.
HOW
Group orientation can be given to all workers
covering topics as necessary to the call and site.
Individual orientation and documentation of workers
arriving for late calls is important.
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Workers can receive an orientation over the phone
if they will be working alone or will be first on a site.
Again, if there are no unusual hazards then an
orientation is not required for experienced workers,
however they must be warned of site specific
hazards and informed about emergency
procedures.
Important: Supervisors should keep notes
documenting telephone orientations; email
orientations require a response or confirmation.
WHO
Identified in the Regulations as being the
employer’s responsibility, it is also the employer’s
responsibility to educate and train supervisors to
understand and assist with these.
Examples of supervisors who may need to provide
It is helpful for production offices to prepare a
an orientation:
package for department heads during
●
1st AD for shooting Crew
pre-production, providing an overview of an
●
2nd AD for Cast
orientation and sufficient copies of orientation
●
Department Head, Key or Assistant for
checklists for the duration of the production. The
workers in their department
Supervisors can use a copy of the checklist each
●
Background Wrangler for Background
day, date it, sign it and file it. When orienting groups
●
Subject Matter Experts on specific activities
of workers who will not be listed on the DPR, circulate
(ie. stunts, spfx, marine, extreme locations)
a sign-in sheet and keep it on file.
Summer 2019 Edition: Orientation
Safety Scene 9