Film and TV production, video production, sound recording and music publishing businesses operate across studios, locations and offices. The workplace health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 apply to you — and production work can carry higher-than-average risk from stunts, rigging, working at height, electrical installations and temporary sets. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces in Great Britain; the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) enforces in Northern Ireland.

Beyond that shared foundation, the rules diverge by what you do. Some activities carry licensing, classification or registration duties on top of the universal spine.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA)

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - primary UK workplace health and safety legislation establishing employer and employee duties. Pure data reference.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA 1974) is the primary legislation governing workplace health and safety in the United Kingdom. It establishes the legal framework for protecting the health, safety and welfare of people at work and those affected by work activities.

Legal status: Primary legislation - principal UK health and safety statute
Royal Assent: 31 July 1974
Came into force: 1 April 1975 (in stages)
Geographic scope: Great Britain (separate legislation applies in Northern Ireland)
Applies to: All employers, employees, self-employed persons, and those who control work premises
Primary duty (Section 2): Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
Duty to non-employees (Section 3): Employers must protect persons not in their employment (contractors, visitors, public) who may be affected by work activities
Employee duties (Sections 7-8): Employees must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, cooperate with employers, and not misuse safety equipment
Enforcement authority: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities
Maximum penalties (post-2008 amendments): Unlimited fines in Crown Court; imprisonment up to 2 years for individuals; up to 6 months and/or £20,000 fine in Magistrates' Court
Referenced by regulators: Cited in 31 regulatory documents in the ORDS (Office for Regulatory Delivery and Simplification) dataset
Secondary regulations: Enables creation of health and safety regulations (e.g. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, COSHH, Manual Handling)

Reasonably practicable: The Act uses the term "so far as is reasonably practicable" throughout. This means employers must balance the level of risk against the time, trouble and cost of controlling it. However, the law is weighted in favour of health and safety - employers must demonstrate that control measures would be grossly disproportionate to the risk before they can be considered not reasonably practicable.

Self-employed persons: The Act also places duties on self-employed persons to protect their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work activities.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (legislation.gov.uk)

HSE - Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 guidance

What you need to do

Identify the description that best fits your business. If more than one applies — for example you produce films and also exhibit them to the public — follow every obligation that applies.

1

Every film, TV and music production business

Whatever you do, start with the universal spine. Follow "Set up and run a safe film, TV or music production business" for your health and safety, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection duties.
2

You work with child performers, supply classified video works, exhibit films, create copyright content or license music

These activities carry their own regulatory duties on top of the universal spine — child performance licensing from local authorities, BBFC video classification before supply, cinema premises licensing, copyright obligations under the CDPA 1988 and practical music-rights licensing through collecting societies. Follow "Meet your film, TV and music production regulatory duties".
3

Confirm you have covered everything

Whatever you do, finish with the film, TV and music production compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met before you begin or continue operating.

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for film, TV and music production businesses.

HSE: health and safety in entertainment and leisure (opens in a new tab) HSE
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (opens in a new tab) legislation.gov.uk

Which film, TV and music production regulations apply to your business

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Clinical governance and quality improvement

Excavation and foundation safety

What you need to do

Every film, TV and music production business

You work with child performers, supply classified video works, exhibit films, create copyright content or license music

Confirm you have covered everything

Official sources

Related guides in Compliance & Legal

Environmental compliance for construction sites

Structural works compliance checklist

Film and TV production tax reliefs and regulation

Clinical governance and quality improvement

Excavation and foundation safety

What you need to do

Every film, TV and music production business

You work with child performers, supply classified video works, exhibit films, create copyright content or license music

Confirm you have covered everything

Official sources