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Risk Assessments

Risk Assessments are an important part of ensuring that all activities relating to drama in Oxford are kept safe for all those involved. Below is a set of guidelines for how risk assessments should be dealt with throughout the lifetime of a production, and for how safety and risk should be managed in a theatre setting.   

These guidelines are primarily aimed at Production Managers and Producers, although we recommend that all those working in Oxford Drama read them so that they have an understanding of how the process works. Although overall responsibility for safety typically falls to the Production Manager, every member of the production company should continuously be aware of their own safety; the safety of others around them, and the safety of members of the public. The theatre is a dangerous place, with many hazards which do not exist in domestic settings.   

If you would like assistance with drawing up a risk assessment or method statement, please contact us.

Risk Assessment Guidelines  

  • The risk assessment should be developed as early as possible in the production process. Some venues and funding bodies may require a risk assessment to be submitted with your bids.  
  • The risk assessment should take into account all risks that may arise throughout the production. This includes risks during rehearsals, during preparation of set and props, at the get in, during the technical and dress rehearsals, during the shows themselves and finally during the get out.  
  • This risk assessment should consider all the people affected by the risks, for example the cast and crew, any band, members of the audience, members of the public etc.  
  • The risk assessment should encompass risks that are inherent in nearly all theatre work (e.g. working at height; slips, trips and falls), as well as risks specific to your production (e.g. candles on stage; stage combat).  
  • The risk assessment should be maintained throughout the production process. When things change with your production, such as new scenes, changes to the set, different props etc, you should review the risk assessment and ensure that it still reflects all the risks in the production.  
  • A final review of the risk assessment should be carried out just before your show week, to ensure that it is fully up-to-date.  
  • Your risk assessment should be sent to the University Drama Officer (drama.officer@admin.ox.ac.uk) just before your show week. Some venues also require that the risk assessment be sent to the venue management.  
  • Your risk assessment should be distributed to all members of the production company (i.e. crew, cast and band) just before your show week, and should also be displayed prominently at the venue (we recommend a copy be placed at the door for people to read on their way in).  

We do not recommend that you copy risk assessments that you have previously seen (and as such we will not provide sample risk assessments), although you may wish to read them to get an idea of what risks may exist. One of the primary objectives of a risk assessment is to make whoever is writing it think about what risks exist, so that they and all other members of the production team actively work to mitigate them. Below you will find a blank template for risk assessments, although you are free to draw up your own style.

<insert link to template>  

Method Statements  

For get ins and get outs, you may also wish to consider writing method statements for certain tasks which may be more complicated and dangerous. Such tasks include (but are not limited to) assembling deck structures, raising pieces of scenery, lifting heavy objects.  

A method statement details exactly how a task is to be carried out, with step by step instructions, plus various other pieces of information like what equipment and/or tools are needed, what personal protective equipment should be worn, how many people are required etc.  

General Rules for Safe Working Practices  

Please note that these rules are extremely condensed, and we urge everybody taking part in theatre in Oxford to maintain an awareness of safe working practices for specific tasks.   

  • No member of a production company should attempt any tasks for which they do not feel qualified to do, or do not feel comfortable doing.
  • If you are ever unsure about something you have been asked to do, you should stop immediately.
  • Similarly, if you are unsure about the safety of a method somebody else is using to carry out a task, you should stop them from continuing until the matter is resolved.
  • If you feel pressured into doing something in violation of good safety practices or your own conscience, or see someone else being placed under such pressure, you should report this as a safety issue.
  • In both of the above cases, you should speak to the Production Manager, any venue staff, or contact the OUTTS committee.
  • Be aware that accidents are most likely to occur when people are working beyond their level of ability or in situations where they do not feel comfortable.