Coronavirus On Set Safety & Sanitization

As we move forward and productions begin to start shooting again, sanitization will become an important part of our jobs to help ensure the safety of clients, crew, & talent. The human coronavirus, COVID-19, will be a major safety concern on video production sets for quite some time. So as our industry begins to resume working, we must take extra care & caution to mitigate the potential risk through reducing contact wherever possible, wearing PPE at all times, and disinfecting equipment & work surfaces regularly. As the recommendations from the CDC, WHO, IATSE, OSHA, & other authority sources are in a state of flux, we will continue to monitor the recommendations of experts and adapt as necessary.

COVID-19 Video Production Set Safety Infographic

COVID-19 Sanitization Kit Contents

  • Hand Sanitizer (Big Jug & Personal Keychain Bottles)
  • Face Masks
  • Face Shield
  • Isopropyl Alcohol
  • Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (Note: this is different from regular H2O2 hydrogen peroxide, which is shown to require long contact times [150 minutes for 3% H2O2] making it impractical for use in sanitizing equipment. However according to the CDC’s website, AHP is shown to be effective against the coronavirus with 30-60 seconds of contact time)
  • Clear Bags for Gear Compartmentalization
  • Nitrile Gloves
  • Kimtech Delicate Task Dry Disposable Wipes
  • Small Parts Submersion Container
  • Q-Tips
  • Soap
  • Cable Conditioner
  • Lotion
  • Used Gear Bin
Coronavirus COVID-19 Sanitization Kit
Coronavirus Safety On Video Production Sets

On Set Protocols for Sound

  • Face masks should be worn on set at all times, and face shield anytime inside 6 feet of other people.
  • Carry keychain container of hand sanitizer at all times
  • Practice distancing with other people on set minimizing contact wherever possible.
  • Wash hands or use hand sanitizer before and after touching any equipment, or common areas. When in doubt, wash/sanitize again.
  • Temperature will be monitored in days leading up to shoot date, and taken the day of the shoot before showing up to set.
  • Boom Mics should be the primary sound source, only using lavaliers when unavoidable.
  • All equipment used by talent, clients, or other crew members (i.e. Wireless Lavs, IFBs, Sync Boxes, etc) should be sanitized before and after each use.
  • When using wireless lavaliers, talent should mic themselves following instructions from the sound department. If adjustments need to be made, talent will be informed and instructed on how to do so. As a result, time for talent getting mic’d will increase.
  • When distributing equipment, it should be compartmentalized and isolated in sanitary bags assigned to each person receiving it.
  • When Sanitizing Equipment, do not wipe dry, allow to air dry naturally. Make sure disinfectant has enough contact time to kill COVID-19 as per CDC recommendations.
  • Using a small soaking container with isopropyl alcohol, fully submerge pieces of gear that won’t be damaged by submersion, such as lavalier clips or mounts, antennas, or other small pieces.
  • Only touch sanitization kit using freshly washed/sanitized hands or fresh gloves.
  • When sanitizing returned equipment, resanitize hands between each person’s equipment to mitigate cross contamination risks.
  • Sanitizer should not be wiped dry but allowed to dry naturally through evaporation.
    After using the on set sanitization kit, whip down and sanitize the kit components and case with isopropyl alcohol to prevent cross contamination. Soft surfaces should be sprayed down until damp and allowed to dry.
  • Sanitize work surface before & after working with gear on it
  • Used gear should be returned in a designated bin to await sterilization.
  • Equipment when possible should rotated allowing 3 days between using equipment again
Coronavirus On Set Safety & Sanitization