The Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee Task Force has established protocols for a safe return to work, hoping to create an, “environment that minimizes the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.” The 22 page report was submitted to health experts and to the governors of Los Angeles and New York on Monday and will be shared with other governors and government officials in the near future. The guidelines are based off of guidelines issued by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration with consultation with industry health experts.
The guidelines include the creation of special task forces to deal with hot spot break outs and outline testing protocols, “[the goal of these new guidelines] set forth the consensus of the Task Force and outline guidance regarding protective measures to be used, including regular screening, diagnostic testing, use of personal protective equipment, cleaning and disinfecting work sites, and appropriate response should an employee contract COVID-19 or be exposed to it.”
Robust testing, safety protocols, and contact tracing protocols are the only practical way to ensure the safety of industry workers during the filmmaking processes and is a good first step for the resuming of filming in the United States, one of the nations hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. The new guidelines have earned widespread acclaim from industry regulatory forces and unions such as the AMPTP, SAG-AFTRA, DGA, and MPA. The new guidelines can be read here for all that are curious about the ‘new normal’ for filmmaking in a post-coronavirus world.
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