Making Sets Safe new

The Mark Milsome Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness of health and safety shortcomings within the film and TV industry and advocating for change to ensure safety on all sets. Over the years, we have demonstrated a proactive commitment to this cause through various initiatives. Key moments highlighting our efforts are detailed below.

OPEN LETTER

Following the Coroner’s findings into Mark’s death, the Foundation issued an open letter. This letter highlighted four crucial lessons learned, and called upon the industry to review the simple procedures which could have prevented Mark’s death and that could save the lives of others in the future.

HEALTH AND SAFETY COURSE

As part of our commitment to ensure safety on sets, the Foundation developed the Screenskills Level 2 Production Safety Passport course. This initiative aims to educate and protect those working in film and TV industry from health and safety hazards and to ensure that no one dies for the sake of a shot again. To find out more about our course or to sign up please click here

RAISING AWARENESS

The Foundation is committed to raising awareness around the importance of health and safety on set. Our mission is to ensure that all cast and crew are safe whilst working and to prevent incidents such as the one that led to Mark Milsome’s death from happening again. We’ve maintained a strong social media presence, and garnered news coverage on TV, radio and in the press to amplify our message. Below, is a BBC news piece from last year that underscores our ongoing efforts.

BBC TV News Item – Sets Are Still Not Safe

The BBC ran a news piece about health and safety, addressing ongoing concerns about health and safety practices on film and TV sets. The report highlighted potential risks faced by actors and crew members whilst working on set. The piece featured Rory Kinnear (Patron), Andra (Founder), her daughter, Alice and Samantha Wainstein, (Chair).

SURVEYS

The Foundation has conducted two Health and Safety surveys since its inception, aimed at assessing and enhancing on-set safety for UK film and TV crews. For further details, please see below.

Survey results 2021

put in some results here

Survey Results 2023

put in some results here

CAMPAIGNING FOR CHANGE

Since our inception we have endeavoured to advocate for changes to the law and attitudes around health (including mental health) and safety. While progress has been made, we still have a long way to go. Some of our successes are detailed below.

Advocating for legislative reform in the film and TV industry

Samantha Wainstein, Andra Milsome & Rory Kinnear attended a debate in the House of Lords in February this year. Labour leader of the Lords and friend of the Foundation, Baroness Angela Smith of Basildon raised questions around the ‘serious health and safety issues to be addressed’ for those working in film and TV, including the need to look at training, current legislation and the role of the HSE. In response to the enthusiastic debate, the Foundation has called for a cross party strategy to protect and empower those working in the film and TV sector through updating of the law, enforcement of training and a renewed focus on accountability. Lord Parkinson, Minister for Arts and Heritage agreed to meet with the Foundation in order to address all the issues raised.

Read press release here

Partnerships to promote mental well-being

In a bid to effect change the Foundation partnered with the HSE Working Minds Campaign. This initiative offers a variety of resources and assistance to help businesses and employees understand effective methods for preventing job-related stress and promoting mental well-being.

Read press release here

Industry advocacy

The Joint Advisory Committee for Entertainment, chaired by HSE, convenes biannually with members from industry bodies, unions, event facilities, and broadcasting organisations, facilitating consultation between HSE, government, and the industry, addressing legislative concerns, raising industry issues, promoting safety standards, monitoring industry developments, and promoting risk awareness. The Foundation has attended the meetings to address the Committee with the aim of advocating for improved safety standards in the film and TV industry.

Union collaboration

The Foundation has had a long-standing relationship with BECTU and recently conducted a successful survey with them entitled ‘A Few Minutes for Mark’, to assess and improve the on-set safety of UK film and TV crews.