Film and TV crew union launches safety hotline

The union representing Hollywood crew members has launched a safety hotline for members to report hazards on the job.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents grips, prop makers, camera operators and other crew members on film and television productions, said the new hotline is meant as a “safety net� for employees to flag safety problems on set.

“We remain committed to doing everything possible to keep our members safe and healthy at work,� IATSE International President Matthew Loeb said in a statement. “This new hotline is another measure supporting that all-important commitment.�

Loeb first announced plans for a safety hotline in February, saying union members had requested it in response to an accident last year that claimed the life of camera assistant Sarah Jones while working on the movie “Midnight Rider.�

The movie’s director Randall Miller in March pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the film-set death on a railway trestle in rural Georgia. The case became a rallying cry among crew members to improve safety on film sets.

When a member calls the IATSE Safety Hotline (Toll free: [844] IA AWARE, [844] 422-9273), the caller can either leave a message for or talk to a safety representative. Depending on the circumstances, the safety representative will contact a local union representative, or call the employer directly, IATSE said.

The union added that the hotline is not intended to take the place of an employer’s hazard reporting plan, or to relieve the employer of their responsibility to keep jobs safe.

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