Covid 19 Shoot Production Guidelines 2021
February 10, 2021
aop-sars-cov-2covid-19-shoot-production-guidelines-vaop-5.pdf
These guidelines have been worked up by the Association of Photographers (AOP) and are aligned in
the main to the existing APA COVID production guidelines but are more pertinent to stills
photography production (including moving image). They have been developed by a cross-section of
the AOP leadership, membership and insurers.
1.1 GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES & CONTEXT
The Government says: (https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus)
- continue to work from home if you can
- wear a face-covering in certain designated spaces (full list here)
- limit close contact with other people
- keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible, but at least 1m)
- wash your hands regularly
The Government is encouraging business to return to work where safe to do so, making it clear that
appropriate physical-distancing should be followed in the workplace wherever possible.
1.2 MEDICAL INFORMATION
Some medical context on SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 (also read the WHO’s dedicated FAQ):
- The time between exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the moment when symptoms of COVID-19
start is commonly around five to six days but can range from one to 14 days. - SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted from an infected person’s respiratory secretions or aerosolised
droplets (coughs/sneezes) reaching the nose, eyes or mouth of another. - The most common symptoms are fever, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath. Less
common symptoms are diarrhoea and abdominal pain. - Some people with COVID-19 suffer or show no apparent symptoms. Asymptomatic sufferers
may still be infected and there is strong scientific evidence that they can transmit the virus
too. - The virus that causes COVID-19 can also survive on a variety of surfaces for different
timespans and be transmitted to another individual from contact with them.
The purpose of (so-called ‘social-’) distancing and PPE is to break the transmission cycle of the virus
and reduce the risk of infection. We should operate on the basis that we could all be potential carriers,
and must adhere to the safety principles to minimise risk. Therefore the following essential rules are
based on current UK Government guidelines, and must be adhered to:
</li><ul><li>Maintain 2m-distancing wherever possible, but at the very least 1m.
</li><li>Wash your hands for 20 secs with soap and warm or hot water or use hand sanitiser for at<br>
least 30 seconds regularly. Alcohol-based sanitisers should contain at least 60% alcohol.
</li><li>Cough and sneeze in the crook of the arm or into a tissue and bin immediately.
</li><li>Report COVID-19 symptoms to your employer/production manager.
</li><li>Continue to work from home wherever practicably possible. </li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p><li>2. AOP BEST PRACTICES<br>
These are recommendations as to how to structure your production, over and above Government
guidelines and, again, they will be constantly reviewed and updated wherever and whenever
necessary.
NOTE: Both pre-production and production are likely to take longer to enable compliance as a result.
The number of people on location should be kept to a minimum. Only people who are absolutely
required to be present at the shoot should attend. This refers to all production staff, cast, crew,
agency and client. Furthermore, every person who will be attending the shoot - because it is necessary
that they do so - shall be made aware of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Health Statement at the end of
these guidelines.