BECTU COSTUME AND WARDROBE COMMITTEE

COVID-19 UPDATE: For return to work terms and conditions, the latest news and advice, please look at Bectu’s return to work page

branch statement on returning to work safely

We know that many members were unable to access any of the schemes designed to help those unable to work because of Coronavirus and as a result, many people will be anxious to get back to work as soon as possible.  We believe that there needs to be a balance between economic necessity and personal wellbeing.  We would like to make it very clear that we do not support the return to work if there are no guidelines or safety measures in place to facilitate the safest possible working environment for our members and indeed the crew as whole.  A rush back to work before such measures and protocols are in place could place individuals in harm’s way and could potentially set the film industry back even further if productions have to be closed down once they have restarted.

Before starting work ask for the following information: 

• What Covid-19 safety measures are being put in place by the Production and to receive a copy of these via email before starting, including a Covid-19 Risk Assessment

• Check who the Covid-19 H&S Supervisor or H&S Officer is, as there should be one

•  Make use of the detailed guidance provided on this page. Read, download and use to keep our department as informed and safe as possible.

Once back at  work and there are unsafe work practices? Contact the HOD, H&S Officer/Covid Supervisor, UPM or report to BECTU’s confidential email address: covid19@bectu.org.uk

Stay safe & take care of each other

bectu film and tv recovery plan

For many weeks now, Bectu has been working on very detailed guidance about exactly what our definition of safe-working practices will be if there is a return to work in the context of social distancing rules being in place.  A document, driven initially by the AD Branch and contributed to by the other LPD branches is available to view on the Bectu website.

 Our branch has a dedicated Covid-19 Return To Work Safely sub-committee who contributed greatly to the document as a whole and wrote the costume department submission for the document.  This will be an evolving document, so any suggestions or comments can be sent to us using the branch email address at the bottom of the page.

Additionally, the British Film Commission has run a consultation process with industry stakeholders to write a film & TV industry ‘Covid-19 Safety Manual’. Bectu is represented on the BFC working group which means the union has had a significant contribution to this process.

The BFC have used the submissions it received (including Bectu’s) to produce a draft ‘Code of Practice’, which came back to us for comment on the 5th May. Reps edited the draft in several meetings before re-submitting it to the BFC on the 15th May. The Code of Practice has been checked by the Health & Safety Executive before being submitted to the Department of Culture, Media & Sport for publication. The published guidance can now be viewed using the link below.

links to the currently available Covid-19 guidance documents

screenskills coronavirus basic awareness course

On return to work, you may be requested by your production to take the online course offered by ScreenSkills which is a basic awareness course about Covid-19, specifically for freelancers and crew working in film and TV. It is free to take and takes around one hour to complete. On completion, you will be given a certificate that is valid for six months, after which you may have to complete the course and test again. More information about it can be found on the ScreenSkills Website. To take the course, click on the link below.

on Tuesday 30th June, Bectu hosted a safe return to work webinar via zoom, specifically for our department. to watch the recording of the webinar please use the link below

the following documents have been researched and produced by members of the branch based on available information in the public domain. They are intended to be used as downloadable resources for members returning to work.

BECTU COSTUME DEPARTMENT CLEANING BROCHURE

This is no ordinary cleaning brochure, this is everything you have ever wanted to know (and plenty that you didn’t) about Covid-19, cleaning procedures, cleaning products and where to find them, PPE and the rest! It is available as a Google Doc by using the link below and it will be updated as new information is available so please keep checking that you have the latest version.

Please note that we cannot recommend any method over another, but we have laid out all of the available options. Each department will have different needs and constraints and it is up to each individual production to decide which works best for that production’s needs.

A3 sized downloadable truck/office/fitting room posters

a4 downloadable truck/office/fitting room posters

Angels the costumiers

Earlier during lockdown, members of our branch committee had a meeting with Angels The Costumiers regarding what a safe return to work at the Hendon warehouse might look like. They have introduced new rules for visitors to the building as well as fitting and fitting room procedures. To take a look at these, please click on the images below.

more documents and resources will be added as they become available. if you have anything that you would like to share, or any suggestions, please email us using the button below.