What is the first step in the risk assessment process for film production?

• A. Identify/record hazards/dangers.
• B. Hire more staff.
• C. Obtain permits.
• D. Check weather.

Answer: (A)

Identifying hazards and recording them is the starting point of any risk assessment because you can’t judge risks or decide on controls if you don’t know what could cause harm. In film production, hazards can come from stunts, sets, lighting rigs, electrical equipment, cables on the floor, weather, or materials used in special effects. By listing each potential danger, you create the basis for evaluating how likely harm could be and how serious it would be, which then guides what safety measures to put in place. The other options aren’t the initial step in the risk assessment process: hiring more staff isn’t about identifying risk, obtaining permits relates to permissions rather than assessing risk, and checking the weather is important for planning but not the first step of identifying hazards.