Dependable Equipment. Seamless Support. Shoot Blue - Rental for Everyone.

Like many companies, our thoughts recently have turned to resuming our business operations once the COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions start to be eased. It’s undoubtedly true to say that the workplace and our working practices will look very different over the next few months – and almost certainly, for a much longer period of time.

This document, following current government and NHS guidance, sets out our policy and working practices to ensure that Shoot Blue can provide a safe and healthy workplace. Minimising the risk of potential COVID-19 transmission between our staff, clients, suppliers as well as the wider public is of paramount importance to us.

Given the specific hazards and working conditions of the film, television and creative media industries, we are also following practical COVID-19 working advice that has been established by BECTU and other organisations. We will continue to monitor both the government and industry guidelines and update this document to ensure it adheres to current ‘best practice’.

We shall also ensure that our staff are regularly updated on the guidelines and working practices outlined in this document. Posters providing guidance on these measures, such as social distancing and hand washing, will also be located at strategic points throughout our business premises.

  1. COVID-19 Symptoms

Any member of our staff who suspects that they have COVID-19 symptoms or becomes unwell will be asked to remain at home, self-isolating for a two-week period and will be required to take an NHS COVID-19 test. No visitors are permitted to enter our premises if they have or are suspected of having COVID-19 symptoms. A temperature screening check is mandatory for all staff and visitors upon arrival at our premises – anyone with a temperature of 37.8C or higher will not be permitted entry.

All of our staff are encouraged to take part in the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme, unless except for health/medical reasons.

  1. Social Distancing Measures

Our staff will observe the two-metre social distancing rule within our workplace and any visitors to our premises will be requested to respect this measure. 

  1. Hand Sanitiser

Clearly marked hand sanitiser stations are located throughout our premises and all staff advised to use hand sanitiser frequently throughout the day. In addition, hand washing following the ‘20-second’ rule is also encouraged in our kitchen and bathroom areas. Any visitors entering the premises will be requested to use hand sanitiser.

  1. Remote Working

Where it is practical, remote working is encouraged amongst our staff. Many of our business functions (such as accounting/bookkeeping) are already performed remotely and we will seek to extend this to staff in our bookings and operations departments.

For the foreseeable future, we have also greatly reduced the need for physical meetings and social interactions with customers, suppliers and other relevant parties. All business meetings going forwards will take place via video/audio conferencing services where possible.  We will also actively seek to restrict visitors (including crew visitor for gear checktesting) to our premises, unless attendance is absolutely essential.

  1. Technical Equipment

Shoot Blue’s core service is the rental of camera and lighting equipment. We are acutely aware that the coronavirus can remain viable on a range of surfaces for long periods of time (48 hours+ has been reported in scientific research). Therefore, where practical, we will disinfect equipment to mitigate the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

This includes the following procedures for working with technical equipment.:

  • Equipment surfaces that are prone to being manually handled/touched will be cleaned using an alcohol based disinfectant. Such ‘high-traffic’ surfaces include: flight case handles, camera handles/grips, equipment buttons and control surfaces, viewfinders, lens housings, follow focus systems, memory cards, batteries, microphones, cables and walkie-talkies.
  • Cleaning/disinfecting of equipment will involve a two-step process. Step one will be to clean the equipment before it leaves our premises; step two will be cleaning the equipment once it has been returned to us.
  • Our prep technicians will wear masks and protective disposable gloves which will be replaced once an equipment order has been prepared and disinfected.
  • “Contents disinfected” tags/labels are attached to rental equipment where practical to indicate it has been cleaned in accordance to our above guidelines.
  1. Equipment Delivery and Collection

    Our delivery drivers will wear face masks and disposable gloves during equipment drop-off and collection. Hand sanitiser will also be carried in our delivery vehicles and our drivers will be required to use this going between locations/premises.

    Delivery/collection will be ‘contactless’ and our drivers will adhere to the 2 metre social distancing measures for vehicle loading/unloading and equipment handover. Written/electronic signatures will not be requested from clients, instead a PDF delivery note will be emailed to clients prior to the drop-off.

    For clients wishing to  collect/return equipment from our premises (or sending a courier), the same ‘contactless’ and social distancing procedures will apply.

  2.  Review of our COVID-19 Safe Working Policy

    We will frequently review this policy to ensure that it follows and complies with the latest guidance and ‘best practice’ on COVID-19 risk mitigation.

If you would like to discuss or learn more about our procedures for mitigating the risk of COVID-19 further, please call us on 0208 343 1260 or email [email protected]

Version: 1.5

Document Updated: 28 April 2021

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