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Access and emergency procedures School of Communication

Security access

Communication specialist labs and facilities are current Student/Staff Card access only. Student Card access changes each session according to subject enrolment. You must not give your student card to anyone to gain access to these restricted facilities.

Building 3 access is from 8am to 12 midnight 7 days. After the mid-session break access is extended to 3am until the end of the session. You must carry your UTS Student ID card at all times and present it to UTS Security when requested.

Visitors' access

You must have written approval to bring visitors into MediaLab facilities on weekends and public holidays. If you don't have written approval Security will escort your visitors from the building. Email your request from your UTS email address to the MediaLab Coordinator who manages the facility.

Security

The security officers regularly ensure that alarms are working and the doors are locked.

You must produce your student ID card if asked and you must leave the area or building if you're directed to do so. Please cooperate with Security Officers — they're here to protect you.

For your own personal security, you shouldn't work alone in facilities after hours or on weekends. If you are working in the video studio, please follow the safety guidelines on the door of the studio.

Emergency procedures

The telephones in the open areas are for your use, not only for production but for emergency communication. Internal telephones are at every main lift.

Dial "6" in an emergency.

Become familiar with the location of fire extinguishers; expect periodic fire-drills, and know where the fire exits are. Do not use the fire exits as convenient short-cuts - they are alarmed.

Emergency phone numbers

Ambulance, fire or police dial:

  • "6" on internal line or 1800 249 559 from mobile phones to notify UTS:Security, and
  • 0 000 from an internal phone.

First aid

Contact first aid if you are on campus and require immediate first aid.

Electrical safety

Students are not authorised to alter electrical circuits or to make repairs of an electrical nature to any equipment, either portable or fixed, in the MediaLab.

All faults should be reported to MediaLab staff or if it is after hours to UTS:Security.

Studio and portable lights can only be used by students who have completed a Safety Proficiency test.

Accidents and follow-up

Report any accident, injury or near-miss that occurs on UTS premises, via an accident / incident report form. Students must report to a staff member. Staff must report to their supervisors.

Unsafe equipment

Bring any problems about unsafe equipment to a Production Coordinator or Equipment Store staff, and any questions about work practices to your Coordinator.

Move equipment safely

Health and Safety is your responsibility!

When lifting:

  • Bend at your hips and knees, not your waist.
  • Avoid twisting your back.
  • Use your leg muscles to lift.
  • Carry loads close to your body.
  • If the case has two handles, two people can carry it more easily than one.
  • Be careful with C-stands, tripods and power cords.
  • Carry tripods in the bag on your shoulder with the feet at the front, the top of the tripod legs on your shoulder.

Evacuation procedures for Bon Marche

From time to time, the University practices building evacuation procedures. The signal for evacuation is a siren over the public address system, followed by instructions. Do not expect to be told the reason for the evacuation order. Occupants are usually told to leave the building via the fire stairs. Evacuations should be supervised by the Fire Warden for each floor, however, the member of staff who takes on this voluntary duty may not be present. Therefore, when the signal for an evacuation comes, each person has two responsibilities:

  1. to ensure that people working in sound-proof areas near you are aware of the evacuation order; and
  2. to tell the Security Office on level 4, Tower Building # 1194, the location of people who cannot or will not evacuate, and then to wait for instructions.

Where circumstances dictate that a building should be evacuated by ALL occupants, the following procedures will be adopted.

  1. In the case of fire, the Evacuation system will be automatically activated by various systems. On the activation of a smoke detector the Fire Brigade is automatically called. This alarm also activates the EWIS (Evacuation System). This system consists of two tones:
    1. Standby tone: a long high pitched siren sound (Prepare to Evacuate)
    2. Evacuate tone: a shorter, harsher sound accompanied by a voice message advising evacuation of the building.
  2. Do not attempt to combat the fire - this dangerous task is to be left to professionally trained personnel.
  3. Staff are to take any students or visitors with them during an evacuation of the building. Provided no delay will occur, staff, students and visitors should take their immediate belongings with them.
  4. Evacuate the building via the fire stairs or signed exits. Do not use lifts!
  5. Move quickly - do not run!
  6. Assemble in the designated assembly area.
  7. Do not return to the building until the all clear is given. This would normally be advised by the Security Officer on duty on the advice of the Emergency Services Personnel in attendance.

Safety on sets and locations

The film and television industry has had a number of very serious accidents over the past decade, some of them resulting in serious injuries and fatalities. Because of this, the industry has established a national safety protocol regarding safety during every production. This involves the writing of a Safety Report for any production script which contains any shots which might be considered hazardous to crew or actors or put people and property at risk in any way. The current "Film Industry Recommended Safety Code" suggests, and now demands, that a Safety Report is required for any production containing any sequences that involve:

  • anything that resembles a stunt - and this might be as simple as a fall, a chase or even a simple shot simulating an accident e.g. a twisted ankle;
  • anything to do with moving vehicles - either crews shooting from a vehicle or shots taken of people within a moving vehicle;
  • any aerial shots;
  • any shots with animals;
  • any shots which contain special effects such as explosions,
  • fire simulations, construction collapses, or the use of any special chemicals to create colour or smoke illusions;
  • any shots which contain firearms or ammunition - including the use of plastic imitations of those firearms;
  • the simulated or actual use of any drugs or alcohol in a scene;
  • the use of any special rigs for mounting cameras and crew;
  • the use of any special make-up or wigs, and using special costumes that might present a fire or other hazard to the wearer.

Although UTS does not suggest that you do not use any of the above, the University strongly advises that should any scenes containing any of the above appear in a script, these scenes must be discussed fully with your lecturer before proceeding with the production. If your production does contain any of the above and you do decide to proceed without discussion with your lecturer, and then should anything go wrong, it could result in litigation that will not be covered by the University in any of its insurance coverage for student activities or normal liabilities.