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Background Note

This is an example checklist that imagines a production using unpaid members of the public in a one-off, short-duration capacity e.g. as interview subjects or brief on-screen contributors. These individuals will typically have little or no experience of how television production works and no professional support around them. It should be adjusted to align with the specific circumstances of your project or shoot.

Under section 7 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, broadcasters and production companies must avoid unjust or unfair treatment of individuals or organisations in programmes. This includes dealing fairly with contributors. You have a duty of care to contributors who may be at risk of significant harm. Even for lower- risk or short engagements, informed consent and a level of care proportionate to the level of risk associated with their participation in the programme is required.

A risk assessment should be considered at the earliest stage in your production process. Carrying out a risk assessment is a useful way to determine what level of care is due in each case and what specialist support, if any, is required at each stage of your production.

Please note that when you create your Risk Assessment Checklist of this kind, we strongly recommend it be approved by your own legal advisors and your insurers.