Health and Safety on TV and Film Sets: Why a Standby Ambulance Is Essential

Television, film, and commercial productions may look glamorous from the outside, but behind the scenes they involve intense physical work, long hours, and genuine health risks [1]Source: UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) -- Managing Health and Safety in Film Production — hse.gov.uk[2]Source: US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — osha.gov. From high falls and pyrotechnics to heavy equipment and extreme weather, production sets present hazards that demand professional medical preparedness. Under occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations, productions classified as hazardous workplaces are legally required to provide on-site medical coverage [4]Source: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Labour -- Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 — mevzuat.gov.tr.

Quick answer. In Istanbul, the bulk of Turkish series and film shoots happen in Beykoz Kundura, Ayazağa, and Pendik-Tuzla studios. Any production company employing at least one worker is subject to the general employer duty under Article 4 of Turkey's Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 to safeguard workers' health and safety [4]Source: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Labour -- Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 — mevzuat.gov.tr. Productions involving stunts, pyrotechnic effects, or 50+ crew members fall under the "hazardous" category; on these shoots, a standby ambulance and on-site EMT/paramedic are strongly recommended based on risk assessment and are common industry practice [4]Source: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Labour -- Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 — mevzuat.gov.tr.

Istanbul Set Geography: Where Are the High-Risk Locations?

Turkish drama and film production is concentrated in Istanbul, and each studio district carries a different risk profile:

• Beykoz Kundura and Beykoz Studios: The home of period drama and feature films. Wooden sets, candles, sword choreography, and horse scenes elevate fire and trauma risk.
• Ayazağa, Maslak, Seyrantepe corridor: Advertising agencies and major commercial sets cluster here. High cranes, jibs, and generators on open lots, surrounded by heavy traffic that requires careful ambulance access planning.
• Güzelyalı (Pendik) and Tuzla axis: Action series favor this zone for fight, vehicle-explosion, and high-fall scenes. Coastal open lots and disused industrial backdrops mean access routes must be confirmed in advance.
• Sultanahmet, Balat, Karaköy historic streets: Narrow lanes can double an ambulance's maneuvering time. Reality shows and street shoots add crowd-control complexity.

Common Health Risks on Production Sets

Every set is different, but the most frequently encountered hazards share common themes:

• Action and stunt scenes: Traumatic injuries from falls, impacts, cuts, and closed trauma. In head-impact stunt cases, rapid assessment and prompt transport when needed are critical; AAFP concussion guidance focuses on ruling out cervical-spine injury and serious head trauma and on close symptom monitoring [5]Source: AAFP Clinical Recommendations for Acute and Chronic Conditions — American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). A set ambulance service stands ready for exactly these scenarios.
• Pyrotechnic and special effects fires: Tipped candles in period dramas, smoke-machine respiratory reactions in commercials, controlled-explosion misfires in action shoots. For burns and chemical injuries, evidence-based first aid is to move away from the source and irrigate the burn with copious, lukewarm running water for at least 20 minutes [6]Source: ANZCOR Guideline 9.1.3 -- First Aid for Burns — Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation (ANZCOR).
• Long working hours and fatigue: 14-18 hour shoot days regularly produce fainting and hypoglycemia events flagged to the on-set Emergency Medical Technician (ATT) [3]Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) -- Safety and Health at Work — ilo.org.
• Weather exposure: 38°C+ heat strokes on Tuzla-Pendik open lots in summer; hypothermia and frostbite risk during winter night shoots [2]Source: US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — osha.gov.
• Equipment accidents: Crush injuries caused by heavy lighting rigs, jibs, camera dollies, and grip hardware [1]Source: UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) -- Managing Health and Safety in Film Production — hse.gov.uk.
• Acute cardiac events: Chest pain in 50+ extras or hypertensive crew members. According to the American Heart Association, chest compressions (CPR) started early markedly improve the chance of survival, so starting without delay is critical [7]Source: Starting bystander CPR within 10 minutes of cardiac arrest may improve survival — American Heart Association.

Set Risk Matrix (Quick Reference)

Why Should a Standby Ambulance Be Mandatory?

1. Immediate On-Scene Response

Production locations are often in remote areas, industrial zones, or neighborhoods with heavy traffic congestion. Waiting for an external ambulance to navigate to an unfamiliar set address wastes critical minutes [1]Source: UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) -- Managing Health and Safety in Film Production — hse.gov.uk. A standby ambulance crew can begin treatment within seconds of an incident, stabilize the patient, and then transport directly to the most appropriate hospital.

2. Legal and Regulatory Requirements

In Turkey, the Occupational Health and Safety Law (No. 6331), Article 4, places the obligation on the employer to "take every measure necessary for the health and safety of workers"; Article 6 requires the employer to assign an occupational safety specialist and a workplace physician for OHS services, and -- in very-hazardous workplaces with ten or more employees -- to additionally assign other health personnel; Article 14 requires reporting any work accident to SGK within three working days [4]Source: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Labour -- Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331 — mevzuat.gov.tr. The Law does not itself mandate keeping an "ambulance" or an infirmary on set; maintaining a standby ambulance and EMT on site is a measure taken following a risk assessment (Article 4) and a common industry practice. Production companies typically fulfill this responsibility by contracting a private ambulance provider.

Internationally, similar standards exist. The UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) [1]Source: UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) -- Managing Health and Safety in Film Production — hse.gov.uk and the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) [2]Source: US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — osha.gov both provide guidelines for medical preparedness on film and television sets.

Anonymized Field Scenarios

The cases below are anonymized, generalized summaries of scenarios observed during Nova Ambulans on-set deployments, intended for educational reference.

First case -- Costume fire on a period drama (Beykoz). A toppled candelabra ignited a costume hem. The standby paramedic reached the scene in 30 seconds; the second-degree burn stayed limited to the upper thigh. Cold-water irrigation, sterile dressing, and rapid transport returned the actor to work within three days.

Second case -- Stunt fall on an action series (Pendik). A stunt performer fractured an ankle during a 4-metre rooftop jump rehearsal. On-scene immobilization, IV pain control, and prevention of poor positioning kept the injury a simple closed fracture.

Third case -- Cardiac event during a reality shoot (Ayazağa). A 58-year-old extra reported chest pain after extended waiting in the heat. On-scene ECG showed STEMI findings; ASA 300 mg sublingual was administered, IV access established, and direct cath-lab routing arranged by phone with the receiving hospital. Symptom-to-perfusion time was 38 minutes.

3. Crew Morale and Confidence

When the cast and crew know that professional medical support is on-site, they work with greater confidence and focus. This is especially important for performers executing physically demanding or potentially dangerous scenes. Knowing help is immediately available reduces anxiety and allows everyone to concentrate on their craft.

Planning Health Coverage for Your Production

Production managers and health-and-safety coordinators should address these questions during pre-production:

1. Does the shooting schedule include high-risk scenes? Fights, vehicle chases, explosions, aerial work, and water scenes all warrant dedicated medical standby.
2. Is the ambulance access route clear? Verify that the ambulance can always enter and exit the set location without obstruction.
3. Are there cast or crew members with chronic conditions? Collect relevant medical information and share it (confidentially) with the on-set medical team.
4. Have nearby hospitals been identified? Map the closest emergency departments and specialty centers (e.g., burn units, trauma centers) in advance.
5. What is the night-shoot protocol? Reduced visibility and cold temperatures increase risk during overnight filming [3]Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) -- Safety and Health at Work — ilo.org. Medical planning should account for these additional hazards.

Nova Ambulans Set Services

Nova Ambulans provides specialized health and safety solutions for the production industry:

• Fully Equipped Ambulance: Vehicles carrying advanced life support equipment, ready for immediate deployment.
• Experienced Crew: Paramedics and emergency medical technicians familiar with the unique dynamics of a production environment.
• Flexible Scheduling: Coverage that adapts to day shoots, night shoots, and extended production hours.
• Confidentiality: Full respect for production secrecy and intellectual property.

We have supported productions of varying scales across Istanbul -- from major television series to international film projects and high-profile commercial shoots.

A Quick Safety Checklist for Cast and Crew

• Stay hydrated throughout the day; avoid heavy meals before physically demanding scenes.
• Always perform warm-up exercises before action, fight, or dance sequences.
• Report any feeling of illness or discomfort to the set manager and medical team immediately.
• Never remove safety equipment (harnesses, helmets, knee pads) for aesthetic reasons -- scene design should accommodate protective gear [2]Source: US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) — osha.gov.
• Know the location of the on-set ambulance and the quickest route to reach it.

A professional production is measured not only by the quality of its content but also by the value it places on human life. Integrating health planning and ambulance services from the very start of your project minimizes risk and gives the entire team confidence to do their best work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legally required to have medical staff on film sets?

Under occupational health and safety regulations, the employer must take the health and safety measures identified by a risk assessment; on hazardous scenes an on-site medical team and ambulance standby are strongly recommended. While Law No. 6331 does not impose a specific "keep an ambulance" mandate, ambulance standby for action scenes and stunt work is an established industry practice and is often required by insurers.

What are the most common health issues on film and TV sets?

Fatigue from long working hours, heat-related illness, falls and crush injuries, allergic reactions to special effects materials, and stress-related conditions are among the most frequently reported health issues on production sets.

How is ambulance standby service planned for a production?

Planning is based on the shooting schedule, scene risk analysis, set location, and number of crew and cast. Nova Ambulans provides on-site medical teams that remain on standby throughout the production period.