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Covid-19 Operating Procedure

COVID-19 Risk Assessment

For Wedding Photography

Introductory notes

Peter wants to serve all clients in the best possible way and fulfil his role as wedding photographer to the highest level. 

To help ensure Peter is available and can continue to serve all couples safely the operating procedures below have been put in place. 

Each wedding day forms an individual working environment for Peter and in the interests of being able to continue to serve all clients safely the wider impact of practices at each location will need to be taken into account. Peter will be undertaking photography commissions in mixed wedding environments which are separated in some cases by 1 day and typically 6-7 days. 

Peter wants to promote a professional, approachable and friendly service during the wedding day but politely asks all clients help him to continue to fulfil his job to the best of his ability. This can be simply done by providing him with working space (min 2m at all times) and an environment which is as safe and clean as possible; not touching equipment, consideration by guests, mask wearing indoors unless eating, social distancing and practicing hygiene standards such as frequent hand washing an sanitising. 

The impacts will greatly reduce the risk of transmitting or contracting virus as well reduced risk self isolation for guests and Peter.

Peter will only partake in activities which are deemed or seen as advisable or lawful under  current government guidance for weddings. The client understands and accepts that Peter reserves the right to stop photographing and remove himself should the requirement arise.

Reducing the risk of isolation, transmitting and contracting Covid-19 through activity at a wedding.

Impact on the health and wellbeing of Peter and others. A medium risk exists where Peter may not be able to photograph at weddings booked by other couples if required to isolate or contracts covid. Similar isolation requirements and risk of transmission apply to guests.

Peter will take appropriate steps and when ever possible avoid the following: 

  • Indoor and outdoor areas which are crowded or do not permit safe working space with min 2m distance from guests –  Due to number of people or where accessibility  is restricted by tables, chairs etc.
  • Photographing indoors when masks are not being worn and/or ventilation is insufficient – max 10-15 mins in 1 hour from safe distance.
  • Environments where people are not actively practicing expected hygiene standards in line with government guidance.
  • Venue is not exercising appropriate measures in line with government guidance with respect to conduct of their customers/ guests, staff or hygiene of the venue.
  • Persons not wearing face coverings indoors unless they at the time of eating their meal – 
  • Prolonged or close contact with any individuals or groups of people.

In cases where risk is deemed to be high Peter will report the issue and in some cases remove himself or stop photographing.

Activity/Process/Operation

Taking photographs of people on various locations (indoors and outdoors) during COVID-19 pandemic, 

Identify the hazards (anything that can cause harm)

Transmission of the virus in:

1. Person to person contact,

2. Person to object/material contact.

Who might be harmed and how?

1. location staff, wedding guests and the couple could be at risk of contracting COVID-19, putting them at serious risk of illness.

2. The photographer could be at risk of contracting COVID-19, being exposed in an environment out of their control.

Estimated risk level – medium.

What measures are in place to reduce the risk?

1.. Photographer has referred closely to government guidance including but not exhaustively:

2. Photographer to maintain a high level of personal hygiene:

  • Photographer to wash hands frequently for 20 seconds or more following government guidelines,
  • Hand sanitiser will be used where washing hands is not possible,
  • No physical contact
  • Being alert of possible hygiene issues.
  • Wearing a mask if unable to maintain a 2m distance

3. Photographer to daily clean areas and equipment that are receiving high traffic usage or are frequent contact surfaces:

  • Personal belongings (such as mobile phone, car keys, etc),
  • Assets (such as a car and it’s interior),
  • Business equipment (such as a camera body, light stands, etc).

4. Photographer to avoid:

  • Wearing jewellery, watch, etc,
  • Handling cash if possible (use contactless payment where possible).

5. Photographer and Client to maintain social distancing according to government guidance.

6. Client to maintain personal responsibility for their own hygiene practices inline with government “stay alert” guidance:

  • Washing hands when arriving on location and when leaving,
  • Washing hands as frequently as needed and using hand sanitiser if needed.
  • Avoiding touching their faces.
  • Avoiding cross contamination with the photographer (by touching the photographer’s equipment, such as cameras, light stands, bags, etc).

By following all of the above procedures the estimated risk is of anyone contracting COVID-19 is Low

What further action is needed to reduce the risk? 

Please note that although the photographer has put safeguards in place to minimise the risk of a client contracting COVID-19, it is not possible to eradicate the risk completely. Therefor the client takes responsibility for their own personal health and safety and must make a personal risk assessment in order to identify whether they deem the residual risk too high.

In this risk assessment the client should take into account their own individual vulnerabilities, including whether they’re within one of the “at risk” categories as identified in government guidance.  

Peter will only partake in activities which are deemed or seen as advisable or lawful under  current government guidance for weddings. The client understands and accepts that Peter reserves the right to stop photographing and remove himself should the requirement arise.

Each wedding day forms an individual working environment for Peter and in the interests of being able to continue to serve all clients safely the wider impact of practices at each location will need to be taken into account. Peter will be undertaking photography commissions in mixed wedding environments which are separated in some cases by 1 day and typically 6-7 days.