Health, Safety and Professional Practice in the Performing Arts
What the exam tests
Health, Safety and Professional Practice tests your ability to plan safe work and behave ethically. Questions may ask for a risk assessment, emergency plan, vocal-care plan or professional conduct response.
Core rules
- Identify hazards, rate likelihood and severity, then apply the hierarchy of control: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate and only then use personal protective equipment.
- Venue checks: fire exits, capacity, electrical safety, cable routes, rigging, trip hazards, lighting and sound levels, hearing protection.
- Body care: warm-up and cool-down, hydration, vocal rest, safe lifting, fatigue and mental-health awareness.
- People: safeguarding minors, consent, anti-bullying, intimacy protocols, first aid and emergency procedures.
- Professional practice: punctuality, contracts, insurance, copyright, confidentiality and clear communication.
Worked example
A hall performance has cables across a walkway. The risk assessment records the hazard and rates it high likelihood and high severity. Controls: reroute the cables; if impossible, use a cable ramp and tape, keep the walkway lit, add signage, assign a steward and brief performers. Reasoning: elimination is best; administrative controls and PPE come last. The control is recorded and checked at the technical rehearsal.
Traps that cost marks
Writing 'be careful' instead of controls; no likelihood or severity rating; no emergency plan; ignoring sound levels; no consent or safeguarding; unsafe lifting.