Production Risk
Identifying and Managing Production Risk
At ITV, we require Producers of commissioned content to establish procedures that ensure a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for everyone involved in the making of our programmes. These procedures must be proportionate to manage the varied risks associated with the programme's format, content, and participants. A comprehensive approach to risk management is essential from the initial point of commission and throughout the production life-cycle.
Risk Assessment
Each programme commissioned by ITV is unique, so it is essential that each Producer complete a detailed Risk Assessment which will include the following areas: Participant Welfare, Health and Safety and Security.
Risk Assessments must cover:
Participant Welfare:
What is the risk to the participant’s mental health and wellbeing? Where reasonably foreseeable risks are identified Producers should ordinarily seek expert advice to assess participants suitability to take part in the programme, to support them during the production, and to provide appropriate aftercare. Special attention must be given to production’s involving children (under 18) and vulnerable people*, or where the format may involve conflict, competition, or other activities with potential psychological impact.
*Section 8 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code’s definition of a Vulnerable Person may include “those with learning difficulties, those with mental health problems, the bereaved, people with brain damage or forms of dementia, people who have been traumatised or who are sick or terminally ill.”
Health and Safety:
What is the physical health risk associated with the production’s environment, activity, and equipment? Producers must adhere to ITV’s Health and Safety Guidelines. Special attention should be given to productions involving stunts, operating in hazardous environments, or placing physical demands on participants and crew.
Security:
What is the security risk to our people and assets? Special attention should be given to productions filmed in locations with known safety concerns or where the content might attract unwanted attention.
Risk Control Measures
Producers are required to identify and implement suitable control measures that are proportionate to manage the level of risk identified. In readiness for Commissioning sign off, you will be directed to submit information to ITV via the Producer Portal, which serves as a critical resource in reviewing and documenting the risks and the actions taken to mitigate them.
Welfare Incidents
Producer shall report Welfare Incidents immediately to ITV. Such reports shall:
1. be made via the quickest available route, which may be a phone call but shall in any event always be followed up by email.
2. contain all relevant details of the incident in question;
3. be notified to the ITV commissioner, ITV compliance adviser and ITV legal and business affairs contact for the relevant Programme with the ITV Duty of Care Mailbox. at dutyofcare.safeguarding@ itv.com copied on all email correspondence.
4. Producer must seek from ITV confirmation of receipt of their notification and shall not assume ITV has received their notification until receipt has been confirmed
Welfare Incident means: “a participant welfare issue in relation to the Programme or any participant in that Programme (on or off screen) that may be, or may lead to, a substantial impact on any such Programme participant, a business interruption, disruption, or that prompts (or may prompt) significant national or international media attention
Guidance and Support Producers are responsible and accountable for risk management. However, ITV provides guidance in the following policies and resources:
The Whole Picture Toolkit, from the Film and TV Charity, is a free, online resource that offers expert guides, templates, and examples of industry best practice, to help productions embed wellbeing at every stage of a production. The Toolkit is endorsed and co-funded by the BBC, ITV, Channel4, Sky, Disney, Banijay, IMG Media, Warner Bros. Discovery, Apple TV, Amazon and Paramount.