Independents and Independent Productions
Vetting Process for Independant Production Companies

Independents and Independent Productions

Vetting Process for Independant Production Companies

Independant Source of Safety Advice

High Risk Work

BBC Staff loan out to Independents

Accidents and Incidents

Monitoring and Review of Independents Safety Performance

Common Questions

Key Points

Stage 1

Business Affairs Managers to check on their database if the company have been vetted in the last 3 years. If they have and there are no outstanding comments/notes or restrictions from BBC Safety, the production does not come under the High Risk definition, and the new commission is in the same genre as the previous commission, then the Production can be given the go ahead.

If the company have previously been vetted, but it was over 3 years ago, then Business Affairs Manager must ask the company to send in their health & safety policy for review. Once this has been received, it should be sent on to BBC Safety who will review it.

If the commission is from a company that hasn't been used by the BBC before, or it is a company who are producing a totally different genre to what they produced previously - ie they previously produced a studio interview type programme, but are now being commissioned for a period drama - then you should move onto Stage 2 below.

Stage 2

Business Affairs Managers must let the Independent know what is required of it as soon as possible. They need to send the following documents to the Independent:

Generic letter explaining the process.
Health & Safety Questionnaire (a separate form is available for Non-UK based Independents).
Guidance sheet for Independents to help them fill out the health & safety questionnaire.
Frequently asked Questions sheet to further aid the Independent.

Stage 3

When the Business Affairs Manager receives the completed questionnaire and relevant attachments - eg Health & Safety Policy, Risk Assessments, back from the Independent, they must send them to BBC Safety for vetting.

Stage 4

BBC Safety will vet the Independents safety paper work to determine whether or not they have the necessary safety management arrangements in place. BBC Safety will inform the Business Affairs Manager of their decision and the actions to be taken, and will return any paperwork to the Business Affairs Manager.

Stage 5

Implement actions following vet. Actions will fall into one of the 2 categories below:-

1) BBC Safety approve the

Independents Safety arrangements

Business Affairs Manager inform Independent, update their records on database and ensure all paperwork is kept on file.

2) BBC Safety request further information or clarification of some information before they approve Independent

Business Affairs Manager goes back to Independent for this further information, & once received sends on to BBC Safety for approval. BBC Safety will either approve or reject once again if information is still not sufficient. BBC Safety will inform Business Affairs Manager of decision, who will then in turn inform Independent, update their records accordingly, & ensure all paperwork is kept on file. (NB, if BBC Safety reject Independent again at this point, they will on request from the Independent, via the Business Affairs Manager, speak directly to the Independent to clarify any outstanding issues).