Studio Photography Equipment / Health & Safety

Set-Up
The setting up of this equipment with the light switched on, helped the shoot run smoothly with minimal complications. 

Bowens Lighting Specifications Ref [online] http://www.karlu.com/product_info.php?products_id=11333

Pre-Shoot Assessment

Coiled Cable Hazard was removed as this was trip hazard and care was taken to avoid banging my head on the overhead lighting. Cables were also inspected to ensure there were no damages in the cables before operation to help prevent possible electrical shock, i felt these measures were sufficient enough to provide a safe working environment.

Studio Camera

The camera i used in the studio is a Canon D5 with a 24-105mm lens, an ideal choice for my assignments the use of a link cable was required this cable was kept out of the walking area.

Cannon SLR D5 & Yellow link cable

Before lights were turned off the walk space was cleared of obstacles, the working area was familiarized as the equipment was set up in a predetermined fashion as required.

The controls on the back of the Bowens light unit allows the photographer to switch the lamp on and off select beep and pulse a strobe, it was directly connected to the Canon D5 using a sync cable.

Excessive cables are neatly coiled behind the lighting unit as these cables are fed directly down from the ceiling structure the light can be moved around during a shoot with no trip hazards.

Soft Box & Controllable Lighting

The above images were taken from my mobile phone during preparation of my studio photography shoot, as a log of equipment used. Using this equipment i continually explore different types of lighting. The lighting used is fully controllable. A pulse of light is also fired off in synchronization with the camera via a sync cable, a radio transmitter was also available for operation without a cable where cables might present a hazard.

During the initial set up of all the equipment i used careful consideration of where all cables and props and obstacles were placed to keep walking areas safe and clear, The working environment was dark during shots taken and my preparation prevented any potential hazards, such as trips falls and walking into any objects.

I identified some possible hazards, were cables that could cause a trip hazard, general check and test of all electrical equipment checking for damaged cables or power outlets, the scissor brackets that hold the overhead lighting can cause a hazard if incorrectly used, as fingers could get caught up in the mechanical brackets and cable pulleys.

Some of my other studio safety considerations, included familiarizing my surroundings, hazardous chemicals in the area and implications of using electrical equipment.

References

Hse.gov.uk (2002) Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) - COSHH. [online] Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/ [Accessed: 10 May 2012].

Legislation.gov.uk (1974) Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. [online] Available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/37 [Accessed: 10 May 2012].

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