Information media and telecommunications

Activities performed by businesses in the information media and telecommunications industry include:

  • book publishing
  • film, television and video production including advertising
  • television and video distribution and broadcast and stock footage libraries
  • cinemas, drive-ins, film festivals
  • film post-production services including facilities, editing, special effects, animation
  • internet publishing and broadcasting
  • internet providers and data processing services
  • library information services.

Top causes of injury

There are a vast range of activities and workplaces within this industry. Each workplace presents its own safety challenges. But, across the industry common injuries are:

  • sprains and strains from repetitive movements and manual handling practices
  • fractures from falls and limbs trapped in machinery
  • slips and trips
  • hearing loss due to workplace noise.

Common hazards

Offices and desk-based activities feature across all areas of this industry but so to do film sets with heavy and potentially dangerous equipment, post-production facilities with noise and light as potential risks, and venues such as cinemas and libraries where the presence of the public complicate the safety risks.

Each workplace is different. You need to know what the hazards are in your business so you can assess the risk they pose.

To help you get started, we’ve prepared information on how to identify hazards and manage the risks common to the information media and telecommunications industry, including:

Stunt work in film, television and video production businesses is a significant hazard that must be managed.

Other hazards include:

Our hazard library has information information you need to manage hazards and risks.

Resources to help you

As the work health and safety regulator in NSW, we have a wide range of technical, business, management and support services to help you make our business safe.

Our 'resource' and 'hazard' libraries

Our resource library and hazard library is where you will find up-to-date information on managing hazards and risks as well as codes of practice.

We also have extensive information that will help you improve and review your risk management processes. This includes videos, checklists, training and supervisory information, and safety alerts.

SafeWork Australia also has a fact sheet on developing a hazardous chemicals register.

Our safety management resources

Our Safety starts here section has a range of essential resources including:

Our business resources

Our safety support services

If you employ fewer than 50 workers, you can book request a workplace advisory visit by one of our SafeWork inspectors who will help you identify hazards and develop risk management procedures.

Our mentor program, where other businesses work with you to improve safety in your workplace, is also a valuable addition to your risk management program.

You can call us on 13 10 50 at any time for assistance in finding the services you need quickly.

Keeping up to date

Get into the habit of checking our website twice a week for updates on your legislative obligations, on current incidents and prosecutions, for new safety tips and general health and safety information.

Link your business to our social media channels including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and never miss any of our news.

Subscribe to the SafeWork Wrap, our monthly newsletter, which contains safety tips, general information, industry updates, and news about our prosecutions and enforceable undertakings.

Subscribe to industry publications and join your industry group. There are several information media and telecommunications sector industry organisations including:

For employers, generally, the Australian Federation of Employers and Industries (AFEI) offers support and advice.

Specific unions for workers include the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Communications Electrical Plumbing Union (CEPU).

Legislation

The NSW Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) and the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (WHS Regulation) define the obligations both employers and workers have to health and safety in the workplace.

The WHS legislation is supported by our Compliance policy and prosecution guidelines, which supplements the National compliance and enforcement policy.

You can find a complete breakdown of business operations that fall within the administrative and support services industry from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

You also need to ensure you comply with your workers compensation requirements.

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