Compliance Alliance

SAG-AFTRA joined a coalition of entertainment industry unions to negotiate safe working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. These protocols eventually became known as the COVID-19 Return to Work Agreement. As part of the agreement, the COVID compliance supervisor position — also referred to as the health safety supervisor or COVID compliance officer — was created to manage the established safety protocols. 

In addition to identifying, reporting and addressing on-set health and safety concerns, COVID compliance supervisors are tasked with enforcing agreement protocols and have the authority to pause production if a concern is not resolved. Some have transitioned from previous positions such as assistant directors and on-set safety personnel, as well as other jobs within the medical field. Supervisors are required to undergo appropriate training and are physically present from general crew call until camera wrap.

Many have said that keeping the cast and crew safe is the most rewarding part of their days. Others are motivated by helping people get back to work and the effectiveness of the protocols. However, the job is not without its challenges. One supervisor who wished to remain anonymous shared, “Some crew members think you're too strict and others think you're not doing enough to keep them safe. You really can't win. It's really hard to keep yourself motivated. But you have to tell yourself that what you are doing is helping people stay safe and possibly even saving the lives of employees and their families.”

Scheduling additional crew and cast for a production has also brought an extra layer of stress. Another supervisor noted that not only must everyone be tested on a production, cast and crew are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) on set. The supervisor went on to note that it’s been a struggle to get everyone to cooperate which has resulted in too much time spent on mask enforcement.

“The amount of disinformation out there is staggering. It has been incredibly difficult to explain facts and science to our cast and crew when there is a very deep belief people have for stuff they have read or seen on the internet,” they said. 

The No. 1 suggestion all interviewed supervisors offered was that members should be sure to review the safety protocols in advance. Pay attention to instructions that explain what you need to do prior to checking in. And if you are working on a variety of projects at multiple studios, be mindful that the information you receive will differentiate from project to project. 

Here are a few other tips:

• Expect to fill out your questionnaire on paper or on your phone, and get your temperature checked before you even step foot on basecamp.
• Don't get a false sense of security. Be responsible for yourself and ask questions if you don't feel safe.
• Wear your mask at every opportunity. You put yourself and everyone else at risk when you walk around without PPE. The less time you expose yourself to others, the less at-risk you are to catch the virus. 
• Make sure your trailer has been sanitized. Oftentimes this is the only place you're allowed to not wear a mask, so make sure it's safe. If you arrive later in the day, ask if anyone else used your trailer since it was last sanitized. 
• Be empowered to take safety into your own hands! Don't wait for someone to be reprimanded for not wearing a face mask or face shield around you. Your health and safety are at stake. However, if you’re ever uncomfortable or someone gives you a hard time, absolutely get the COVID compliance team involved. There is zero tolerance for those not following protocol.
• Understand that each set is different. No one cares if rules are stricter than your last set. Remember that different sets have different protocols which need to be followed.

Tom E. Nicholson, a COVID compliance officer and a member of the Directors Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, provided this message to fellow union members: “What you do at home during your off time puts your fellow actors, the crew and all of their families at risk.”
 
And COVID Testing Administrator Aiden Lee reminded us that, “Patience is a virtue always, but especially when working with extra health and safety precautions.”
 
Special thanks go out to all the members who have followed the protocols and helped to keep sets safe during the pandemic. Please continue to play your part to protect yourself and others. For more information about safety on sets, please visit sagaftra.org/returntowork.

Photo: As a COVID compliance supervisor on-sets, SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local member Tom E. Nicholson wears personal protective equipment. Photo courtesy of Tom E. Nicholson.