Safety Tips for SAG-AFTRA Young Performers

It is the responsibility of the employer to maintain a safe working environment for you. If you are currently working on a production or when you do return to the set, personal care can also help in keeping everyone safe during this time of abundant caution. 

Tips for Parents of Young Performers

• Provide age-appropriate facts about coronavirus.
• Children ages two and older should wear face coverings when in a community setting.
• Regularly disinfect toys, electronics and surface areas touched by children. Launder items like plush toys regularly.
• Help children and teens cope with anxiety due to social distancing, school closures and work stoppage through breathing exercises, talking with a trusted adult, drawing pictures or writing about their feelings.
• Demonstrate good hygiene habits emphasizing the 20-second handwashing with soap and water and remind children not to touch their faces. This is important especially if they have been outside.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• Cover your mouth nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or remind them to cough into their elbow if a tissue is not available. 
• Create a flexible schedule and routine for studying that includes breaks.
• Stay in touch with your child’s teacher, school or private instructor to go over long distance learning needs.
• Encourage your child and teen to stay active and exercise for 30-minutes a day.
• Help your child or teen stay socially connected via phone or video chats with friends and family.
• Watch for signs of stress. Stress in children manifests as excessive worry or sadness, unhealthy eating or sleeping habits, and difficulty with attention and concentration.
• Take time to talk to children and teens about their feelings regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Parents should take time for self-care. If you feel good, children will respond positively.
• Keep Your Distance
• Don’t gather in large groups.
• Practice social distancing — keep six feet away from people to the extent possible especially in the schooling area.
• Precautions should be used if asked to participate in large crowd scenes and refrain from lingering in crowded holding areas unnecessarily.

Tips for Young Members in the Workplace

• Respectfully, refrain from shaking hands or hugging anyone.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover your nose and mouth with your elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Use a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you are not able to access a sink for handwashing.
• Carry your own pen so you can sign paperwork.
• During breaks on set, take a moment to wash your hands. In fact (being mindful of production), plan to wash your hands hourly and more, if needed.
• When allowable, get your own food and water from craft services and/or the lunch line, and social distance from others while dining.
• Bring your own makeup brush or sponges.
• Bring wipes for your trailer or work space door handle and/or frequently touched surfaces.
• Do not eat unpackaged foods that others may have touched unless it is fruit or vegetables that can be washed in soapy water. 
• Craft services should make available disposable gloves for use in the craft services area, but if not available make sure to wipe off any boxes, bags or other items you take with you before opening and eating/drinking and wash your hands before and after you do so.
• Consider bringing reusable items for personal use such as water containers, coffee mugs, straws and utensils.  
• Because it is unknown how long the virus can remain on porous surfaces like fabric; costumes and wardrobe departments have procedures for the cleaning and sanitizing of those items.
• Ask the costumers to explain or provide a copy of those procedures and ask if the items you are being asked to wear have been cleaned and sanitized.    
• Opt for digital call sheets, production reports and contracts when possible.
• Have forms that require your signature emailed to you.
• Dancers should be diligent that set pieces they are being asked to interact with and all surfaces they are being asked to dance on and touch have been cleaned and sanitized.
• Wipe down any props before and after you use them.
• Background performers should refrain, if possible, from eating/drinking prop food/drinks and ensure that bottles, glasses, plates and utensils have been properly sanitized by the prop department.
• With reports that the virus can survive up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel, it would be a good preventative measure to wipe off the refrigerator, microwave, water dispenser and coffee machine handles as well as other non-porous surfaces before and after touching them. 

Hair and Makeup

Hair and makeup artists on set are trained professionals who observe strict hygiene practices. For your own comfort, you should feel entirely comfortable asking for the following:

• Makeup should be decanted onto a clean mixing palette prior to application.
• Single use disposable applicators should be used for anything that cannot be decanted.
• Makeup brushes and tools should be cleaned with alcohol between uses.
• Hairbrushes and tools should be sterilized between uses.
• Fresh towels should be provided.
• Gloves or no gloves? The experts disagree on this one, with one camp contending that gloves should be used and the other contending that taking gloves on and off actually creates more risk. Everyone agrees, however, that gloves or not, thorough handwashing between clients is a must! Don't be afraid to inquire (and, if necessary, insist) that your makeup artists and hairstylists wash their hands before touching you, whether or not they are wearing gloves.

You have the right to advocate for your own safety. Be alert to circumstances that would expose you to additional risk and contact the union if it does not appear that producers are taking reasonable measures to mitigate the risk of exposure. You should feel entirely comfortable asking for the following:

• Access to hand washing/sanitizing facilities.
• Craft services provide disposable gloves and to use sneeze guards and covered chafing dishes for unpackaged food and/or self-service stations.
• A set free of visibly sick persons.
• Wardrobe personnel to confirm that they have washed their hands since their last fitting.

For additional personal protective precautions and recommendations for community preparedness, visit the CDC website here.