By Christie Mattull

The crew member for a production that was filming on location in South Africa was having a great time go-carting during his off hours one weekend until his vehicle’s motor exploded.

Treatment for his injuries was covered by the production company’s foreign workers’ compensation policy. However, this is a grey area given that, while the individual wasn’t working at the time, he wouldn’t have been in South Africa to begin with had it not been for work. To avoid a claim problem for non-work related injuries, a Guild Travel Accident policy with Accident Medical coverage included, would be a wise decision.

The health issues of your cast and crew can become the production’s issue when cast and crew are taken away from home shores to shoot a movie. If insufficiently protected against accidents and illness on or off the set, the production may be liable for the costs when they arise.

Here are the primary health and accident policies that need to be considered to ensure all production employees are covered for any eventuality while away from home, whether it be an allergic reaction to an otherwise lovely seafood dinner after hours or a scene gone awry on set.

  • Foreign workers’ compensation. This sort of policy is intended for any company (not just in the entertainment field) whose employees travel outside the U.S. on business and suffer occupational injuries while on the job. Technically, this is all it’s intended to cover. But there have been a growing number of successful claims for injuries suffered during non-working times, with the argument that the injured party was only in the offshore location to work, not any other reason.
  • Guild Travel Accident insurance. This policy is designed specifically for the entertainment industry and is required by its unions. The policy automatically provides coverage to whatever limits the particular union requires, up to a maximum of $1 million per person. The Screen Actors Guild’s requirement, for example, is $250,000.
  • Accident Medical Coverage. This is helpful protection against non-work related health situations, covering medical and out-of-pocket costs that may be incurred, up to and including emergency treatment, transportation and lodging needs.

These policies are typically handled through the production companies’ payroll service provider, though there are exceptions. For example, coverage for those who are paid directly by the production company (not through the payroll service), along with interns, extras or unpaid extras need to be managed by your entertainment broker.

And as for local talent? Canadian production companies are smart to make a practice of hiring a local production service company and have them provide the insurance that protects those individuals and complies with the host country’s laws as one of their services.

HUB International’s team of Entertainment Insurance experts are ready to guide you on all the risk considerations that should be factored into planning for any type of production. Reach out to us today.