Bectu calls for action on lack of rest breaks as research shows huge health and safety risk to crew

Bectu is calling for action on ‘broken turnaround’, after new research by the union reveals how widespread it is – and the severe physical and mental health impact it has on film and TV crew.

A worker is considered to have ‘broken turnaround’ when they are required by their employer to return to work within less than 11 consecutive hours in each 24-hour period. This is in breach of workplace rights set out in Regulation 10 of The Working Time Regulations 1998.

Bectu’s recent poll of nearly 500 film and TV crew, working in roles such as grips, costume, hair and makeup, lighting and locations, revealed that broken turnaround is commonly used on UK productions.

Responses make clear its detrimental impact – from falling asleep at the wheel and accidents on set to mental health struggles, missed family events and an inability to maintain a work/life balance.

40 per cent of crew surveyed said they were frequently asked to break turnaround, and a further 34 per cent were sometimes asked to break turnaround. Just 4 per cent said they had not been asked to break turnaround on any of their last three jobs.

Over 90 per cent said breaking turnaround impacted their ability to do their job safely and effectively.

When asked about the effect of working broken turnaround, 1 in 4 respondents mentioned either driving while tired, falling asleep or nearly falling asleep at the wheel, getting into crashes and/or car accidents, and ‘near-misses’.

Crew also spoke of the pressure to accept broken turnaround as standard, with many saying it felt like an expectation they couldn’t refuse.

Accounts from the survey include:

Broken turnaround often makes me feel as though I’m at danger of falling asleep at the wheel either the same day or next morning. I worked with a trainee who wrote her car off after falling asleep at the wheel and crashing into the back of a lorry after her turnaround was broken.

– Costume

It’s taken for granted that I’ll be first in and last out. However, I’ve had several productions complain about paying broken turnaround, making me feel guilty and a nuisance. The fear of being replaced is still very real.

– Locations

The current broken turnaround agreement doesn’t work. Productions can take advantage of making crew work longer hours and not incur a sufficient penalty. They are aware of the hours and how little rest the crew gets, but because it costs them hardly anything, they just go ahead with running over.

– Lighting

Broken turnaround has impacted my sleep, relationships, productivity and mental health. I have arrived home after work with only 8 hours until I have to leave again for work. It’s exhausting, mentally draining and not sustainable on top of the long hours we do already.

– Hair & Makeup

Working long days as a runner, feeling like I needed to prove myself and I couldn’t say no as they wouldn’t recommend me for future projects. I was driving to and from set and sometimes had to pull over and have a rest in the car due to hours overworked and sometimes actually slept in my car as I didn’t feel safe to drive and had no means of accommodation.

– Production

Bectu is now calling on the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (Pact), streamers and broadcasters to meet with the union to discuss broken turnaround and the huge occupational health hazards it can create.

While working long hours is a reality for many film and TV crew, Bectu’s research makes clear the significant impact on crew of overworking and a lack of downtime.

Bectu members report that clauses pertaining to broken turnaround in some Bectu agreements are not being applied correctly on a number of UK productions, including workers receiving an enhancement of their hourly rate for breaking turnaround rather than an additional payment on top – as is established across the scripted TV and film industry in other agreements.

The union strongly believes that crew should have a proper 11-hour break in every 24 hours or compensatory rest to help establish clear boundaries between work and personal life and mitigate health and safety risks both on and offsite, such as driving to and from set.

Where this isn’t possible, broken turnaround and early call payments should be paid at 1.5T on top of the workers’ daily rate. This is an important measure to deter employers from scheduling long and unsociable hours.

As UK film and TV production starts to pick up following a prolonged downturn, Bectu is calling on the industry to discuss setting boundaries on the use of broken turnaround to enable crew to maintain a healthier work/life balance.

You can read further testimonies from the survey here.

Bectu National Secretary Spencer Macdonald said:

“Changes to how broken turnaround  is applied were not made explicit during our negotiations with Pact and were therefore not part of our consultation with or balloting of Bectu members – meaning they did not have the opportunity to understand or vote on them.

“Many Bectu members have since reported the negative impact of these unagreed changes, including making unsociable hours a more regular occurrence, and this is clearly a ctitical health, safety and wellbeing issue.

“Time with friends and family is finite and you can’t spend money to get more of it or reclaim it when it’s gone. Therefore, having quality time before starting work again is what matters most to crew.

“Film and TV crew have undergone a particularly challenging 18 months in what can already be a very precarious industry to work in. Worryingly, many respondents to our survey told us of their fear of being replaced and pressure to simply accept broken turnaround as part of the job.

“But our research clearly shows the detrimental impact of broken turnaround and excessive hours. Fatigue, missing family events, severe mental health struggles, accidents and near misses – the effect on crew is clear and we are calling on Pact, streamers and broadcasters to come to the table to help resolve this issue.”

Calling all film and TV crew

Have you got experiences of the detrimental impact of working broken turnaround you’d like to share? We also want to hear stories of where broken turnaround can work.

Or would you like to get involved in campaigning on this important health and safety issue to help drive change?

Get in touch with [email protected]