Safer at Work Update: Recommendations Adopted for Film/Television Music Scoring

Helping all of our musicians get back to work while protecting your health and safety continues to be our number one priority. AFM Local 47 has been working with adjacent unions, management, both the City and County of Los Angeles, infectious disease specialists, rank-and-file musicians and scoring stage crew, as well as gathering the growing body of scientific studies of safety for orchestral musicians being gathered both here and in Germany and Austria.

The Local 47 Executive Board has adopted a series of recommendations created by the Post Covid-19 Work Rules Working Group to ensure safe work environments for post-production music that can allow millions of dollars of wages to return to the thousands of musicians who provide the world-class scores for the projects that California and Hollywood depend upon. These recommendations include:

  • Safety/Health Officer on-site throughout each session
  • Required facilities including hand sanitizer, masks, gloves, and paper bags for masks when not in use
  • Adequate air circulation
  • Sanitization of work site and all gear/equipment
  • Adjustments to existing entrance/exit, bathroom and catering protocols
  • Social distancing protocols for musicians, music prep professionals, and technical crew
  • Strict protocol for those feeling ill prior to or during the session, including ensuring they shall not be deprived of wages or benefits

The full report and recommendations may be found in the members section of our website, and the Post Covid-19 Work Rules Working Group will be hosting a virtual Town Hall meeting on Friday, June 5 to present and discuss these recommendations to the membership; watch your inbox for the registration link which we will be sending out soon.

Additionally, a working group has been formed to establish essential health and safety standards for live television and live performance. You are welcome to send me an email at john.acosta@afm47.org with any questions or comments about these efforts to return Safer at Work.

In Unity, 
John Acosta
President, AFM Local 47