Work with animals in education or entertainment
Overview
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
work professionally and ethically and within the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
confirm that all the relevant legal and statutory requirements for working with animals on set are maintained
comply with the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation and associated codes of practice
confirm that the relevant environmental and health and safety policies and risk assessment requirements are put into practice across your area of responsibility
check and confirm that the animal’s welfare needs are maintained during their stay on the education or entertainment production set
confirm that specialist veterinarians are available for emergency situations
assess the potential risks to health and safety in this area of work
liaise with the relevant people regarding the health and safety implications of having the animal on an education or entertainment production set
introduce the animal to the education or entertainment production set in a way that maintains its health and welfare
advise the education or entertainment production teams on the working conditions required for the animal
check that the animal is able to perform the required action in accordance with its prior training
introduce the animal to the people it is working with on the education or entertainment production set, using relevant and safe methods
instruct the artiste on the nature and temperament of the animal they are working with
instruct the artiste in handling techniques and commands to help them work with the animal
assist the artiste to become familiar with the animal
monitor and maintain the safety of the animal and the artiste at all times, taking action if the animal, artiste or anyone involved in or affect by your work are in danger
report to the relevant person any problems or potential difficulties in introducing the animal and the artiste to each other
take the animal safely onto or off the education or entertainment production set
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
your professional responsibilities when working with animals in education or entertainment and the limits of your authority, expertise, training, competence and experience
your responsibilities under relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, associated codes of practice and organisational policies
your responsibility under the relevant animal health and welfare and animal-related legislation and associated code of practice
the relevant legal and statutory requirements that relate to animals working on the education or entertainment production set
how to maintain animal's welfare needs throughout their stay in the education or entertainment production environment
the specific welfare needs of animals during their stay on the production set
the safety needs of specific animals and how to identify hazards and assess risks to the animal and artiste
the methods by which individual animals can be introduced to education or entertainment production sets
the kind of working conditions that specific animals require on the education or entertainment production set
how to detect the symptoms of stress that the animals you are working with are likely to display
the kind of alternative handling that may be available if animals find the education or entertainment production set unduly stressful
the importance of checking that the animal’s welfare needs are met during their stay on the education or entertainment production set
the filming techniques, camera shots and angles that are commonly used in order to facilitate the filming of the animal in the required action
the instructional techniques to help artistes in the handling of animals
how to assist the artistes to become familiar with animals
how to recognise that the artiste or animal is not safe or is suffering undue stress and what action to take
who to report problems and potential difficulties to in relation to introduction of the animal and the artiste
the kind of incidents that may commonly occur when working animals on the education or entertainment production set and the action to take
why handlers need to remain available on the education or entertainment production set when animals are working
the care requirements for the animal following the performance
Scope/range
temperature
weather conditions
light
space
optimum working times
duration of time in action
animal's costume, make-up and accoutrements
animal suffering stress
encountering difficulties working with the animal
production being postponed
animal not performing
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
Current animal welfare legislation:
England and Wales, Animal Welfare Act
Scotland, Animal Health and Welfare Act
Northern Ireland, Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland)