The October 15, 2016 decree imposes specific obligations on film productions whenever a crane or lifting device is used on set. Prior declaration to the CCHSCT, a 5-metre safety perimeter, periodic equipment inspections, qualified personnel — these requirements apply regardless of the production budget. Ignoring this framework exposes the producer to direct criminal liability in the event of an accident.
What the regulation says, what actually happens on set, and what it concretely changes on the floor.
What does the October 15, 2016 decree cover for cinema?
The October 15, 2016 decree on health and safety conditions in performing arts companies and technical companies serving the creative industries [Ministry of Labour (2016)] integrates lifting equipment into a consolidated regulatory framework, alongside other high-risk work equipment.
For cinema grip equipment, the key provisions focus on three points. Every lifting device must undergo an initial inspection before first use, then a periodic inspection every six months. Using a crane whose arm exceeds 3 metres in height or whose rated load exceeds 1,000 kg triggers specific declaration obligations. And a 5-metre safety perimeter around the lifting zone is mandatory during manoeuvres.
The regulation applies to all structures employing personnel in the audiovisual production sector. A production company renting a Technocrane for a feature film is directly concerned — even if the equipment belongs to the rental house.
Which cinema cranes trigger a CCHSCT declaration obligation?
The regulatory threshold — arm above 3 metres or rated load exceeding 1,000 kg — excludes some commonly used equipment. The dividing line is not always where productions expect it.
A Jimmy Jib in short configuration (reach under 3 metres, 10 kg payload) falls below the mandatory declaration threshold. The regulation does not require mandatory periodic inspection, although best practice recommends regular equipment checks.
A Jimmy Jib in long configuration (7 to 9 metres) crosses the height threshold. As soon as the arm exceeds 3 metres of effective elevation, the declaration and perimeter obligations apply. This is where productions make errors of judgement.
The Technocrane, Supertechno, and MovieBird are systematically covered. Telescopic arm, load capacities above the threshold, working heights that always exceed 3 metres in normal configuration: these machines fall under the full scope of the decree.
“The question that keeps coming up during prep: does the Jimmy Jib in standard configuration fall under the decree? The answer depends on actual use on set, not the manufacturer’s theoretical specifications. If the configuration exceeds 3 metres in height, the obligations apply. Full stop.”
How does the prior declaration to the CCHSCT work?
The Consultative Commission for Health, Safety and Working Conditions in the cinema sector (CCHSCT) centralises declarations for shoots involving hazardous work, including the use of lifting equipment covered by the decree.
The declaration must be submitted before operations begin. In practice, it is integrated into the shoot preparation — ideally several weeks before the first shooting day concerned. A standardised form specifies the nature of the equipment, planned dates of use, location, the name of the designated supervisor, and the qualifications of the operating crew.
“On serious productions, this declaration is part of the standard prep package, just like filming permits for public roads. It’s not an extra constraint — it’s documentation. What causes problems is when the production decides mid-shoot to add a crane nobody had planned for. I experienced this on an Agat Films shoot: the crane arrived on the morning of the day, without a declaration. We shut everything down for two hours.”
The mandatory periodic inspections (every six months) generate a certified maintenance logbook. This document must be available on set throughout the entire period of equipment use. In the event of an inspection or accident, its absence significantly worsens the producer’s legal position.
What are the safety perimeter rules for a crane on set?
The 5-metre safety perimeter around the lifting zone is the most visible obligation — and the least well respected in the field.
The regulatory text is precise: during all lifting and load movement operations, no person not required for the operation may be within this perimeter. This includes actors, members of other departments, set visitors, and crew members not directly involved in the manoeuvre.
On a busy film set, this perimeter creates real operational friction. The cinematographer wants to see the monitor, the director wants to adjust the frame, the production designer is watching the props. These working habits directly conflict with the rule.
The practical solution: clearly distinguish between the preparation phase (installation, adjustments, rehearsals) and the active manoeuvre phase. During preparation, access can be more flexible. As soon as the crane is in motion with a load, the perimeter applies without exception.
“Thirty years of shoots, and the pressure to shrink the perimeter always comes from the same place: the production wanting everyone already in position before the manoeuvre is complete. It’s understandable. It’s not acceptable. A missed shot can be redone. An accident under a crane cannot.”
The 5-metre rule applies at ground level. It does not cover risks from overhead objects: electrical cables, decorative structures, ceilings. These aerial obstacles must be identified during the recce and recorded in the prevention plan.
What qualifications are required to operate a cinema crane?
The October 15, 2016 decree does not create a mandatory certification specific to the cinema sector — it refers to the general obligations of the Labour Code regarding training for the operation of lifting equipment.
Two levels of qualification are expected for equipment covered by the decree.
The crane operator must demonstrate training in the safe operation of the specific equipment used. For a Technocrane, this means training provided or validated by the manufacturer or by an approved body. This qualification is distinct from simple field experience.
The key grip bears overall responsibility for the safety of all grip equipment. They must be able to demonstrate competence to supervise the operation, assess risks related to the set configuration, and halt a manoeuvre if safety conditions are not met. Their liability is engaged even if they are not physically at the controls.
“What has changed with tighter inspections is that producers now request qualification documents during prep. Before, the key grip’s experience was enough to reassure everyone. Today, the shoot’s safety file includes qualifications for the entire lifting crew. I’ve seen this evolution accelerate significantly after 2018 — HBO and Netflix productions shooting in France are particularly demanding on this point. It’s a positive evolution, even if it creates administrative work.”
Reputable equipment rental companies supply their gear with up-to-date maintenance logbooks and technical data sheets needed for the safety file. This is a selection criterion to factor into supplier evaluation.
What the regulations don’t specify — and what gets resolved on set
The regulations set the minimum framework. They don’t resolve the operational questions each shoot raises differently.
Load-bearing surfaces are not defined by a universal regulatory threshold. The decree requires an assessment — it doesn’t say that a floor rated at 200 kg/m² is sufficient for an 800 kg Supertechno. This assessment falls to the key grip and, in some cases, to a structural engineer if the set or location warrants it.
Coordination with other departments is not formalised in the texts. The prevention plan, mandatory whenever outside companies coexist on the same set, must address the interfaces between lifting equipment and other activities. In practice, this document too often remains an administrative formality rather than an operational tool.
The regime for vehicle-mounted cranes — like the Supertechno — raises specific questions as soon as the vehicle moves on public roads. Road transport regulations then add to the decree’s obligations, with exceptional convoy requirements depending on the configuration.
For more on equipment selection and technical specifications of cranes used in professional production, the comparative guide to cinema cranes and jibs details the specifications, load capacities, and logistical constraints of each machine. For the broader safety rules applying to the entire set, see the film set safety guide.
The equipment available in the Mes 3 Filles Productions fleet — Technocrane, Supertechno, MovieBird, Jimmy Jib — are all maintained with up-to-date inspection logbooks. View available services or get in touch for a specific request.
FAQ
Does the October 15, 2016 decree apply to commercial shoots and music videos?
Yes. The regulation covers all technical companies serving audiovisual creation, regardless of format or budget. A commercial shoot using a Jimmy Jib in long configuration is subject to the same obligations as a feature film using a Technocrane. The triggering criterion is the nature of the equipment and its actual use, not the genre or budget of the production.
Does a Jimmy Jib require a CCHSCT declaration?
It depends on the configuration. A Jimmy Jib whose arm exceeds 3 metres of effective elevation falls within the scope of the decree and triggers declaration and safety perimeter obligations. In short configuration (under 3 metres), it falls below the mandatory regulatory threshold. The assessment must be based on the actual configuration of use, not the theoretical maximum capabilities of the equipment.
Who is liable in the event of a crane-related accident on a shoot?
Liability is shared between the producer (employer, bound by the general safety obligations of the Labour Code), the key grip (operational safety manager for all grip equipment), and the rental house (guarantor of equipment compliance and maintenance). In the absence of prior declaration, overdue periodic inspection, or breach of the safety perimeter, the criminal liability of the producer and key grip can be directly engaged.
Are periodic crane inspections the responsibility of the production or the rental house?
The mandatory periodic inspection (every six months) falls to the equipment owner — that is, the rental house. But the production is obligated to verify that rented equipment is up to date with its inspections before using it. The maintenance logbook must be systematically requested at equipment handover. Using it without a valid current inspection exposes the production to its own liability, independent of the rental house’s.
Does the 5-metre perimeter also apply during crane assembly and disassembly?
The regulatory text covers lifting and manoeuvre operations. Crane assembly and disassembly constitute high-risk operations that also warrant a safety zone, even though the 5-metre threshold strictly applies to lifting phases. In practice, a similar perimeter during assembly is recommended — it is during these phases that crane setup-related accidents occur most frequently.