Hi All, 

I'm an LA based filmmaker currently working a lot in Vietnam.  A third world country where I have run into horrible health and safety standards.  To sum it up, there are NO health and safety standards.

I made a video to serve as an audio-visual aid of what I am talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOiUCK7RTnE

Please watch it (or at least the first 3 mins) and make a comment if you can.  I am trying to bring about CHANGE in Vietnam and this is my very first attempt at trying to bring about public awareness. 

If producers, etc, see some international views on the comments page of this youtube video it may help to shame them. (and public shaming is a big thing in an Asian society)

Any advice members of this forum can also give me on how I can bring about change here will be greatly appreciated. 

I will start stipulating my safety expectations during pre-production and warn producers that I will walk off the set if they fail to follow through with what they verbally promise me. (they will never sign a contract if I draft one - but I can at least get them to verbally commit).

Thanks.

Looking forward to your feedback and support.

Best,

Dominic Pereira

Ever thought why film productions are a global activity? Cheap labour and low standards.

It is very offensive to state there are NO health and safety standards in Vietnam.

I am prepared to believe you observed no health and safety as you understand it being practiced.

Unfortunately there will always be individuals exploited when the opportunities for exploitation by others present themself e.g. a foreign film maker with money

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

Ever thought why film productions are a global activity?  Cheap labour and low standards.

I 'm not concerned about why a problem exists - but what the solution to said problem might be.

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

It is very offensive to state there are NO health and safety standards in Vietnam.

I am sorry you are offended.  But I am not sorry for offending you.

Originally Posted by: Dominic Pereira

Did you watch my video? interested in expressing your comments?

I did not watch your video and I will NOT be leaving any comments on an external platform.

I did watch the viseo and found it to be alarmist propoganda. It was like watching a poorly made public service video from the 60s. It spent a the majority of its running time pointing at dust and saying "look how bad it is here" without making any effort to explain how it should be improved.

It is an offensive video, although I personally was not offended. They are two separate things. You claim (in your opening post) Vietnam is a "3rd world country" which is wrong, by any definition of the word. "3rd world country" is outdated and borderline racist. I think this speaks volumes about your professionalism and motives.

Why, if you are so concerned, was the case study from 6 years ago? Did you have no current footage? How can I know that conditions haven't already improved? What change are you actually seeking to make? Your video is the culinary equivilant of complaining food tastes awful, then showing a film of chefs spitting in food. It is all clickbait with no substance. At no point did you discuss any hierachy of control. In fact you only control mentioned was "it should be done outside". What about wet cutting? LEV? Replacing materials for less hazardous ones? Even good ol' PPE? To name a few.

I won't comment on the youtube video as I don't want this video to get raised in the alogrithm, and I wouldn't want to critise it on a more public forum. I am sorry if this offends you.

Originally Posted by: CptBeaky

I did watch the viseo and found it to be alarmist propoganda. It was like watching a poorly made public service video from the 60s. It spent a the majority of its running time pointing at dust and saying "look how bad it is here" without making any effort to explain how it should be improved.

It is an offensive video, although I personally was not offended. They are two separate things. You claim (in your opening post) Vietnam is a "3rd world country" which is wrong, by any definition of the word. "3rd world country" is outdated and borderline racist. I think this speaks volumes about your professionalism and motives.

Why, if you are so concerned, was the case study from 6 years ago? Did you have no current footage? How can I know that conditions haven't already improved? What change are you actually seeking to make? Your video is the culinary equivilant of complaining food tastes awful, then showing a film of chefs spitting in food. It is all clickbait with no substance. At no point did you discuss any hierachy of control. In fact you only control mentioned was "it should be done outside". What about wet cutting? LEV? Replacing materials for less hazardous ones? Even good ol' PPE? To name a few.

I won't comment on the youtube video as I don't want this video to get raised in the alogrithm, and I wouldn't want to critise it on a more public forum. I am sorry if this offends you.

Well.  Finally.  Someone who DID watch the video and give me their honest feedback.  Thank you.  Now we are getting somewhere.

I don’t mind making alarmist propaganda.  Especially when I am dealing with a communist regime.  Fight fire with fire I guess. 

Yup… I was pointing at dust for a long time - to hammer home the point - so that it soaks into the minds of most if not all of the Art Dept  (who generally have no more than a primary 3 or 4 education).  This video has to arouse awareness in people (especially The Art Dept who are solely the ones handling all this material to build movie sets) and who have no idea that they are responsible for the destruction of their own health as well as others around them.  

“Poorly made public service video from the 60s” targeted a certain group, and I believe they were rather effective for their culture and time.  And if you say 60’s then maybe I am on target. For 10 years ago - Vietnam seemed to have a mindset that could be considered 1950’s America.

Yes. I agree with you. Using the term 3rd World was wrong.  I should have said "Vietnam, a rapidly industrializing country”.  My bad. For that I apologize.  I am dinosaur who graduated Uni in 1995 where that term was inculcated. So yes, I agree, the term is outdated.  I will be sure to avoid it in the future.

How do I know the conditions have not improved?  Because I have been here in Vietnam for the last 7 years since then. As well as 10 years prior to 2005.  So I have done 20 movies plus 30 other projects (between 2005-2021) and nothing has improved one iota in said time period.

As I mentioned, this is the first video.  An intro piece.  So yes, clickbait.  5mins.  Follow up videos will be made to discuss solutions (some of them you are helping me with with your feedback.  Thank you).

As well as videos explaining simple things like masks and the different masks needed.  Right now I am dealing with an industry where almost none of the Art Dept handling all these hazardous materials wear any form of mask and for the few that do - its simply a medical mask. 

Your chef analogy does not seem to make sense… I understand the food is awful part - ThatIi am indeed doing - but how am i spitting? It sounds like you are saying I am complaining about Silica dust and then producing more Silica myself? Or somehow doing something wrong and hazardous.  Elaborate if you may.  

You not wanting to comment on youtube is fine. That is your prerogative. I take no issue with it.

Once again, thank you for your honest feedback.

So, I have watched the video, possibly in search of some material that I might be able to share wider and to educate the workforce around me. 

However, I will not be able to recommend this video to anybody. The main issue I have with it is the overly dramatic/clickbaity style of this "exposé". It lacks depth and information regarding the very serious hazard at hand. As previously mentioned, it fails to highlight best practice that can be deployed and is reasonable to the situation you witnessed. If I was a responsible person for this filmset I would not spare a minute of my time for you unless you come and deliver me solutions to the problems at hand. You want to influence the people with the power to change, but this video will not achieve that.

The video fails to dsecribe the effect of the silica is on the lungs in a convincing manner. So many people have access to the internet, even in countries not as fortunate as the US or UK and many will have evolved perception mechanisms against click bait, e.g. keep scrolling.

There is at least one factual inaccuracy in it, as silica is not toxic in its true definition. Carcinogenic in its dust form when respirated, yes. There is a suspected association to an overreaction of the immune system leading to potential kidney issues, but this is not confirmed and not recognised as a significant hazard to control against. Also, it is false to state that a single exposure to high levels of silica dust will cause silicosis. It can, but is not guaranteed. Again this is making false statements not validated by medical knowledge.

I also noted the picture you used of a healthy and a silicosis affected lung, which is widely available on google images. I am intrigued by this picture, as it seems to insinuate that the person only breathed in silica on one side of their lungs, not both, if this only refers to scarring. I would question, whether this is a genuine picture of a case of silicosis or if it is a different condition altogether. Compare also to the example given in the worksafe video you added at the end.

In terms of cinematography, although I am no expert, the 60s styles were of a more appealing crisper standard and not as rough around the edges as this video. This is however not relevant to a safety forum.

I felt offended by the video as I perceived the monologue to be very patronizing. What is the point of accusing the art team of the most heinous health crimes? Not really relevant at all or adding value to the point you are trying to bring across?

However, you did state that you ended up coughing blood. This isn't really a sign of silica exposure in itself nor does it have to be worrying. I hope you have gotten this checked out for yourself to rule out any underlying health conditions. I would have been interested in hearing, considering the circumstances, what you have done to protect yourself upon this scare. Why not taken an opportunity to explain the use of tight fitting masks, face fit tests and selection of appropriate filters?

My comments must seem harsh but are well intended. I am sorry if they have come across as anything else.

Dominic, like yourself, I'm abroad in a country/area where OHS is not the same as where I'm originally from. Although it's an uphill battle, you must follow through on it regardless of the hurdles. We cannot pull ourselves to the side and point at what others are doing wrong. (LinkedIn "clown shaming" and "Darwin awards" comments are plentiful).

I'll be optimistic and believe that you were well intended with the video, alarmist as it might be. Perhaps trying to understand cultural differences and working on ways to bridge those gaps and reach the ones that might influence change might be a better approach.

Until then, you're as much part of the problem, as am I. Blood red fonts in videos and "high impact" messages identifying failures have long been dissproved as effective. 

Based on your responses so far, perhaps a look at your own biases would go a long way in helping you to approach the "locals" and get through to them.

Peter Gotch - Thank you for taking the time to respond.  This is great information!  Yes, I am concerned with silica as well as all the other hazardous things I am exposed to.  MDF dust, chemical fumes, spray paint, and other paint, welding, metal sawing and grinding.  Basically everything that occurs during the building and dressing of movie sets.  I am dealing with Art Teams that responsible for these violations on a daily basis.  Fully unregulated.  

The ART TEAM (who build the sets and dress the sets with props are the lowest paid, and most abused and disrespected Department on a Vietnam Film Set (as well as Live Concert Stage).  And hence its members are virtually those with very poor education and some with a criminal past)  They are generally the most unaware yet very arrogant. There of course will be exceptions.  They are both grossly underpaid and overworked - 18-22 hours per day is normal - with sometimes 25-32 hours of labor without sleep.  They will not listen to the AD (who is supposed to control the set) and they will smoke and drink openly on set. There has been countless cases of beatings and stabbings on set by the Art Dept.

They will only use a broom to sweep up all this dust and refuse to vaccum or use a mop and water.  Even when I purchase a vaccum cleaner with my own pocket and bring it to set it reduse to use it.

Dominic

From what I can gather from your profile on the internet you work as cinematographer and have spent several years working on films in Vietnam. It seems  that you are concerned about Occupational Health and Safety practise in the Vietnamese film industry and your latest posting mention airborne contaminants that people working on set might be exposed to.

The issue of airborne hazards is well known and over the years quite detailed guidance has been published by organisations like the ILO describing the exposure limits.  These should be incorporated into national legal requirements which should describe not only the exposure limits but what approach  employers should take to ensure nobody is put at risk.

The people on this forum are H&S professionals and we have spent many years trying to get employers to adopt suitable controls. We understand all of this issues but we work mainly but not entirely in the UK within the framework crated by our Health and Safety at Work Act which sets out employers duties and has created a powerful enforcement agency, the HSE which has jurisdiction over all UK industrial and commercial sectors including the film industry   see https://variety.com/2016/film/global/star-wars-production-company-fined-harrison-ford-accident-1201886930/   for am example of their robust approach to enforcement.  It is clear that in many parts of the world that sort of enforcement action is absent, and employers can get away with practices which are in most places illegal.

IOSH members understand this, but we  don’t understand exactly what you want from us. We can sympathise but we cannot change practices in a country or industry that many of us are  not connected with. We can answer specific questions and provide support for certain H&S issues, but we cannot change the world.