ITV signs up for Parashoot
1 September 2009
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UK broadcaster subscribes to BU's bespoke risk assessment tool devised for the media industry. |
ITV has become the first major organisation to sign up to a new web-based tool for media professionals to carry out efficient and comprehensive risk assessments for film and television unveiled this summer.
Parashoot, an online tool which provides real confidence and guidance in making production based risk assessments was developed by the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice (CEMP) based in the Media School at BU.
The system's creator, CEMP Director Jonathan Wardle, believes that Parashoot's flexibility means it can help a wide range of media companies and higher education institutions looking to reduce the time and excessive paperwork normally associated with vital health and safety checks. 20 UK universities are already using the system and ITV are the first high profile media company to sign up.
Ruth Denyer, Head of Health and Safety Risk Management at ITV said: "Parashoot provides an innovative solution to risk assessment that really suits the production business. The main benefit for us is that it provides sensible and appropriate advice and guidance which can be accessed throughout the risk assessment process which helps productions manage the paperwork involved in risk assessment. It provides a directory of useful safety information and ensures appropriate authorisation."
Parashoot is designed to dramatically improve the quality of risk assessments without the need for users to undergo lengthy training. A built-in training programme helps production teams learn more about assessing risk the more they use it.
"Our interactive training animation provides an overview of risk assessment and focuses on what is likely to happen as well as helping to define major and minor risks," says Wardle. "It's an ideal tool for universities and media companies as students or professionals can initiate sign-off online through a system that's adaptable and auditable."
Parashoot also provides a dynamic knowledge-base which can be quickly updated as regulations change and is tailored to the needs of the user, particularly in relation to preferred suppliers and working practices.
"Myself and my colleagues in CEMP understand the production process and the need for staff to identify risks through a specific set of actions," said Wardle. "Parashoot's flexibility means it can help a wide range of media companies through a secure, rigorous and straightforward system that not only saves time but can improve the quality of risk assessments."
Parashoot joins a list of innovations developed by CEMP and rolled out over recent months including the CASPAR peer assessment tool and the Box of Broadcasts, described as the iPlayer for education which offers students and staff an opportunity to reserve, record and save programmes broadcast of mainstream television channels.