Injury Action Plan

Last updated: September 2026

A safe workplace should have protocols when a performer or stage manager sustains work-related injuries. Employers should have an Injury Action Plan (IAP) and educate workers on the safety protocols in place in case an injury occurs. Injuries can include abrasions, contusions, puncture wounds or other wounds to the body; concussions, whiplash, or other injuries to the head; falls; burns; vocal injuries, trouble breathing, respiratory distress or choking; heat stroke or heat exhaustion; sprains, strains and pulled muscles; as well as general discomfort, pain, etc.

The union strongly encourages all employers to have protocols fitting these guidelines in place for work, auditions, rehearsals and performances.

  1. The plan should be in writing and cover, but not be limited to, incident preparedness, triage, and treatment protocols, applying first aid, medical emergency procedures, etc. The plan should include assigned roles for personnel when an accident occurs, including:

    • who confirms that 911 (or the equivalent in the country where work is taking place) has been called

    • who meets with Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

    • who stays with the injured party (including traveling with them to the hospital)

    • who communicates with the injured party's emergency contact, the rest of the cast, and the audience (if the accident occurs during performances)

    The plan may also include assignments for additional personnel who have the training to provide first aid and assess the injured party.

  2. No later than the start of the first day of in-person Equity auditions, a brief orientation should take place among the representatives of the employer running the audition. The orientation should cover, but not be limited to, distributing the plan and assigning roles to the representatives of the employer.

  3. At the beginning of the first day of work, the plan should be provided to the performers and stage managers. The plan should be provided to all swings, understudies, replacement stage managers, and performers at the beginning of their first day of work.

  4. When updates are made to the plan, a revised copy should be provided immediately to the performers and stage managers. Should any of the personnel assigned for incident preparedness, etc. change (including those that are temporarily away from the show, such as vacations, ill, injured, etc.), the introduction of the new personnel should be made to the performers and stage managers on the first day of work when the change occurs and the plan should be updated and redistributed to the performers and stage managers.

  5. When an accident takes place, the best course of action should be determined by both the injured party and the EMS. If the injured party is not sure about returning to the stage to finish their performance or rehearsal or work, then their emergency contact should be contacted immediately to assist them with their decision making. The injured party should not be pressured to return to work.

  6. Shortly after the accident occurs, the following should take place:

  • The employer should file a worker's compensation accident and injury report with their insurance company who is carrying the employer's workers' compensation policy.

  • The employer should report a severe injury or fatality to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).

  • Any discomfort, pain or injury should be documented in the weekly injury report that is sent to Equity. Accidents should be reported immediately.

  • The employer should check on the injured party and the company. The employer should also provide resources for the mental well-being of performers and stage managers since an unfamiliar occurrence took place at the workplace.

 

 

Additional information can be found at the following ANSI standard:
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