About This Service
Film production in Georgia is not only a creative field but a sphere of labor relations: the health and safety of people working on a set are protected by the Law of Georgia on Labor Safety. This page explains the norms that matter most to production organizers: registration of activity corresponding to heavy, harmful and dangerous works involving increased risk (Article 4), employer obligations (Article 5), prevention and risk assessment (Article 6), and the classification of a workplace accident (Article 14). These requirements operate within the general labor-safety regime, and their breach carries legal consequences for the employer.
Registration of Hazardous Works
Every person carrying out heavy, harmful and dangerous works involving increased risk, as defined by a resolution of the Government of Georgia, must register the corresponding activity in the Register of Economic Activities (Article 4). On starting, conducting or ceasing the activity, or on any change in the registered data, an application for amendment is filed with the National Agency of the Public Registry under the Ministry of Justice. The law states directly: conducting such activity without registration in the register is prohibited. The procedure and conditions of registration are determined by an order of the Minister of Justice. For a production company, shooting processes tied to hazardous works require registration first and only then a start.
Employer Obligations in the Production Process
Taking into account the size of the enterprise, the number of employees, working conditions and the relevant risks, the employer must observe the legal safety norms; prevent harm to the safety and health of employees and other persons present in the workspace; manage physical, chemical and biological hazard factors; record accidents, occupational diseases and dangerous incidents; and provide information on request to the employee or their representative (Article 5). Training and instruction are conducted in a language understandable to employees and cover safety norms and principles, the safe use and repair of equipment, emergencies and evacuation, and existing risks and control measures. Training must be provided on hiring, before work begins; on transfer to another workplace; before introducing a new technological process or equipment; and repeatedly, according to plan. Trainings are held during working hours, missed days count as excused absence and are paid proportionally, and they are free of charge for employees.
The law protects vulnerable groups specially: a person under 18 may not be employed on work that may harm their health or safety; pregnant and nursing women may not be employed on work harmful to the mother or child or involving particular risk (Article 5). Where employees of several employers work together, each must cooperate, coordinate activities, and exchange information on risks. At workplaces involving increased risk the employer must, at its own expense, insure the employee against accidents during the working period, and it bears all costs of safety and sanitary-hygienic measures. Appointing a safety specialist or engaging an external service does not release the employer from liability. The employer escapes liability only where the accident was caused by circumstances impossible to foresee or beyond its control — and the burden of proving this rests on the employer.