Safety on Set in Morocco
Heat, Desert, Remote Work & Emergency Planning
Heat, sun, and dehydration
Long days under the Moroccan sun can drain energy fast — without the right plan, dehydration and heat stress will sneak up on your crew. Keeping hydration at the center of your daily routine makes a huge difference. Don’t just “provide water” — plan for cold storage, distribution points, and redundancy so the crew can drink regularly and comfortably.
- Hydration plan: aim for ~0.5–1 liter per hour in high heat; increase for heavy exertion. Prioritise cooled drinks and electrolytes for teams on dunes, rigs, and road moves.
- Shade strategy: pop-ups where feasible (Camera Village, Grip & Electric, Hair/Make-Up, catering, extras holding). Natural shade (vehicles, awnings, rocks) should also be used. Rotate crew through shade.
- Protective clothing & sun gear: wide-brim hats, light long sleeves, sunglasses, sunscreen, and sturdy desert boots.
- Scheduling: strenuous work should be front-loaded before 11:00 and after 16:00, especially in summer months. In cooler seasons, breaks are still encouraged but less critical.
- Heat illness protocol: symptoms include cramps, dizziness, confusion. Immediate actions: shade, cooling with cloths or ice, oral rehydration. Escalate if disorientation or vomiting occurs.
Morocco is a filmmaker’s dream—epic desert landscapes, golden light, and authentic backdrops you won’t find anywhere else. But to capture it all, productions need to be ready for the heat, the dust, and the distance. This guide shows you how to protect your crew while you get the shots you came for, with realistic practices that adapt to both city and remote locations.
Desert-specific hazards
The desert looks stunning on camera, but sand, wind, and wildlife can turn into production risks if you’re not ready.
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- Sand & wind: wrap cameras and heads, keep optics in sealed cases, and tie-down pop-ups.
Pause overhead work in unsafe gusts. - Driving & convoys: enforce 4×4 use, tire-pressure rules, convoy spacing, and a sweepvehicle with tow equipment and water.
- Wildlife & plants: snakes and scorpions are a reality. Brief the crew, and where budget allows, hire local specialists to sweep and clear areas before call time.
- Night work: mark footing hazards, tape guy lines, and enforce a buddy system for walking to and from unit base.
- Sand & wind: wrap cameras and heads, keep optics in sealed cases, and tie-down pop-ups.
Food safety
Feeding a crew in hot conditions is as much about awareness and practicality as it is about formal rules. Catering staff must be familiar with the realities of hot-weather shoots, where fridges and trucks face limits and common sense matters as much as checklists.
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- Menus: lighter proteins, fruit, and hydration drinks are best. Avoid items that don’t travel well in heat.
- Hygiene: labeling and handling practices matter, but staff must adapt to climate realities rather than rigid cold-climate standards.
Communications & navigation
Clear communications can mean the difference between a smooth day and hours lost in the dust.
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- Walkie-talkies: ensure every department is properly equipped with sets and spare batteries.
- Mobile phones: coverage depends on the carrier. Some providers work in areas where others do not.
Crews must be aware of these limits. - Navigation: base unit maps, GPS pins, and rendezvous points should be prepared by the local Assistant Directors.
- Movement control: ADs also track sign-in/out during moves; convoy protocols are briefed in advance.
Medical coverage on set
A medic is your first line of defense, but the level of response depends on scale and location.
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- Set medic: qualified to the needs of the shoot. Kit levels vary — clarify expectations.
- Ambulance: for larger units or remote shoots, an ambulance is effectively mandatory.
Freelance services are affordable and should be booked as standard. - First-aid staging: small kits at Camera, Grip & Electric, SFX and other high-risk departments save time.
Remote-location emergency plan
Shooting far from paved roads stretches response times — your plan has to bridge the gap.
- Immediate actions: stop work, secure the scene, medic leads triage, AD controls set, perimeter secured.
- Call for help: use emergency numbers. Share GPS, access routes, and language needs.
- Ground evacuation: guide vehicles meet ambulances at pre-surveyed rendezvous points. Expect delays on rough tracks.
- Helicopter evacuation: only possible with advance arrangements, insurance cover, and confirmed providers.
Flights are costly and limited — plan and contract in advance. - Without this, ground evacuation is the default.
- Hospital pre-alert & reporting: pre-notify ERs, log incidents, inform insurers.
Crowd scenes & big-unit risk analysis
The larger the unit, the more pressure points appear. Crowd safety is about ratios and foresight.
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- Risk review: heat index, density, egress, barriers, stunts/SFX, medical response times.
- Ratios: more water, shade, toilets, medics. Add roaming “water marshals.”
- Vehicle separation: lock-ups to keep vehicles away from extras.
- Briefing: multilingual PA team delivers safety rules before rolling.
8) Insurance, repatriation & paperwork
Insurance is often the least glamorous line in a budget, but it’s where many productions stumble.
- Coverage: all cast/crew must be insured for emergencies.
Local Moroccan policies may have lower coverage limits than European/US equivalents. - International standards: if uniform foreign cover is required, this must be communicated early and agreed by all parties. International production insurance may need to extend locally, especially for third-party liability.
- Guarantees: confirm admission guarantees and rehearse letter-of-guarantee processes with insurers or providers.
- Medical info: allergies/meds with medic; passports and next-of-kin with production office.
- Coverage: all cast/crew must be insured for emergencies.
Quick-reference: Emergency numbers in Morocco
(Verify locally; routing can differ by region.)
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- Police: 190
- Ambulance / Medical: 150
- Fire / Civil Protection: 15
- From mobile: 112
Pre-shoot safety checklist
Daily checks to copy into your call sheet.
■ Set medic engaged; ambulance booked if unit is large or location remote.
■ Heat plan: water math, cooled drinks, shade footprint, staggered breaks.
■ Comms: walkie-talkies + spares; test carrier coverage; convoy SOP clear.
■ Maps: GPS pins for unit base, ER, rendezvous, and (if pre-arranged) LZ.
■ Risk assessment filed for crowds/vehicles/stunts/SFX; multilingual briefing.
■ Insurance verified; international standards clarified; gaps covered.
■ Catering vetted; staff experienced in local conditions and climate limits.
■ Daily medical log & reporting agreed (AD ↔ Medic ↔ Production).
Morocco offers extraordinary production value, but it asks respect in return. From desert winds to limited medical infrastructure, success lies in preparation, clear communication, and pragmatic choices. Treat safety as part of the production craft: plan it, brief it, and adapt it daily. With the right awareness, your crew stays safe, your production stays on track, and Morocco rewards you with images found nowhere else in the world.
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