A major employment requirement is approaching for stunt performers working under SAG-AFTRA’s television and theatrical agreements. From 1 October 2026, covered stunt performers must complete specified mandatory safety training in order to remain eligible for stunt employment under the applicable agreements.
Updated 22 August 2026.
The requirement is laid out in the 2026 TV/Theatrical Memorandum of Agreement and builds on safety-training commitments reached across the 2020, 2023 and 2026 negotiations.
What stunt safety training is required?
The training programme uses Safety Pass courses developed by the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund. The required core courses identified in the agreement are:
- A Course: General Safety and Injury and Illness Prevention Program
- A2 Course: Environmental Safety
- P Course: Hazard Communication
The courses are available online. The agreement also allows the parties to require additional training in future by mutual agreement.
Read the 2026 SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Memorandum of Agreement.
What happens after the October 1 deadline?
Once the training becomes mandatory, a covered stunt performer who has not completed the required courses can become temporarily ineligible for stunt employment under the applicable SAG-AFTRA agreements until the training has been completed.
That makes the deadline more than a best-practice recommendation. It becomes an employment requirement for performers working under those contracts.
Why is stunt safety training becoming more formal?
Stunt work can involve vehicles, heights, fire, wires, weapons, water, animals, fights and repeated physical impacts. But professional safety is not only about the spectacular hazards.
Fatigue, communication, environmental conditions, equipment checks, rehearsal time, impact exposure and a performer’s willingness to report an injury can be just as important.
The new training requirement reflects a broader industry shift toward treating safety knowledge as part of the professional baseline rather than something learned informally on set.
Concussion awareness is part of the same conversation
In May 2026, SAG-AFTRA held HeadSmart: Concussion Awareness for Stunt Professionals, a dedicated workshop focused on concussion recognition, symptom management, risk reduction and career longevity.
The programme addressed the high-impact reality of stunt work and included practical education around protecting the brain, managing symptoms and reducing repeat risk.
See SAG-AFTRA’s HeadSmart stunt concussion programme.
Safety culture is part of professional stunt culture
Stunt work will never become risk-free. The objective is risk management.
A professional stunt department identifies hazards, prepares appropriately, rehearses where necessary, uses qualified personnel and creates circumstances in which performers can execute the required action with as much control as possible.
That responsibility extends beyond coordinators. Performers need enough technical understanding to recognise hazards, ask the right questions and make informed decisions about the action they are being asked to perform.
What does this mean for stunt performers outside the United States?
The October deadline concerns performers working under the applicable SAG-AFTRA agreements, so it is not automatically a universal legal requirement for stunt professionals in South Africa or elsewhere.
But the broader trend matters internationally. Major studio productions move between countries, and stunt personnel increasingly work across borders. A performer based in Cape Town may work on a South African production one month and an international studio project the next.
Understanding recognised safety systems therefore has professional value even where a specific American contractual requirement does not directly apply.
What should stunt performers do now?
If you work under SAG-AFTRA stunt agreements, confirm your current Safety Pass status well before October 1 rather than waiting for the final week. Keep proof of completion available and check the latest union guidance in case implementation details are updated.
For performers outside the United States, the useful takeaway is broader: build safety education into your professional development alongside physical skills, screen craft and specialist stunt training.
Frequently asked questions
When does SAG-AFTRA stunt safety training become mandatory?
The current deadline is 1 October 2026 for the covered stunt performers identified in the 2026 agreement.
Which safety courses are required?
The agreement identifies the A, A2 and P Safety Pass courses covering general safety and injury prevention, environmental safety and hazard communication.
Can a stunt performer become ineligible for work?
Yes. Once the requirement becomes mandatory, covered performers who have not completed the training can become temporarily ineligible for stunt employment under the applicable agreements until they complete it.
Is concussion awareness part of stunt safety?
Yes. SAG-AFTRA’s 2026 HeadSmart programme specifically addressed concussion awareness, symptom management, risk reduction and career longevity for stunt professionals.
More stunt-industry coverage
Read our breakdown of the 2026 SAG-AFTRA contract changes for stunt performers and coordinators.
Sabotage Elite Action Lab represents South African stunt performers and action specialists for film, television, commercials and live productions. Browse the SEAL talent roster.
Featured image: photo by DiEGO MüLLER via Unsplash.