What safety and consent best practices should adult performers follow when using extreme toy sizes on set?
Executive summary
Performers using extreme toy sizes on set should follow layered best practices that combine informed consent, medical and ergonomic precautions, clear contracts and communication, product safety verification, and on-set emergency planning to reduce physical and legal risk [1] [2]. Industry guidance and product-regulation frameworks exist to help implement those practices, but many specifics for porn-set uses are governed by production policies and local labor or occupational-safety rules rather than a single universal code [3] [4].
1. Consent must be explicit, informed, and documented
Consent for any scene that involves non‑standard physical risk must be specific to the act, device size and shape, and duration; performers should sign written acknowledgements that list health/safety protocols and limits, because legal guidance for adult film productions recommends written health and safety acknowledgements and clear contractual terms to avoid obscenity and labor disputes [1] [5].
2. Pre‑scene medical screening and physical readiness
Before using extreme sizes, performers should disclose relevant medical history and undergo any needed medical clearance or consultation with a clinician familiar with sexual health and trauma; industry guides emphasize universal precautions and health protocols for on‑set safety, and Cal/OSHA notes workplace health standards that apply to employees where relevant [4] [1].
3. Product verification, materials and sanitation
Only body‑safe, certified materials should be used: manufacturers and testing bodies publish safety standards (ISO/ASTM/UL) and chemical disclosure rules such as Proposition 65 that are relevant to adult‑toy safety, and third‑party testing or manufacturer documentation should verify absence of harmful substances and structural integrity before use [3] [6] [7].
4. Start small, use gradual progression and safe‑word systems
Practically, performers and producers should treat extreme sizes as staged progressive exposure: trial with smaller sizes off‑camera, rehearsals for insertion/removal, agreed nonverbal stop signals and safe‑word protocols, because set safety practice emphasizes rehearsals and specific communication protocols for high‑risk activities [2] [8].
5. On‑set safety roles, equipment and emergency planning
Productions should designate a safety lead or Set Safety Coordinator and have emergency plans, PPE and first‑aid resources available; film industry safety bulletins stress having a safety officer and detailed emergency procedures for high‑risk activities, and larger productions typically employ health/safety managers to enforce protocols [8] [2].
6. Limits, documentation and platform/obscenity risk awareness
Producers and performers must be aware that “extreme” sexual content can raise platform policy and legal obscenity risks, so detailed documentation (consent forms, scene descriptions, 2257 recordkeeping where applicable) and careful editorial choices help manage legal exposure while respecting performer agency [1] [5].
7. Vendor and manufacturer accountability, plus cleaning and maintenance
Rely on reputable vendors that follow manufacturing and quality‑control guidance; industry white papers and supplier materials recommend transparent cleaning, maintenance and user instructions for adult toys to reduce infection risk and mechanical failure during use [9] [10].
8. Power dynamics, coercion risk and independent contractors
Special attention is required where performers are independent contractors: workplace safety statutes like Cal/OSHA draw distinctions between employees and contractors, which can create gaps in protection, so producers and performers should voluntarily adopt the highest safety standards to prevent coercion and exploitation [4].
9. Conflicting agendas and practical limits of regulation
Product safety organizations, manufacturers and platforms have incentives to tighten standards and emphasize compliance; however, reporting and manufacturer materials focus on manufacturing standards and chemical safety more than on performance protocols for extreme on‑set use, so not all practical performance risks are fully addressed by existing regulatory documents [7] [6] [3].
10. When sources don’t cover specifics, default to harm‑minimization and medical advice
Where the reporting and regulatory literature do not spell out precise protocols for particular extreme devices or acts, the responsible practice is to prioritize harm‑minimization: get medical input, document consent, rehearse, verify device testing, appoint a safety lead, and have emergency procedures—approach decisions conservatively rather than relying on absent industry rules [9] [2].