Featured artists

Alan James Brown

Alan James Brown,
Edale

Artful-Badger

Artful-Badger,
Bakewell

Jennifer Blant

Jennifer Blant,
Ashbourne

Chris Rozynska, Draycott

Festival Toolkit: Health & Safety: Event Safety

Training for Staff
Consider training staff (both volunteers and paid) prior to the festival and brief them fully at the beginning of event. Training areas could include:

First Aid
Health and Safety
Fire safety
Deployment and Duties
Radio Work
Lost Children
Venue stewarding
Anti Violence
Working with security
Reports and reporting
Legal powers and responsibilities
Emergency situation management

Medical Facilities
The First Aid provision needs to be suitable for the number of people expected to attend and for the type of event. Plan the provision of medical ambulance and first aid services in consultation with the statutory services and appoint a competent organisation to provide medical management. St John's Ambulance and the Red Cross have set guidelines for provision based on your estimated attendance and will charge for attending.

The following gives a guide to the minimum provisions:

Number of people attending	Number of first aiders	Number of first aid posts	Number of ambulances
Up to 500	2	1	-
Up to 3,000	6	1	1
Up to 5,000	8	1	1
Up to 10,000	13	2	2

The first aid post should be clearly signposted and provided with easy access for spectators and an ambulance at all times. Where an ambulance is required, a parking area should be provided close to the first aid post with a clear exit from the site.

Make sure that all persons assisting at the event know where the first aid post is and, where appropriate, the identity of the first-aider. Locate the nearest telephone box, provide access to a telephone, or provide mobile phones.

Previous experience suggests that approximately 1-2% of an audience will seek medical assistance during an event. Of these, around 10% will need further treatment on site, and approximately 1% of the number requiring initial medical assistance will require subsequent referral to hospital. Ineffective welfare facilities, poor weather conditions, absence of free drinking water or other hazards may increase this percentage.

Consider the following points when planning for this aspect of the event:

Named manager
Specific and exclusive routes for emergency vehicles
Maintaining cover
Helicopters
Communications
Documentation
Medical, ambulance and first aid provision
First aid points
Clinical waste
Liaison with Welfare Services

First Aiders, ambulance and medical workers should:

Be at least 16
Have no other duties or responsibilities
Have identification
Have protective clothing
Have relevant experience or knowledge.
Be physically and psychologically equipped to carry out their assigned role

Sound: noise and vibration
High sound levels present a risk to hearing, both for those working at an event and for the audience, and may cause a nuisance to individuals living in or working at neighbouring properties. High levels of vibration may also affect the integrity of temporary and permanent structures both on and off the site.

In planning your event, you should keep in mind the impact of sound and vibrations on workers, audience and neighbouring properties. Consider the following points:

Noise assessments
Controlling sound and vibration levels
Monitoring sound and vibration levels throughout the event
Time when sound will have impact including sound checks
Effects of noise on workers at the event

Health & Safety Executive Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 publication

Fire Safety
Fire safety is covered by a variety of legislation, notably the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and Factories Act 1961. When a licence is issued, additional conditions may be imposed concerning fire safety. Advice should be sought from your local fire brigade as early as possible so you can make sure you meet the required standards and have done the necessary checks.

People should be able to walk to safety along a clearly recognisable route by their own unaided efforts, regardless of where a fire may break out at the venue. Carefully consider arrangements for people with disabilities.

People will often try to leave the site the way they entered. Where this is not possible because of the position of the fire or smoke, stewards should be trained to route people away from the fire to a place of safety. Ensure that:

The number and size of exits in fences are sufficient for the number of people present and are distributed around the perimeter;
Exits and gateways are unlocked and staffed by stewards throughout the event; and
All exits and gateways are clearly indicated by suitable signs, illuminated where necessary.

Consideration should be given to the following aspects when planning for fire safety for an outdoor entertainment:

Marquees and large tents
Stairways
Ramps
Exits
Doors on escape routes
Fastenings on doors and gates
Self-closing devices for doors
Exit and directional signs
Normal and Emergency lighting
Fire-fighting equipment
Special risks
Means of giving warning in case of fire

Sanitary Facilities
Ensure that adequate sanitary provision is made for the capacity of the event, in accordance with the recommended guidelines.

For events with a gate opening time of 6 hours or more
Female	Male
1 toilet per 100	1 toilet per 500 +1 urinal per 150

For events with a gate opening time of less than 6 hours duration
Female	Male
1 toilet per 120	1 toilet per 600 +1 urinal per 175

Disabled

1 toilet with hand washing facilities per 75 disabled people

Consider the following aspects in making the appropriate provisions:

Maintenance
Location
Type
Washing facilities
Provision for people with special needs
Disposal of sanitary towels and nappies
Sewage disposal
Lighting
Waste management

Waste Management
Both concessions and audience generate large quantities of waste material during an event. You should carefully consider how the waste can be managed to minimise the risks associated with accumulation, collection and final disposal.

The following points may be of assistance:

Types of waste
Hazards posed by waste
Areas where waste is generated
Information to be exchanged with waste contractor
Methods of collection
Methods of removal
Health safety and welfare of employees and event workers
Recycling

Guidance notes from Canterbury City Council Event Safety Toolkit

Parking Facilities
If you are running an outdoor festival and expecting a large number of people, then consider the following:

the capacity of parking areas
the suitability of parking sites - bad weather can create extra difficulties
trained stewards to direct traffic to correct parking areas
managing departures as well as arrival - availability of stewards
advance information on parking and directions in literature/on website
management visitors once they have parked their cars - good signage
communications system for stewards
organising a 'practice run' with stewards
check signage is correct and directs people to the right areas
capacity of parking area
who does what
correct areas to park

Visit Timeline for Events for further information on Transport Control.

Food
If food is available, all delivery, storage, preparation and sales of it, must comply with relevant legislation. Environmental health officers from your local council should be consulted at the earliest opportunity.

Access
Ensure that your festival is fully inclusive.