Event Safety: Risk Assessment Guidance

All hazards should be identified including those relating to the individual activities and any equipment. A hazard is something with potential to cause harm. Only note hazards, which could result in significant harm. The following should be taken into account:

• High noise levels
• Any vehicles on site
• Manual handling activities
• Moving parts of machinery
• Crowd intensity and pinch points
• Poor lighting, heating or ventilation
• Any slipping, tripping or falling hazards
• Hazards relating to fire risks or fire evacuation procedures
• Any possible risk from specific demonstrations or activities
• Electrical safety e.g use if any portable electrical appliances
• Any chemicals or other substances hazardous to health e.g dust or fumes

This list is by no means exhaustive and care should be taken to identify any other hazards associated with the activities at the event.

For each hazard identified, list all those who may be affected. Do not list individuals by name, just list groups of people. The following should be taken into account:

• Stewards
• Volunteers
• Employees
• Contractors
• Local residents
• Disabled persons
• Expectant mothers
• Potential trespassers
• Members of the public
• Children and elderly persons
• Vendors, exhibitors and performers

The following are examples of areas to consider:

• Structures
• Type of event
• Provision of first aid
• Waste management
• Provision of facilities
• Health and safety issues
• Potential major incidents
• Amusements and attractions
• Exhibitors and demonstrations
• Site hazards, including car parks
• Fire, security and cash collection
• Provision for the emergency services
• Crowd control, capacity, access and egress and stewarding
• Types of attendees such as children, elderly persons and the disabled

The extent of the risk arising from the hazards identified must be evaluated and existing control measures taken into account. The risk is the likelihood of the harm arising from the hazard. You should list the existing controls and assess whether or not any further controls are required. The following should be taken into account:

• Compliance with legislative standards, codes of good practice and British Standards
• Any information, instruction and training regarding the event and the activities involved
• Whether or not the existing controls have reduced the risk as far as is reasonably practicable

Further action necessary to control the risk

Clarify risks into high, medium and low. Examples of risks falling into these categories are as follows:

High: An unsecured inflatable being used in adverse weather conditions by young children

Medium: A display of animals in a roped off arena

Low: A mime artist performing amongst the crowd

For each risk consider whether or not it can be eliminated completely. If it cannot, then decide what must be done to reduce it to an acceptable level. Only use personal protective equipment as a last resort when there is nothing else you can reasonably do. Consider the following:

1. Removal of the hazard
2. Preventing access to the hazard, e.g by guarding dangerous parts of machinery
3. Implement procedures to reduce exposure to the hazard
4. The use of personal protective equipment
5. Find a substitute for that activity / machine, etc

Use the Risk Assessment online form to record all significant hazards, the nature and extent of the risks, and the action required to control them. Keep this for future reference or use. You could also refer to other documents you may have, such as manuals, codes or practice, etc.

If the nature of the risks changes during the planning of the event, the risk assessments will need to be reviewed and updated.

Where the risk assessment has identified significant risks you must provide information to all those affected, regarding the nature of the risk and the control measures to be implemented.