You have a duty to manage safety at events to make sure that workers or member of the public are not faced with any health and safety risks.
You must work out the highest safe capacity to avoid overcrowding. The calculated safe capacity is one of the most important considerations in planning a safe event.
This doesn’t have to be complicated, so to help you with this you may find the links to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website useful:
- Guidance on running events safely
- Crowd management
- Running an event safely
- Planning for incidents and emergencies
- Risk assessment
Inflatables
In recent years there have been several serious incidents involving the use of inflatables at events due to bad weather, leading to loss of pressure; suffocation and people becoming trapped. Before buying or hiring an inflatable you should consider:
- what to look for before buying or hiring
- setting up safely
- checks before anyone uses the equipment
- safe use, supervision and monitoring
- tests and inspections
You can find advice at:
- Bouncy castles and other play inflatables: safety advice (HSE)
- Sealed inflatables: safe supply, inspection and operation (HSE)
- Health and safety guidance for fairgrounds (HSE)
- The Professional Inflatable Play Association (PIPA)
- Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS)
Outdoor events
The HSE provide advice on organising firework displays.
The Purple Guide designed to provide guidance to those involved in organising outdoor events.
The West Midlands Fire Service provide advice on fire safety.
Security
When planning an event, make sure that your security operatives are following the law.
GOV.UK provides advice on security at events.
Medical provision
For information on the level of medical provision required for an event please contact West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust.
Counter terrorism
Counter terrorism policing gives safety advice for the public and running events.
Martyn’s Law will improve protective security and organisational preparedness across the UK by requiring, for the first time, those responsible for certain premises and events to consider the terrorist risk and how they would respond to an attack.