Health and safety
Security
Security and stewards should be stationed in suitable places such as gates, stages and bars. There should also be staff available who are not tied to one location so they can respond to any situations which may arise around the event site.
All security staff at events must be properly licensed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and should clearly display their licence badge at all times when working. Security staff are different to general stewards because their training and licence allows them to physically intervene should a violent situation occur. Stewards without licences must never become physically involved in such a situation at an event.
Conditions of entry
In some cases, especially for larger events, it may be necessary to impose basic conditions of entry to ensure the event can be managed safely. The conditions must be agreed in advance of the event with the Safety Advisory Group, and must also be clearly advertised before the event and at the entrances on the day.
Items which may be restricted include:
- glass
- knives
- weapons
- alcohol
- dogs (with exception of assistance dogs)
- bikes (appropriate bike locking areas should be provided)
First aid
Fully trained first aid staff should be onsite and available to deal with issues throughout the duration of the event. First aid providers will assess your event in the planning stage and advise on the number of staff and level and types of equipment necessary.
Vehicles
Vehicle movement on an event site is one of the most common risks to public safety and is also the most likely aspect to cause damage to the ground. It is very important to plan in advance for vehicles at the event, especially during the setup and take down periods, and to make sure that the rules for vehicles are clearly displayed and sent in advance to the event participants. Here are some key points to think about:
- vehicle access to the event site is for necessary production access only. All vehicles should be parked off-site during the event times unless there is a clear need for them to remain on site
- all moving vehicles must travel at a maximum 5mph and have hazard lights switched on
- only emergency and essential production vehicles should be moving during the event
- large vehicles should be led to their destination by a walking steward
- vehicles should only reverse on site with the aid of a steward guiding them and ensuring the way is clear of people and objects
- vehicles must stick to agreed routes in the site and should avoid turning tight corners as this will damage the ground. Drivers must be mindful of park furniture and trees and should avoid driving too close to the trees as this can damage the root structure
Page last updated: 04 August 2023
