Health and safety

General and public use

Litter and rubbish

Organisers are responsible for keeping the event area clean and tidy (free of litter and rubbish) while the event is taking place and for leaving the event area clean and tidy after the event has finished. The organisers are responsible for the:

• collection
• storage
• removal
• transportation
• disposal costs

of all litter and refuse generated by the event. Efforts should be made to recycle waste wherever possible.

Glass can be very dangerous at events, and if broken can be extremely difficult and hazardous for you to clean away. As an event organiser you are expected to minimise or completely remove the use of glass at the event. Stalls must not be allowed to pass out drinks or anything else in glass containers. If members of the public bring glass on site this must be picked as priority by litter staff.

Toilets

Organisers are responsible for supplying and installing adequate numbers of temporary toilets for an event, and ensuring that these are cleaned and serviced. This includes adequate toilet provision for disabled users.

Electrical installation and generators

Electricity supply is vital to many activities at events, but is also inherently dangerous. It is important to make sure that electrical installations are put in place by qualified and competent individuals.

There are a few key rules you will be expected to follow, whatever the size of your event:

• only diesel generators are allowed - strictly no petrol generators
• all generators and electrical installations must have a fire extinguisher available nearby
• generators must be made separate from the public by barriers or other suitable divider
• exhaust from generators must not be near to flowerbeds, trees or shrubs

Noise

Event organisers must take responsibility for ensuring that their event does not cause a noise nuisance to residents or businesses nearby. This is the case for all events, regardless of whether they are licensed or not.

Noise levels must be monitored and controlled before, during and after the event. Check at the boundaries of the event site and at the nearest residential property. Larger events, especially those with large sound systems, may be required to employ an acoustic consultant whose job it will be to monitor the noise levels during the event. Download noise conditions for open air events from here ^{(PDF, 12kb)}.

Page last updated: 04 August 2023