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18 Jun 08 - 02:47 PM (#2369116) Subject: Folk festival risk assessments From: Arnie I've recently joined a folk festival committee and have been asked to do a risk assessment. I've done risk assessments before, but only for my office under the Health & Safety at Work Act, so I haven't a clue about folk festivals. Does anyone know what is required and under what legislation? Better still, has anyone got a previous festival risk assessment that I can adapt? Also, is this risk assessing of folk festivals something new? We never bothered previously but now the local council has started asking questions.... |
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18 Jun 08 - 02:50 PM (#2369121) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: greg stephens Well, there's people turning up at sessions with bodhrans... |
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18 Jun 08 - 02:56 PM (#2369130) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST,guest Or banjos, or enjoying themselves and getting drunk |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:03 PM (#2369142) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST,aeola Well, that's that then..... |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:06 PM (#2369147) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Houston_Diamond main risk is if the pub runs out of beer |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:10 PM (#2369151) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Def Shepard and crisps :-D |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:11 PM (#2369154) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: M.Ted You could always ask the local council for risk assessment guidelines and for copies of assessments of other events--or you could look it up on line, in which case you'd find something like this Risk Assessment Guidance Notes Or you could just invite bored Mudcatters make sarcastic remarks -- |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:11 PM (#2369155) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Barry Finn You migh want to let folks what country & local you're looking to get info on as these requirements change at least in the states by state agencies as well as federal agencies. Barry |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:13 PM (#2369157) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Mick Pearce (MCP) You might ask the Association of Festival Organisers (AFO), which now seems to be incorporated with Folk Arts England Mick |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:17 PM (#2369159) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Skivee I'm not sure if this fest is on the other side of the pond, but here are a few things to consider: Food Safety Sanitation ( both with food and human waste control) Electrical risks ( use of power sound and lighting during rain for performance and camping) Traffic control matters crowd control including drunks Is this the sort of thing you are chatting about? |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:24 PM (#2369168) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Jack Campin How about: - being discovered in flagrante in your sleeping bag and being stabbed to death by seven of the lady's brothers? - being kidnapped by roving press gangs? - getting sacked up and delivered to the vivisectionist? - being the only tentful of Macdonalds in a campsite full of Campbells? - tent fabric not being durable enough to cope with Hard Rain when it falls? - contamination of the Workers' Beer? |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:27 PM (#2369172) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST,aeola The local council will have a risk assessment officer who will hopefully be able to guide you with a sensible H&S approach. |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:36 PM (#2369182) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: ced2 I wrote some for Yorkshire Dales Workshop (in folk arts). pm me if you want a copy or if you want my phone number for a natter about it. |
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18 Jun 08 - 03:43 PM (#2369189) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST,aeola It is worth bearing in mind that different local councils have slightly different inerpretations of H&S rules & regs. |
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18 Jun 08 - 04:05 PM (#2369214) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Richard Bridge "a sensible H&S approach" - to go along with Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the reasonable woman. |
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18 Jun 08 - 04:57 PM (#2369273) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Liz the Squeak Where health and safety are concerned, this is no laughing matter. It's all good fun until someone loses an eye, and these days, that victim is followed in short order by law suits and massive insurance payouts. I know people say 'you have to be thick as sh!t to have an accident there with that' but the one thing you can guarantee is that there will be that one person who shouldn't be allowed out without a carer. As seen above, there are several examples available online and most councils or local government bodies will give you a helping hand. Trouble is, this can be a double edged sword, bringing a festival or gathering to their attention where they might not have previously bothered about it. An innocent enquiry to a council about an existing festival could result in a visit from the HSE that might close it down... it has happened to a group of my acquaintances. LTS LTS |
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18 Jun 08 - 05:01 PM (#2369277) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: oggie Who is the risk assessment for and for what purpose? Then check with whoever needs it what they are looking for. Steve |
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18 Jun 08 - 05:16 PM (#2369290) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Def Shepard "Or you could just invite bored Mudcatters make sarcastic remarks -- " Well, fortunately, MTed, I'd already passed on the request, for information, to someone who actually works in the field of folk festivals. before I made my remark |
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18 Jun 08 - 06:12 PM (#2369331) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: greg stephens Point taken, MTed. But in fairness to myself, I do help organise a few events and so on and I take H&S very seriously. Doesn't mean you aren't allowed to make jokes about bodhran-players, does it? |
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18 Jun 08 - 06:15 PM (#2369336) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Def Shepard That's always assuming the bodhran players in questions have a sense of humour :-D |
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18 Jun 08 - 07:14 PM (#2369394) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Leadfingers I know that we are expected to have Public Liability insurance when we do Corporate Gigs - But that comes with MU or Equity membership any way ! |
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18 Jun 08 - 07:45 PM (#2369413) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Houston_Diamond Risk assessment is a headache and a half... http://www.hse.gov.uk/ Dunno if that link helps ?!? :D |
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19 Jun 08 - 05:34 AM (#2369650) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST,Shimrod You should probably talk to Manchester City Council. They are as obsessed with Health and Safety as any other 'modern organisation' (aka: bunch of power-mad, useless tossers). Recently they invited many thousands of football fans to invade the city centre and allowed them to drink all day - and then were a bit surprised when it all when 'pear-shaped' and the fans wrecked the place. I would love to have seen the risk assessment written prior to this event! There was probably a clause in it somewhere which said, "on no account must this risk assessment be allowed to prevent the city from raising lots of lovely revenue as a result of this invasion of drunken yobs". |
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19 Jun 08 - 05:55 AM (#2369661) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Houston_Diamond Are you just doing it to get a safety certificate for insurance purposes and other licences? I'm sure that you only need one document that provides the details of how 'safe' each venue is and any underlying faults with a venue that can be rectified by a suggested fix (such as signage). The venue would include anywhere you have workers or the general public which includes campsites or any rented or owned site. |
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19 Jun 08 - 08:13 AM (#2369713) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Mo the caller Think about children. Are they going to be allowed on the site, will their parents let them 'off the leash', will they romp all over the dance floor tripping up doddery oldies? Are you having events for accompanied / unaccompanied kids, how will you avoid losing them (NOT taking them in a crocodile through Whitby harbour is a good start - that was 25yrs ago though)? A warning to parents in the programme may alter some parents ideas, at least it protects you from some of the risk of litigation. And alert the stewards to possible risks and what actions should be taken - e.g. if stewarding an outside display should they stop unaccompanied children climbing on a wall? |
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19 Jun 08 - 08:14 AM (#2369715) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST,Arnie at work The folk festival is in the County of Kent (not Kent County on the other side of the pond!)and the risk assessment is required as a condition of some funding that is on offer. Thanks everyone for the various links to H&S information which I shall be studying this weekend - well it is due to pour down in the south so I don't mind sitting over a hot computer for a few hours. I also don't mind the humourous comments 'cos at the end of the day, where would we be if we couldn't have a bit of a laugh on Mudcat? ced2 - I'll PM you from my home computer to take up your kind offer of assistance Arnie |
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19 Jun 08 - 08:51 AM (#2369741) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST At the end of the day here in UK we are expected to excersise due care in respect to our patrons. The onlly way you can do this is to prepare documentation covering the risks the patrons (paying or not)may be exposed to and how you can mitigate those risks to try as far as you are able. This usually involves a risk assement of all aspects of the event along with a manual of procedures (MOP). A good MOP once produced will then need to be re visited each year to ensure that there are no changes for better or worse. One event I am involved in the Mop is a4 about 1.5" thick and it covers everything. I didn't write it. Andy |
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19 Jun 08 - 09:21 AM (#2369762) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST,Blowz The Risk Asst might be required to help you get some funding, but it is the organisation who needs it themselves, really. It is there so that, should something go wrong, and person / people get injured, you can demonstrate that you have done what you can to ensure that the place / event was safe and that you considered all hazards and did what you could you mitigate them. Don't know what type of event it is you are organising, but you may need to consider the different areas you are operating - eg areas where there is potential conflict between pedestrians and moving vehicles - what can you to lessen the risk of people being run over? Are there any areas of open water? What can you do to lessen the risk of people falling in? If somebody does fall in, how would you get them out? Do your marquees have guy ropes which people can trip over? What First Aid provision do you have and how would people access First Aid if required? What specialist equipment do you provide litter pickers, in case they have to deal with sharps / broken glass / hazardous sunstances? Whilst other organisations might ask you to provide evidence of your risk assessment in order to issue a license / give permission for the event to take place on their land / in their building etc, or to confirm award of a grant, at the end of the day, it is the organiser who needs the risk assessment - to show that risks have been considered. If something goes wrong and someone ends up in court, it is difficult to say - oh, we considered that risk and did such and such about it - with no evidence. Oh - and a risk assessment should also be signed and dated ... and the 'crew' should all sign to say they have read it and are aware of its contents etc .... |
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19 Jun 08 - 10:50 AM (#2369830) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Houston_Diamond Oh yeah, forgot about the MOP (manual of procedures) what a barrel of fun that is :s Nice one Andy :D |
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19 Jun 08 - 03:14 PM (#2370126) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST,mg I would really look hard at the following...depending on size of festival, etc...I would consult with fire departments etc. 1. Electrical wires all over the place. Safety in thunderstorms etc. 2. This one gets me all the time at folklife..they have open grills, extremely hot, right out in the flow of traffic..sometimes a little rope barrier...cooking shish kabobs etc. I think anything like that should be barricaded and out of the flow of traffic, period. Too easy for a child to get pushed into something or caught on fire etc. 3. Crowd control and liquor control and concealed weapons and gang possibilities etc. Gun went off at Folklife this year and wounded a couple of people. 4. Sanitation -- give free admission or whatever to people who monitor and clean bathrooms. 5. Hire security as needed. mg |
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19 Jun 08 - 03:29 PM (#2370151) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Houston_Diamond Watch out for number 3 especially... Kent, United Kingdom is thriving with gangland warfare, all donned with guns!!! Not sure about liquor control?!? Folk festival with control over alcohol?!? could it work? it'll be just like the 80's but with the need for H&S :D |
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20 Jun 08 - 03:36 AM (#2370483) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Arnie The worrying thing about alcohol control is that I've had a look at the HSE (Health & Safety Executive) website for events and it starts by saying that preferably all alcohol should be banned!! Can you imagine a folk festival with no booze? This MOP also sounds a bit worrying - I don't mind doing a bit of work on this but writing a manual 1 1/2" thick is not what I'd planned for the weekend! One of the problems as I see it is that, if you have a marquee with the usual guy ropes, then you can't really stop people from tripping over the ropes - would you be expected to put a traffic cone alongside each rope or what? Talk about the nanny state - everyone is so afraid of being sued that it's no wonder some folk traditions have simply died out from being strangled in red tape. |
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20 Jun 08 - 03:56 AM (#2370490) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Megan L As senior first aid officer at many diferent types of event over the years I insisted the organisers provided a plan of the site, including stalls, arenas, toilets and first aid post. Mark foodstalls a different colour. As someone allready said food in waste out, also make sure you are aware of slip trip fall hazzards it is never the big things that usually happen and small accidents can end up costing a lot if the person is that way inclined. Make sure you know how to get safely and swiftly to any part of the site in event of trouble or emergency, and work out some evacuation plans. It sounds like a lot of faf but if the worst does happen you wont have time to think what to do so do it before. With certain venues that were used frequently I created a training plan with the owners of the site and would usually spend a day when they were quiet setting up and running training scenarios for my volunteers so the layout of the site was in their mind. Then if a disaster should happen they at least had a building block of ideas to work from. Panic kills. |
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20 Jun 08 - 04:01 AM (#2370494) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Arnie Megan - thanks for the advice. However, this festival is spread around various pubs in the town, together with open air events in a few locations - including down the high street and on the pier! I think I may have bitten off a bit more than I can chew volunteering for this particular risk assessment!! |
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20 Jun 08 - 05:05 AM (#2370512) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Blowzabella Hint re guy ropes on marquees .... wrap em in bunting or, failing that, red and white hazard tape. A traffic cone at the peg would be a good idea! We use barrels. |
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20 Jun 08 - 05:10 AM (#2370516) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Blowzabella I see you mention a pier ... one thing we encountered was with an area with open water - not barriered off, in the general course of events so you might think, 'well, we don't need to worry about it'. However, if YOU are inviting people to that area .. it becomes your problem. You might need to think about how you stop people (& children) falling into the water ... without actually preventing those people who have a right to access the edge of the pier (fishermen / boaters etc) from being able to do so. |
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20 Jun 08 - 05:14 AM (#2370517) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Folkiedave I'd contact the organisers of the Sword Spectacular a few weeks ago who produced a risk assessment for York town centre (not perfect but it may help). |
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20 Jun 08 - 05:21 AM (#2370519) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Dave the Gnome Don't forget that if your event is in a pub / pubs and/or public premises these venues are already licenced to hold a set number of people. It is their licences and certificates that are in force whan you run events in them. It is up to them to say 'No, sorry, no baby juggling and piano swallowing here!', but you must comply with their rules or risk being evicted:-( BTW - Is there realy an organisation called Folk Arts? Surely in keeping with current thinking it should now be renamed f-arts... :D |
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20 Jun 08 - 06:09 AM (#2370549) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Houston_Diamond lol I can see the problem of that one dave... especially when they put it like fRoots has... fArts! lol |
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20 Jun 08 - 07:01 AM (#2370573) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: banjoman you could start with a SWOT analysis it may help with risk assessment SWOT stands for Strengths Weaknesses Opporunities Threats |
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20 Jun 08 - 07:38 AM (#2370585) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST,guest at work Beverley Folk festival have produced a very comprehensive risk assessment for this weekend Chris Wade would be the one to ask |
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20 Jun 08 - 08:39 AM (#2370622) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Mr Red When the fire prevention officer comes round - be there. Talking to them looking at the site would be instructive. Of course there is always the problem of people. They are unpredictable in some ways, but given the headline act and A N Other in the other venue, they will all turn-up to the main venue and stand in the fire exits with their clobber on the ground and line the escape corridoors with themselves and dogs etc. Now the MC might have a mind to the risks involved and his insurance, not to mention his skill in assessing the potential hazard. And he is in a good position to see it. There is a real additional risk if the main organiser's viewpoint differs in the level of risk. Money tends to obscure the viewpoint. Usually the inquest will put that straight. |
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20 Jun 08 - 08:52 AM (#2370633) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Mr Red Greg Point taken, MTed. But in fairness to myself, I do help organise a few events and so on and I take H&S very seriously. Doesn't mean you aren't allowed to make jokes about bodhran-players, does it? Banjo jokes are funnier PAL. The best jokes about H&S should be so black it focusses the mind. You can't imagine the bizarre way just one person will react to blood or fire. It only needs one person to run and trip 10 more and and and. Ibrox Park, Heisel Stadium, Bradford, Hillsborough, that amusement arcade in Douglas IOM (plenty more if you want lists). The reason history repeats itself is because no one is listening. Money obscure their ears too. |
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20 Jun 08 - 10:52 AM (#2370726) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Houston_Diamond I thought SWOT analysis was for personal development planning?!? |
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20 Jun 08 - 06:44 PM (#2371083) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Bonzo3legs What nonsense, I would be very interested to know what consideration to health & safety was given prior to the escape from Stalag Luft III during WWII. |
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21 Jun 08 - 08:01 AM (#2371333) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST Food Poisoning/Illnesses INSURANCE Handicapped Access |
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21 Jun 08 - 05:25 PM (#2371617) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Keefy Arnie, I've not read all the contributions in this thread but in answer to your original question you might like to get yourself a copy of a book called: 'The Event Safety Guide' A guide to health, safety and welfare at music and similar events. Published by the HSE as HSG195 Don't worry it is readable, i.e. it's not full of legal type language although it does explain the laws and rules. checkout www.hsebooks.co.uk |
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21 Jun 08 - 05:54 PM (#2371631) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Folkiedave Handicapped Access???? What an ugly phrase. |
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22 Jun 08 - 10:15 AM (#2371860) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Arnie Keefy - that sounds like good advice, I'll have a look at that site. In the meantime Cedric (ced2) has sent me some excellent risk assessments that he prepared for a folk event in Yorkshire. I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about tackling this now so thanks everyone for your help!! |
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22 Jun 08 - 10:19 AM (#2371861) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: the lemonade lady Risk assessments are all about pointing out the bleedin obvious. We are to assume that the general public know nothing and we are to be aware of that as event organisers. Belt and braces, my dear. If you make a slip up, some one will sue and your insurance is invalid. Pain in the arse! Sal |
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22 Jun 08 - 10:54 AM (#2371885) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Houston_Diamond "Handicapped Access???? What an ugly phrase." That is a term that should never really be used, it is generally considered discriminating. But disabled access is an issue is one of an important nature. Can Non-ambulatory persons access the event? Do those with hearing defects have a loop system catered for? It's a minefield of correctness and people with disabilities (noticeable or unnoticeable) should have the right to access events as anyone else. It's appreciated how difficult it is to incorporate things like that and where do you stop? Do you provide facilities for young children? Parental changing rooms? You are stuck making a balance of what the majority of people will need and what could be considered a minority would need!?!? I accept that this is a necessity in permanent buildings but should you go to the full extent on temporary ones? Perhaps if cost isn't an issue. Is it a requirement for health and safety? Perhaps if you include these groups to have the correct signage in place, have a suitable plan for evacuation and correct facilities to deal with any situation. Questions like, do they need a carer? are they equipment assisted? In these cases it is really recommended to have a consultant which is extra money? How far do you go before the event is no longer viable? I would hate this issue to be my responsibility and I think that is one thing that puts people off managing events of this nature. But nice to consider :D |
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22 Jun 08 - 12:33 PM (#2371915) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Keefy re: disabled access: See 'The Event Safety Guide' Chapter 19 = 'Facilities for people with special needs' |
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23 Jun 08 - 09:59 AM (#2372476) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: danensis I was at Beverley Folk Festival when the fire alarm went off. The band carried on playing, and eventually the MC wandered on stage and suggested it might be due to the fogger they were using for the lights. Now where I work, if the fire alarm goes off, hundreds of us have to troop out into the car park, until the fire brigade arrive and confirm that it was caused by someone burning the toast, even though we knew that all along. Is the MC at an event in a position to make a judgement about whether or not a fire alarm is genuine or not? I was also surprised how quiet the alarm was at Beverley. Where I work you want to get out to preserve your sanity, the alarm is so loud. |
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23 Jun 08 - 07:24 PM (#2372856) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Tattie Bogle As some have perhaps implied, you don't do ONE risk assessment for a whole festival, but sub-divide it into different events and venues within your total festival, and do a risk assessment for EACH, as risks may be different in each place, and in the same venue under different conditions of use. Our Festival director has developed a couple of simple forms which have to be filled in and returned to her before the start of each event, using a scoring system, and addressing any problems elicited in advance of the event. Each event has a nominated person in charge so that it does not all fall on one head, but yet is done in a standardised way: that person will both do the risk assessment and steward the event. And as someone else has said, sometimes it does mean stating the obvious, so that if there should be any claim against us, we can show (in writing) that we have thought about all the hazards and done our best to minimise them. |
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24 Jun 08 - 08:42 AM (#2373162) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work "...when the fire alarm went off. The band carried on playing, and eventually the MC wandered on stage..." That's appalling. If a fire officer had been present at that time, the whole place would have been closed down. The band should have been stopped and the MC should have interrupted them if they continued. Those premises should have been evacuated regardless of what the MC thought it was... if he'd been wrong and it was the PA equipment or a stray barbeque or an irresponsible smoker.... the consequences could have been catastrophic. But first and foremost - someone should have checked out the bands' stage act to make sure it didn't start off the fire alarms or the sprinkler system. LTS |
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24 Jun 08 - 12:35 PM (#2373344) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: Tattie Bogle We had a fire alarm go off at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh - mid-November, cold and wet outside, during the Fiddle festival. We were 99% sure it was the caterers burning the toast that set it off, but everyone was evacuated as per orders, reluctantly leaving their precious fiddles to (maybe) burn. (and it took some severe persuasion with some folk to get them out!) While outside, it was suggested the following tunes should be played on re-entry: The Burning of the Piper's Hut Smith's a Gallant Fireman, and The Peat Fire Flame! |
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25 Jun 08 - 08:32 AM (#2373906) Subject: RE: Folk festival risk assessments From: danensis In "the good old days" each town used to have a watch committee, and if you saw breaches of fire regs, you just called the fire officer and he sorted it out. I visited a pub recently where a piano was parked in front of the fire exit. I mentioned it to the landlord, and he said "if the place was on fire, the lads would shift it". I suggested that if the place was full of smoke, they might not be able to find the piano, let alone be in a fit state to shift it. Although its fine asking people to do risk assessments and write manuals, but it seems the process lacks the common sense "awkward bugger" just wandering round and spotting hazards. When I worked in the theatre we weren't fond of the fire officer's visits, but he did stop us burning the place down more than once. |