Introduction
The Somerset Council SAG’s aim is to welcome and encourage events to take place in Somerset while making sure that they take place safely and successfully. Through consultation and joint working between the Council and its partners, including Avon and Somerset Police, South West Ambulance Service, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue and Trading Standards, it aims to standardise the approach to all organised events. These are events that are open to the public and are staged in a public place, on a highway, or on private or council owned land in Somerset.
The SAG holds regular meetings to which organisers of larger or new events are invited. Smaller events located close to large roads or motorways or events with dangerous activities are also of interest.
To assist you in developing your proposals we have brought together the following notes and weblinks to signpost you to relevant advice and resources. This is to help keep your employees, volunteers and audience safe.
As an event organiser, you will have prime responsibility for protecting the health, safety and welfare of everyone working at or attending the event. Key aspects for consideration during development of your plan may include, but are not limited to:
- Drawing up an event management plan and associated risk assessments
- Staffing and Stewarding – provision of PPE
- Fire safety – developing your fire risk assessment and associated plans
- Incident planning – steps to take in the event of an emergency
- Transport management – consider safe entrance and exit of vehicles and pedestrians, safe travel routes, parking management
- Crowd management – access and egress, one way systems, emergency evacuation
- Electrical installations – safe infrastructure, designed and installed by a competent person
- Food, drink and water – confirm your suppliers
- Sanitary facilities – provision of hygiene and hand wash stations
- Waste management – consider recycling opportunities
- Sound – limit noise levels to not only prevent disturbance to the neighbourhood
- Medical and first aid management
- Communications
Attending a SAG
If you are planning to hold an event, and you would like advice, please phone 0300 123 2224 or email safetyadvisorygroup.mendip@somerset.gov.uk
You may be asked to a SAG meeting if we think your event would benefit from advice and guidance.
Temporary Event Notices
If you want to hold a public event that involves the retail sale of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment or the provision of hot food or hot drink served between 11pm and 5am, you can do so using a Temporary Event Notice (TEN).
Risk assessment
See our Risk Assessment Template with some examples of the sorts of controls needed for some of the risks to help you plan for your event.
Event Management Plan
This should be a detailed, accurate and comprehensive document which sets out exactly what will happen at the event, the procedures in place to manage it safely, and what will be done to deal with expected or unexpected situations and emergencies.
Serving food
If you are preparing food at home then do follow the simple advice on the Foods Standards Agency website for preparing food safely.
First Aid Cover
For small community based events like fetes and street parties you do not have to provide first aid for the public, but it is a good idea to have a first aid kit to hand and someone prepared to take charge in the event of an emergency.
Public Liability Insurance
If you are engaging contractors whether to put up a marquee, provide a bouncy castle, or run a food stall you should check that they have public liability insurance in place. The Council requires all hirers of their land to have cover, but for community run very small events it may not be necessary.
Road closures
For more information on closing a road for your event, please see organising an event on or affecting the public highway.
Events on Council land
Fireworks
Useful links
Helpful online resources to support you during your event planning cycle
- The Purple Guide – The primary go-to guide for the event industry
- The Event Industry Forum
- Devon and Somerset Fire Service
- Avon and Somerset Police
- National Counter Terrorism Security Advice
- Devon & Somerset Trading Standards
- Heart of the South West Growth Hub
- Health and Safety Executive - Event Safety webpages.
- Health and Safety Executive (2012) - A guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.
- Health and Safety Executive (2007) - The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (amended).
- Health and Safety Executive (2007) - Gas Safety in Catering and Hospitality.
- Health and Safety Executive - Catering and Hospitality Sector Information and Guidance.
- Health and Safety Executive (1998) - Electrical Safety for Entertainers.
- Health and Safety Executive (2007) - Fairgrounds and Amusement Parks guidance on safe practice.
- The National Traction Engine Trust
- South West Ambulance Service