Introduction
Whether you are planning a street party, a village fete or music festival for thousands of visitors, if you are the organiser you must plan for and manage safety at your event and that includes considering risks from respiratory illness at the present time.
COVID-19 guidance for events
Although restrictions have been lifted, COVID-19 is still a risk and as with other infectious diseases. It’s important to bear in mind the risks associated with these and put in place appropriate measures for your event and plan accordingly. We can all play a part in understanding the situations where risks of infection and transmission are likely to be higher and take action to reduce these risks to help keep us all safer.
While no situation is risk free, there are easy and effective actions that can be taken to protect individuals and the guidance sets out a range of mitigations that should be considered including:
- Indoor areas such as tents and marquees should be adequately ventilated.
- Ensuring that staff and customers who are unwell do not attend the event.
- Providing hand washing facilities and sanitiser to enable staff and customers to clean their hands more frequently, and cleaning surfaces that people touch regularly.
- Promoting the wearing of a face covering or a face mask in enclosed spaces and encourage tolerance and respect for members of the community that chose to continue to wear them.
- Communicating to staff and customers the measures you have put in place.
Please see the links below to the latest Public Health Guidance that provides practical considerations on how to apply different measures within different settings.
- Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19 – GOV.UK
- Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace – GOV.UK
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Advice for workplaces
The Purple Guide to Health, Safety and Welfare at Music and Other Events
In some areas, the Purple Guide signposts users to other sources of information that may be helpful. At time of publication all the links were checked, and it is intended that these will be regularly updated and amended if necessary. The New Purple Guide can be accessed here: The Purple Guide to Health, Safety and Welfare at Music and Other Events
Smaller events and Volunteers
Safety Advisory Group
The Safety Advisory Group holds monthly meetings to which organisers of larger events with around 500 or more attendees are generally invited. Smaller events located close to large roads, motorways or events with dangerous activities are also of interest. If you would like advice for your event, please complete our online form and attach your Event Management Plan and Risk Assessments.
Please complete our online event notification form it will then be sent out to the core members of the Safety Advisor Group. You may be asked to a meeting if they think your event would benefit from their expertise. If you would like to contact the Safety Advisor Group, please phone 0300 303 8588 or email safetyadvisorygroup@mendip.gov.uk.
Temporary Event Notice (TEN)
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.
Risk assessment
Please see our Risk assessment template to help you plan for your event.
Event management plan
We have produced some guidance documents to assist you in planning:
Food at the event
Whether you are attending a community party or hosting one of your own, it is important to be aware of food safety and hygiene as food legislation may still apply. Please visit How to safely host a street party | Food Standards Agency for some practical tips and advice on best practice so that everyone can trust the food they’re eating.
If you are organising an event with catering or running a food stall, please see our Catering at shows and events document for more information.
If you are preparing food at home, then do follow the simple advice on the Food Standards Agency website for how to prepare food safety.
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. Somerset Council requires all hirers of their land to have cover, but for community run very small events it may not be necessary.
Road closures
Road Closures for special events are provided under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 Section 21. These events can vary in size from a small village fete to a large carnival, festival or procession.
See our Apply for a road closure for an event page for more information.
Events on Council land
See our Booking events and permits page for more information.
Fireworks
Related documents
- Home Office – Guide for Small and Sporting Events on the Highway
- HSE – Avoiding Danger from Underground Services
- HSE – Electrical Safety – A Brief Guide
- HSE – Fairgrounds and Amusement Parks Good Practice
- Fire Safety – 5 Step Checklist
- Fire Safety – Open Air Events and Venues
- HSE – First Aid – Guidance on Regulations
- HSE – Guidance on Inflatables
- HSE – Health & Safety Made Simple
- Safe and successful firework displays
- HSE – Working at Height – A Brief Guide
- Guidance for Event Organisers
- Fireworks Policy
- Balloon and Lanterns policy