The Home Office have published a new guidance, The Good Practice Safety Guide, aimed and designed for carnival, charity and small sporting event organisers. The Guides' aim is to assist in ensuring both the public and participants attending these events are as safe as possible.
This new Guide, however, does not take the place of the Health and Safety Executives' (HSE's) Event Safety Code, but endeavours to enhance it by providing a very easily accessible "tool" to assist organisers of such events with their planning and production
Some of the advice within The Good Practice Safety Guide is as follows:
- It shows professional and amateur organisers of smaller scale events how to set up events.
- How to carry out a risk assessment.
- How to ensure that fire and safety requirements are met.
- Advises on local authority requirements.
- Advises on the use of stewards.
- Advises on when to involve the police.
Home Office Minister Mr. Tony McNulty said:
"It is absolutely vital that safety is paramount at all events where the public are gathered to enjoy a day. While there has been a range of information available for larger scale events, organisers of smaller events have often found it hard to access information relevant to them.
"In particular, those organising events on the highways - such as road running and cycle racing - will find this guide useful. I believe the Good Practice Safety Guide will be a valuable tool to help organisers ensure that recreational and sporting events are as safe as they are enjoyable."
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Vaughan from the Association of Chief Police Officers said:
"The publication of this document will be of significant benefit to individuals and organisations involved in managing the safety of members of the public at events.
"I hope practitioners find it to be user friendly and of great assistance in their day to day roles."
The production of the Guidance has been made in collaboration with the following organisations:
- The Department for Transport.
- The Department of Culture.
- Media and Sport.
- UK Sport.
- The Health and Safety Executive.
- The Association of Chief Police Officers.
- The Local Government Association.
The Guidance can be accessed from the Home Office Police Website by clicking the following:
Home Office | Maintaining Public Order
Article by Alexandra Johnston
