Before the event

Even before we get to the event we need think about the

setting up. Consider:

• location – think long and hard about the location, is it really

suitable?

• manual handling – adopt good lifting techniques, split loads,

get help

• working at height – use appropriate equipment rather than

make do, don’t over stretch, get help

Training

The unit will take about 15 – 20 minutes to complete.

The following slide asks some questions to help

you test your knowledge.

Fill in the missing words

1. Risk assessments are used to identify ‘…….’

2. ‘……….’ precautions must be taken to ensure an event takes

place safely.

3. When risks are identified they need to be reduced to an

‘……….’ level.

4. Caterers should be ‘……..’ by their local authority.

5. All hired electrical equipment should come with a ‘………..’ of

electrical safety.

Missing words answers

1. Hazards.

2. Reasonable.

3. Acceptable.

4. Licensed.

5. Certificate.

How did you do?

Hopefully you will have answered most of the questions correctly.

If not, don’t worry - you will find the following slides cover the

items raised in more detail.

Work your way through the remainder of this unit to fill in any

gaps in your knowledge.

What do we mean by risks and hazards?

A risk is the likelihood of harm occurring.

Risks may be, high, medium or low.

A hazard is any object - fixed, moving or stationary - that has a

potential to cause harm. Hazards are rated by the seriousness of

the injury they may cause, from a cut or graze to something life

threatening.

A hole in the ground is a hazard likely to cause harm. There

is a risk that someone will trip or fall down the hole and be

injured.

A barrier, even a cone, would reduce the risk but the hazard

remains. Cover or fill in the hole and you have eliminated

the hazard.

We can’t always eliminate hazards but we can reduce the

risk of them causing harm. ‘Reasonably practical’

precautions have to be taken. Reducing the risk has to

be balanced against the cost, time and trouble in

overcoming it.

Following notes

A series of notes will follow, these will then be followed by a series

of questions.

Before you continue with this exercise you may wish to consider

taking some notes.

Remember the 5 steps to risk assessment

1. Identify the hazards.

2. Decide who might be harmed and how.

3. Evaluate risk and if existing precautions are adequate.

4. Act on and record your findings.

5. Review assessment from time to time.

Things to remember

Remember that organisers of events have a legal responsibility

for the health, safety and welfare of all those attending including

employees, volunteers, contractors, the public and participants.

Their safety can be ensured by carrying out a detailed risk

assessment to identify any hazards.

All hazards associated with the event should be identified, the

level of risk assessed and appropriate action taken to reduce

these risks to an acceptable level.

What we should know

All events should encompass good safety standards and

organisers must take all reasonable precautions to ensure the

event takes place safely.

A formal record should be kept of ALL risk assessments.

Completed forms should be retained for future reference.

Where the event consists of more than one attraction, e.g. a

summer fete, a risk assessment may be required for each activity.

Contractors involved in the event should also carry out risk

assessments and have insurance. You should obtain and retain

copies of these.

Required items

Where public entertainment is planned a license may be

needed if the event has music, dancing or singing. The

local authority/council will tell you what is required.

You may need specific facilities to accommodate the

young, elderly or less able.

Some rides and equipment will require certificates for

safety standards and erection by a competent person.

Insurance cover

All events will require public liability insurance. Parkinson’s UK

has public liability in place.

Contractors and performers will also need their own public

liability insurance.

The nature of your proposed event may also require further

insurance.

When planning the event

Identify

Positions for attractions, facilities, entrance and exit points,

vehicle access and emergency evacuation routes.

Consider

The position of waste bags/bins and regular clearing of waste.

Remember

Caterers should be licensed by their local authority and have

basic food hygiene training certification.

You should ensure that contractors are competent. Ask to see a

copy of their safety policy and risk assessments.

Ask if personal references are available.

Ask to see their public liability insurance certificate.

Check that hire electrical equipment has an appropriate,

up to date safety certificate.

Test yourself

There now follows a series of questions relating to the previous

slides. With what you already know and the information given on

the previous slides you should not find these difficult.

Please remember that Parkinson’s UK has risk assessment

forms available to assist you when planning an event. Please

ask your staff contact or the Parkinson’s UK facilities manager

for further details.

True or false?

1. A formal record should be kept of risk assessments. True or

false?

2. Contractors involved in events do not need to carry out risk

assessments. True or false?

3. If public entertainment is planned, i.e. music, dancing or

singing, a licence from the local authority may be required. True

or false?

4. You do not need to retain a copy of any assessments provided

the event has been held without any mishaps. True or false?

5. Contractors and performers need their own public liability

insurance. True or false?

Answers

1. True. A formal record should be kept of all risk assessments.

2. False. Contractors involved in the event should also carry out

risk assessments and have insurance.

3. True. In some cases it may be required.

4. False. Completed forms should be retained for future reference.

5. True. Contractors and performers need their own public liability

insurance.

Multiple choice questions

1. Some rides and equipment need to be erected by:

a) the owner b) the organiser c) a competent person.

2. Less able bodied visitors:

a) have to make do b) should not be invited c) may need

specific arrangements.

3. Waste should be cleared:

a) regularly b) occasionally c) after the event.

4. Where an event has more than one attraction, organisers

should consider a risk assessment for:

a) the dangerous ones b) the ones involving children

c) each activity.

Multiple choice answers

1. A competent person.

2. May need specific arrangements.

3. Waste should be cleared regularly.

4. Possibly all of them.

How did you do?

Hopefully you will have answered most of the questions correctly.

If you have failed to correctly answer a majority of the questions

you should go back over the slides and refresh your memory.

Resources

Try filling out a mock risk assessment for a previous event you

had involvement with and see how you get on.

Next time you are planning an event large or small remember to

carry out a risk assessment. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Information and risk assessment forms are available from your

staff contact or the Parkinson’s UK facilities manager.

If in doubt, ask your staff contact for advice.

Thank you for completing this short training session. If you have

any questions following completion of this unit please discuss with

your staff contact.