Are you a...?

Ask yourself

• Can I demonstrate knowledge and understanding of my work and the health and safety hazards involved?
• Can I provide evidence of a trained workforce and the competence of my key staff for the work they will do?
• Can I confirm that I have sufficient resources to do the work safely?
• Can I provide evidence of successful work that shows I can adopt and develop safe systems of working?
• In the absence of suitable previous work experience, can I demonstrate an appropriate level of technical ability (eg being a member of an accreditation scheme, professional organisation or trade association may help with this)?

You will have prime responsibility for the health and safety of:

• your workers
• members of the public (your audience / the crowd)
• contractors working for you at the event

Ask yourself:

• Do I have enough knowledge about health and safety to organise work appropriately?
• Have I thought through and implemented good health and safety procedures and checks?

If you are in control of a work premises, you have a duty to make sure it is safe for those working there. This includes safe access and any equipment or substances provided must be safe to use.

If the control of a site / venue is shared, the respective responsibilities should be clearly defined and assigned. Put in place effective liaison arrangements on health and safety matters and share safety-related information, eg the location of buried services.

Further information is available for managers of village or community halls^[1].

You have a responsibility to co-operate with your employer by, for example:

• following company and site rules
• wearing personal protective equipment
• reporting accidents and unsafe practices

If you are a supervisor, you should not turn a blind eye to unsafe behaviour.

The job of volunteering generally doesn't fall within the scope of health and safety law unless it is done through an organisation that is an employer. For example, a group of local residents who come together to organise a street party^[2] do not have duties under health and safety law. Similarly, a volunteer working for an event organiser will not have duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974^[3] other than the duty not to misuse or interfere with items provided for health and safety reasons.

Follow this link to the Cabinet Office 'Can do' guide^[4] aimed at volunteers organising community events.

If your voluntary organisation is an employer, the information relevant to event organisers will be helpful.

If your organisation is managing low risks and/or is responsible for non-domestic premises, eg a village hall or community hall, we have advice on volunteering^[5].

Follow this link to the Cabinet Office 'Can do' guide^[6] aimed at volunteers organising community events.