• Crew and contractors must report to the Site Office before commencing work on site.

• DRIVE SLOWLY the site speed limit is 10mph. This will reduce to 5mph once the public are on site.

• Do not use hazard lights on site as this can cause confusion to pedestrians.

• Watch out for pedestrians and animals when accessing or leaving the main site.

• Where your work area may present a risk to others you should create a safe working area using barriers, tape or signage as necessary.

• Any work at height – even at low levels – must be carried out safely.  Steps and ladders are for short term work, must be secure and particular care taken to avoid over-reaching or leaning. Ladders should always be footed by a second person. Never work at height alone.

• Electrical work can only be undertaken when supplies have been confirmed as safe and ready for use. Live electrical work is not permitted without a permit to work and can only be undertaken by a qualified person.

• Any accident or incident must be reported immediately to the site office, or safety team.

• Keep your work area tidy and dispose of waste properly.

• Use the right tools for the job and avoid improvisation.

• You must use the correct PPE for the work you are doing.

• Respect the land and avoid driving unnecessarily especially in poor weather as the ground will take time to recover.

• Avoid damage to trees and planting on the estate.

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY

Report to the site safety adviser or production manager – they will contact onsite first aid/paramedics or the appropriate emergency service.

IN THE EVENT OF FIRE

• Raise the alarm by shouting FIRE to colleagues in the immediate area and contact the site manager as soon as possible using site radios or mobile phones.

• Where trained to do so, tackle the fire using extinguishers available around the site. Only attempt to extinguish a fire if it is safe to do so, and always keep yourself between the fire and your escape route.

• Inform the site manager or safety adviser if any of your working group are missing.

• Do not return to site unless you are told it is safe to do so by the Emergency Service present, the Site Manager, or the safety adviser.

SAFE WORKING PRACTICES

Introduction

Every person who works on the event must have received a basic health and safety briefing (for example by reading this document).  Contractor companies are requested to circulate this document to working personnel, or have provided proof of adequate training to their staff.

It is the responsibility of each crew member to read and digest this document and to review their own work practices to ensure that they are as safe as reasonably practicable.

The main thrust of the plan is to prevent any undue risk to yourself, other personnel or contractors. However, it is always important to consider how your work may affect the public (either those attending the show or around the site for other reasons).

You should note the emergency contact numbers for the site manager and safety adviser. Every member of the event crew MUST know:

• How to get help in an emergency
• What to do if a fire/evacuation alarm sounds
• Where to find basic rest/welfare facilities
• Where to find first aid

Contractors and Freelancers

The event will clearly involve the use of various contractors and freelance personnel, some of whom may have their own health and safety policies and method statements for carrying out particular work operations.  The information given below (and detailed in the risk assessments) is intended to complement and not replace any existing contracted company policy and should be seen as a statement of overall safety strategy for the event.

Regardless of the employment status of staff, everyone working on the event will be expected to comply with both the spirit and the letter of these statements on safe working. To put it at its most simple: it doesn’t matter who is paying you and what you have done in the past, if you are carrying out work on the event, you MUST follow these guidelines.

Accidents & Incidents

All contractors should nominate an individual to be responsible for first aid for their own staff. A first aid box will be available in the site production office and suitably qualified first aiders will be identified from amongst the production team.

All accidents and any near-miss incidents MUST be reported to the site office/safety adviser and an appropriate entry made in the log or accident book. The management have adopted a no-blame policy to promote disclosure and discussion if anything should go wrong.

Clearly we all want to avoid accidents and breakages, but if something does happen, then there is an opportunity to learn and improve.

General housekeeping

A lot of accidents, minor and major are caused by poor levels of tidiness in the workplace. There needs to be a systematic approach for keeping the work environment safe and tidy and this needs to come from everyone. This means making sure empty flightcases are sensibly stashed (with butterfly catches done up); cables don’t run over walkways where they can be tripped over or damaged by vehicles and so on.

Work must be organised such that traffic routes, exits and pedestrian walkways are not compromised. Storage areas for empty stillages and unused materials will be identified by site management.

Dispose of all waste materials in bins; this includes broken cable ties, food waste or packaging, empty drinks bottles and used gaffa tape balls.

Smokers should use the sand buckets located around the site for disposing of cigarette ends. Please do not use these buckets for other waste.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Although obvious and simple, accidents of this type are responsible for the most injuries to event workers. This inevitably leads to considerable pain or discomfort as well as potentially damaging to the livelihood of the persons concerned.

Take particular care at the edges of any platforms, ramps, steps and treads or on uneven ground. Be aware of any incomplete stage sections or scaffold structures. Report any problems with the stability or security of any stage or flooring sections, handrails and so on.

Ensure any spillages and waste materials are cleared up as soon as possible and that materials are stacked or stored safely.

Fire Safety

The priority onsite is to prevent fire from occurring in the first place. All personnel should make themselves familiar with exit routes, the method of raising the alarm and the location of any fire fighting equipment.

Any contractor needing to undertake any sort of ‘hot work’ (grinding, welding, metal cutting etc) should discuss the work with the safety adviser and the precautions necessary to prevent any outbreak of fire.

All personnel should ensure that work areas or kept tidy and waste removed to bins or skips.

Any flammable substances or materials brought onto site should be notified to the safety adviser and any special instructions for use provided by the supplier should be followed.

Smoking is only permitted in designated smoking areas.

Everyone must understand how to raise the alarm with event management (via Event Control) and know how to get out of their particular area in an emergency

Electrical Systems and Mains Connection

All electrical equipment provided for use on the site must be fit for purpose and in a good state of repair.  Regular inspection and testing of all equipment is required and where applicable a certificate of Portable Appliance Test (PAT) conformity should be readily available. In some instances (such as specialist control equipment) regular re-testing and certification may be employed to ensure equipment is demonstrably in good condition.

It is the responsibility of the on-site electricians to make mains connections. No electrical equipment should be connected unless and until they have deemed it safe to do so. No item of electrical equipment should be plugged into the electrical system unless it has been subjected to a simple visual inspection and is in safe condition.

Distribution boxes and other supply points shall only be provided by the accredited electricians. Connection of equipment to unknown or un-tested supply points should be avoided. Ask first.

Manual Handling

While most lifting and handling work can be mechanised by the use of equipment such as forklift trucks and so on, a great deal of work will ultimately require physical intervention to get equipment into place.

Incorrect or poorly thought through methods of lifting can result in painful back strain or permanent injury including disablement and loss of quality of life. The injured person may find that their lifestyle, leisure activities, ability to sleep and job prospects are affected.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BACK – it is a very delicate structure.

The following steps can be taken to reduce the risk of injury.

• Reduce the weight of the load you have to handle. Make the load smaller or easier to lift; for example, by splitting cases into more manageable components if possible.

• Plan the lift, clear your route and make sure you can see over the load you are carrying.

• Look out for sharp edges, projections, splinters etc. Loads may be hot or very cold. Wear gloves as appropriate.

• Modify the work to reduce carrying distances, twisting movements, or lifting things from floor level or above shoulder height.

• Get help if the load is awkward or heavy, do not struggle alone.

• Make sure that everyone involved in ‘team lifting’ tasks is working to the same plan or count.

Noise

Working in a high noise environment is a common occupational hazard for people in the event industry, but few of us take seriously the potential for long-term injury and disability posed by working in an extremely loud workplace. You will be working in high noise areas from time to time and you should be aware of the risks.

The event is determined to minimise the danger posed to staff by loud noise and will enact measures to control exposure – either from sound systems or other sources. If your job requires you to work in a loud environment, you should take simple steps to protect yourself from long term damage:

• Minimise your time in the high noise area
• Reduce the noise level if possible
• Maximise your distance from the source
• Use hearing protection whenever the noise is loud

Overhead Cables and Underground Services

The main production route onto site has high voltage overhead cables. Goalposts will be erected to warn of their location but particular care must be taken with deliveries and unloading using forklifts, hiabs and cranes.

Underground services are largely limited to water pipes. If you are in any way unsure of where you may dig or stake, contact the site manager.

Working with Vehicles, Plant and Tools

• Site speed limit is 10 mph.

• Do not use hazard lights as it then becomes impossible for pedestrians to determine your proposed direction of travel.

• Any staff or contractors working close to vehicles should wear a hi-viz jacket or vest to aid visibility (especially at night).

• When working with vehicles or plant machinery ensure that all movements are guided or directed by a banksman to warn others. Particularly when reversing.

• Only use equipment you are trained and competent to use. Do not bypass, modify or remove any safety guards or devices from equipment.

• No crew member, other than those people designated by the rigging team, shall operate any lift motor, or winch system. Motor controls should be isolated or disconnected when not in use.

• Plant (including forklifts, cherry pickers and site vehicles) may only be driven by people who have supplied their relevant licence, ‘ticket’ or permit for inspection and recording by the Site Office.

• Passengers MUST NOT be carried on forklifts, and do not use forks to access height without a proper cage.

• Anyone using disc cutters, grinders or similar work equipment must be properly trained/experienced and must use the relevant protective equipment.

• Plant must not be used for any purpose other than that for which it has been designed. Avoid improvisation when using any plant or power tools.

Work at Height

Falls from height are the single biggest cause of death in the workplace.  This event will involve installing and servicing equipment at height, and a rigorous system of planning and safe operating at height is required.

Avoid… Wherever possible the need for work at height should be factored out. Simple changes to work routines can eliminate the need for extensive operations at height. Lone working at height must be avoided at all times and you should ensure that someone is available to assist or raise the alarm if something goes wrong.

Competence… Work at height should only be carried out by designated, competent individuals. This means anyone who is going to work in the roof, up trussing, scaffolding or other elevated parts of the event site MUST be known to the production. Any local crew “climbers” – if appointed – must be both competent and properly supervised whilst carrying out work for the event.

Permission… Work at height should only be carried out once permission has been received from the production manager to ensure that all structural work is complete prior to using it for suspension of motors or rigging.

Safe Access… The physical means of accessing a high work area must be inherently safe. The list below gives the preferred way of working at height – always try to use methods from the top of the list and work down.

1. Fixed platforms/scaffolds/catwalks
2. Cherry pickers & scissor lifts
3. Mobile platforms (alloy towers)
4. Ladders
5. Climbing with Fall Arrest/Restraint equipment

Bear in mind it is often the low fall that is most dangerous – because people are casual and don’t recognise the risk. Someone working in the rig should always take precautions, but falling off a speaker stack, stepladder or tipped up flightcase can have equally drastic results.

Most work at height on this site will be undertaken from either a cherry picker or from a scaffold tower. Ensure cherry pickers are operated on firm level ground and that scaffold towers have been correctly built. In both cases ensure that outriggers have been properly deployed and load spreaders in place where necessary.

When using ladders, ensure they are secured or that you have someone to ‘foot’ the base whilst at height.

Clear Below… Whenever overhead work is carried out make sure people (and kit) is cleared from below or that the operation is scheduled to avoid putting people at risk. Ground crews have a responsibility to ensure the floor or other hazardous area is kept clear of bystanders and other non-essential staff.

PPE…  When any kind of overhead operation is carried out, all personnel at risk below MUST wear hard hats and be easily visible.  Suitable climbing helmets must be worn by people working overhead i.e. one with a chinstrap and no peak.

Tools and equipment… When working at height all loose tools and equipment should be either removed from pockets or secured by means of lanyards or clips. Mobile phones should not be used. Radio use should be only undertaken when in a safe and secure position.

Finally… The nature of the construction work will inevitably lead to exposure to fall risks from incomplete structures. All work must be organised such that staff or other contractors exposure to these risks is minimised. Wherever possible incomplete structures should be signed or barriered to inform others that they are unfinished.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Whilst PPE is not a substitute for avoiding accidents, it is an important element in safe and effective working.

All event personnel will be expected to use appropriate PPE when a relevant hazard is present. Use is not a matter of personal choice – if for example the Production Manager has deemed that hardhats must be worn whilst the lighting rig is being assembled, then staff working in the area have a legal obligation to comply.

You must have the right equipment and clothing to do the job before you start work. Without getting into too much detail the following general rules for PPE will apply:

• Steel toe shoes or boots are required for all manual handling work. Enclosed footwear is a minimum requirement for any other work activity. Sandals and flip-flops are not acceptable.

• Hard hats must be worn when there is a risk of injury from falling materials or equipment. Climbing helmets with chin strap are recommended for those required to work at height.

• Hi Viz jackets/vest are generally required when working with or near vehicles in reduced lighting levels.

• Full fall-arrest and fall prevention systems for anyone carrying out work at height.

• Hearing protection is required for all personnel working with noisy work equipment or in close proximity to PA and sound systems

PPE must be properly looked after and worn correctly. Failure to use PPE properly or at the appropriate time will be considered a serious breach of event policy and may result in the site management taking action.

It is quite possible that other crews will take a different approach to the use of PPE. Remember, the use of PPE is to protect you as an individual, it’s not just an arbitrary rule. Just because some don’t wear hard hats, doesn’t mean you are no longer at risk.  Look after yourself!

Hot Works and Oxy cutting

Oxy-Acetylene is not permitted onsite under any circumstances

The Safety Adviser is there to help and advise and not to place unnecessary restrictions on the way you work. Contact them if you have any questions.

Mike Herbert aka ‘Herb’ 07729 868609