This section has been developed to enable event organisers to put effective procedures in place so that safety is maintained at events. In order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the members of the public, staff and volunteers working at and attending an event, health and safety must be planned and well managed. If you are in doubt about the safety of an event, please first consult with your local authority and other agencies referred to in this guide. Careful planning and organisation will help to ensure that your event is both safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.

The information contained within this guide is intended to highlight the importance of making safety a priority in planning your event. The considerations are by no means exhaustive and should be supplemented by other reading. This is an introductory guide, and the level of detail that you will require will depend on the size and type of your event, so the information here may be too detailed or basic for you depending on your needs. It is not definitive guidance or advice, simply information to help you to explore the topic further.

COMPREHENSIVE GUIDANCE

For most comprehensive guidance, read the Event Safety Guide by the Health & Safety Executive:

'The Event Safety Guide: A guide to health, safety and welfare at music and similar events' ("The Purple Book") by the Health & Safety Executive. ISBN: 0717624536.

Download by clicking here. Please note that this is a very large file.

Or a hardcopyguide can be purchased for £20 from http://www.hsebooks.com/Books/product/product.asp?catalog_name=HSEBooks&category_name=&product_id=3336&cookie_test=1

FURTHER READING:
Visit the Event Safety Reading section for more information on available guides.

CREDITS:
Some of the copy on this section has been drawn from the following sources:

• University of Bristol Event Guidance Note (2007) http://www.bristol.ac.uk/safety/guidance/

• Wales Tourist Board 'Timeline for Events' online resource http://www.timelineforevents.co.uk/english

• Tourism North East Toolkit for Festival Organisers. http://www.tourismnortheast.co.uk/

• Some of the Regional Guides as listed in the 'Reading' section.