Health and Safety

Policy Statement

The Torbay and South West of England Festival acknowledge and accept their legal responsibilities for securing the health, safety and welfare of all volunteers and sub-contractors (e.g. adjudicators and accompanists) working on the Festival’s behalf under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. These responsibilities also extend to others affected by Festival activities, such as performers and members of the public attending and participating at these events. Health and Safety is considered in all aspects of the work of this Festival.

What we will do

The Festival will provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions so far as reasonably practicable and in line with and under the instruction of the hired venue’s Health and Safety policies and practices.

Adequately control the health and safety risks arising from Festival activities

Ensure that all volunteers and sub-contractors are competent to carry out their tasks and are given adequate information instruction, training and supervision

Encourage all volunteers and sub-contractors to be actively involved in maintaining safe working practices.

Responsibilities

For this festival, overall responsibility for health and safety rests with a nominated person from the trustees’ committee who will:

Ensure suitable financial provision is made for health and safety obligations

Provide a safe working environment at any Festival event location

Ensure that the Health and Safety policy is effectively implemented throughout the Festival

Provide appropriate training for volunteers

NB It is encumbent upon all volunteers and sub-contractors at all times to take reasonable care of themselves and have due regard for the health and safety of others who may be affected by their activities.

How will this policy be implemented?

Communication of the contents of this policy will be brought to the attention of all volunteers and sub-contractors.

Training needs will be identified and volunteers will be given appropriate training for their responsibilities.

The Festival will ensure a sufficient and up-to-date risk assessment has been performed at the event location, in conjunction with the venue’s relevant staff member. The objective is to examine all work areas and procedures to assess or determine if a risk or potential risks exist and to categorise the severity of the risk with a view to elimination, substitution, reduction or control of the risk to help create a safe working environment for all volunteers, sub-contractors, performers and audience members

Equipment

All equipment specific to the Festival is subject to routine maintenance, taking into account various factors.

Manual handling

The Festival will, so far as is reasonably practicable, avoid the need for volunteers to undertake any manual handling operations which involve a risk to their being injured at the event location.

Emergencies

All Festival volunteers and sub-contractors should take measures to ensure that they familiarise themselves with local procedures and fire exits when first attending the event location.

Fire safety

The Festival will safeguard the volunteers and sub-contractors against exposure to the hazards associated with fire at the event location.

First Aid and accident reporting

A basic first aid kit containing recommended minimum materials is available at the event desk or Box Office. An appointed person is selected to maintain the contents of the first aid kit and to phone for emergency assistance if required. All accidents must be recorded in an accident book and those defined in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) are reported to the appropriate enforcing authority via the HSE’s website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/report.htm.

This policy and procedure will be updated every 2 years to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Person responsible for the monitoring and review of this policy:

Name: Carolyne Clark
Signature: Carolyne Clark

Date of Issue: January 2024 Version: 1