Free information – Stay safe this summer

With the summer in full swing, businesses and organisations are being reminded of the importance of managing the additional liability risks associated with hosting outdoor events.

As part of its ‘Simply Safety’ campaign, insurance provider Aviva is emphasizing that proper planning and risk assessment of such events as fêtes, carnivals and parades are crucial to ensure that the organisers don’t incur additional liability and a fun and safe time is had by all.

Phil Grace, liability risk manager at Aviva, had the following advice for event organisers: “Sketch a plan of the site showing the position of the activities, the entrance and exit routes, and car parking. This will be useful in explaining how the event will be organised.

“A risk assessment should always be undertaken in advance to properly assess the additional risks. The assessment should include identification of all possible hazards that could occur and also include how the risk will be controlled. Event organisers should also request risk assessments from third parties such as contractors and participants and, where appropriate, method statements for the activities they will carry out.” 

In particular, event organisers should consider:

• Stands and stalls;
• Marquees, stages and caterers’ stands/tents;
• Bouncy castles and amusement rides; and
• Control of people and vehicles.

Grace also pointed out that contingency planning is just as important as risk assessment and advised event organisers to consider what could go wrong on the day and draw up a plan to deal with such emergencies as a fire, bomb alert and adverse weather conditions.

To download the Simply Safety factsheet, click here.