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Events Safety Guide (ESG)

This safety guide contains the collected knowledge of staff experienced in managing radio productions and also safety professionals who advise on all aspects of safety including events.

Updated: 3 November 2022

Safety is everybody's responsibility. We all have a duty to keep ourselves and others safe. This safety guide contains the collected knowledge of staff experienced in managing radio productions and also safety professionals who advise on all aspects of safety including events.

Sources of Information

  • In areas of the business that issue staff with iPhones, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Safety App can be used to record changes to your risk assessment and during a recce to record issues, hazards and controls which you need to cover in your risk assessment. For High Risk Activities you must still contact the High Risk team for advice and support.
  • The ‘purple guide’, which aims to help organisers deliver successful events safely, is a guide created by the Events Industry Forum and developed through consultation with the industry and government agencies, and with the support of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). 
  • The National Arenas Association (NAA) Safety Advisory Group, produce a guide that aims to simplify health, safety and operational issues for event promoters.
  • The A-Guide provides guidance for production-type events. It defines consistent health, safety and operational standards for event planning and management in NAA member venues and represents compliance with UK law, relevant guidance and best practice. 
  • If you can’t find what you are looking for or need more advice and are working on a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Event or a production, then  your Safety Advisor or the Safety Advice Line.

How to use the Events Safety Guide 

There are over 50 topics in this Events Safety Guide. Use them to plan and develop your Event Business Plan and the supporting documentation, such as the risk assessments and checklists necessary to manage your event.

Where to start?

  • Running an Event can be a difficult and complex task which can be influenced by a multitude of factors. Whether it’s a small scale event or a major event, the process followed to plan and manage the event will directly influence how well the H&S issues are managed and ultimately the success of the event.
  • At the very beginning of the Event, whilst it’s still an idea, think about developing a Business Plan for the Event. This will help you organise your thoughts, share them with others on paper before putting plans into action. Then you'll need to think about an Event Action Plan. The Events: Planning and Management page will take you though what's required.

What are the key topics?

  • Events: Planning and Management
  • Events: Responsibilities & Events: Responsibilities Form
  • Events: Location Recce Checklist - Outdoor
  • Events: Location Recce Checklist - Indoor
  • Events: General Guide

There are also some other Events specific pages:

  • Events: Major Incident and Emergency Planning
  • Events: Noise Exposure
  • Events: Marketing & Promotional
  • Events: Exhibitions

The rest of the guide comprises many other related topics, such as:

  • Children and Young People
  • Environment on Productions and Events
  • First Aid and Welfare on Location
  • Food and Catering (inc Cooking in Studios)
  • Laser Lighting Effects
  • Temporary Stages and Rostra
  • Strobe Lighting
  • Waste Management
  • Water and Waste Water Management
  • Working at Height: various pages

If you are covering an non-³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Event then look at these pages:

  • Events: Working at
  • Sports Events: Recording and Filming

Training

Safety Training is Mandatory for those Production staff who have responsibility for completing or approving risk assessments, or who manage event safety. This includes Producers, Assistant Producers, Exec Producers, Editors, Event Managers, Event Co-ordinators and Heads of Events.

Organising a live event? Get to know all the aspects, including health and safety, risk assessments, and what to do when things go wrong:

  • Develop a clear understanding of the issues involved in setting up and running a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Live Event safely
  • Evaluate the suitability of different venues, using selection criteria
  • Evaluate risk assessments from contractors and explore the risk management of the event as a whole, including monitoring and controlling procedures with reference to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's event safety file
  • Recognise the need to communicate what's going on and review procedures
  • Discuss what can go wrong, what to do if it does, and explore preventative measures and contingency planning
  • Know where to get further information and advice.

Where can I find out more?

  • From our safety guideline to 'Training and Competence: Safety', including a full list of training resources provided by the Academy.

A - Z

A to Z list of activities included in the events safety guide.

A - E

F - L

M - R

S - Z

Safety tools, guides and contacts

  • The new online tool for Risk Assessments, incidents and monitoring (NOTE: Use Google Chrome for Windows or Safari for MAC to fully access)
  • Safety Equipment StoresJust one number to call: 0844 800 8875
  • ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Safety GuidelinesAccess our A-Z of safety guidelines
  • Safety Advice Line: 0370 411 0464 Email: safety@bbc.co.uk
  •  (³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Network only)

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Security - key links:

About this site

This site describes what the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ does in relation to managing its health, safety and security risks and is intended for those who work directly for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.

It is not intended to provide instruction or guidance on how third parties should manage their risks. The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ cannot be held liable for how this information is interpreted or used by third parties, nor provide any assurance that adopting it would provide any measure of legal compliance. More information

Some links on this site are only accessible when connected to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ network

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