Regardless of scale or location, if you’re planning an event in the upcoming months, risk management should always be on the agenda. In our guidance below we’ll cover the duties of an event organiser, key considerations when planning, and more.
Why is risk management important?
A proactive approach to risk management makes all the difference. As an events organiser it is vital to pinpoint and reduce potential risks to avoid unnecessary harm befalling your attendees. It not only demonstrates a care for your community’s safety, but maintains their trust as well.
I’m planning an event, what are my duties?
Your Duties as an event organiser will include:
- Overall management of the event
- Having health and safety measures in place to control risks
- Ensuring cooperation and proper coordination of work activities
- Checking the adequacy of your own and your contractors insurance
- Managing cars and traffic
- Licensing
- After the event debrief
Key considerations
Venue & Site Design
Layout, services, routes
Accessibility; Zone Ex; barriers & fencing; crowd management; transport and pedestrian management; medical emergencies.
Information & Welfare
(For those involved as well as visitors)
Safeguarding children & young people; animal welfare; water provision; catering; sanitation; waste management.
Additional Considerations
Working at height; temporary structures; electrical & lighting; noise; events on or around water; unmanned aircraft systems (drones); fireworks; adventure sport activities; amusements; camping.
How can I demonstrate good risk management practices?
The best way to formalise and document the above information is by way of a risk assessment. Your preparations should also include engaging the police, fire authorities and any other relevant stakeholders.
When a claim is submitted by solicitors, the first document they ask to be disclosed is often the risk assessment. Ensuring these risk management steps are in place will go some way to protect you from insurance claims.
Risk example: if your event has inflatables or bouncy castles and your risk assessment doesn’t include weather considerations then any subsequent claim resulting from an inflatable blowing away would be hard for the insurers to defend.
Regardless of scale or location, if you’re planning an event in the upcoming months, risk management should always be on the agenda. In our guidance below we’ll cover the duties of an event organiser, key considerations when planning, and more.
Conclusion
Having a robust risk management framework will help you protect the council and its budget as well as members of the public and employees. Remember that careful planning and organisation will help to ensure that your event is safe and successful and remembered for the right reasons.
Want to know more?
Speak to the Clear Councils team via [email protected] or 0330 013 0036.
Further reading:
Clear Councils and Ecclesiastical: Events, playparks and risk management webinar
Clear Councils Risk Management brochure
www.ecclesiastical.com/risk-management/all-eventguidance/
