Permissions, Legislation and Health & Safety

Permissions are needed for many elements of the events organisation. Some are formal and require event managers to apply to another agency, some are informal and need to be considered in your communication strategy.

• What formal licences/permissions are required?
• What are the types of licences?
• Who should I talk to?
• How long will it take from beginning to end ~ thus
• when should I start?
• How much will it cost?
• Landowners permissions

To help discussions for permissions you will often need to show what formal plans you have in place.  All entertainment events are classed as work activities and therefore are subject to the Health & Safety at Work Act and various regulations and codes of practice

Legislation covers areas such as:

• working with young people
• disability discrimination
• environmental protection
• entertainment licensing
• explosives and pyrotechnics
• fire precautions
• health and safety at work
• sports grounds
• building structures
• waste management
• noise monitoring
• highways closure and management

The purpose of a risk assessment is to identify hazards, which could cause harm, assess the risks which may arise from those hazards and decide on suitable measures to eliminate or control the risks. Significant findings of the risk assessment must be recorded if five or more people or employed.

Risk assessment is the responsibility of everyone involved to ensure that it is comprehensive and inclusive. Risk assessment must have a partnership approach as external contractors must contribute their areas of work also.