Event Industry News

The Event Safety Guide (HSG195) to be updated

The HSE has announced it is to revise its guidance for the events industry to reflect legislative changes and improvements in industry practices.

The Executive intends to collaborate with the industry itself and other key stakeholders to produce new material for The Event Saftey Guide(HSG195), to give greater emphasis to risk assessment and health and safety management. Case studies and practical information on risk management will also feature in the restructured guide.

Key issues to be addressed include work at height, transport management, worker welfare and crowd management. Topic-based chapters will detail what the law requires and how to comply with it.

A steering group comprising industry representatives and chaired by the HSE has been set up, and chapter working groups are currently being finalised. Parties interested in getting involved in these working groups should contact project coordinator Adrian Tinson – e-mail: Adrian.tinson@hse.gsi.gov.uk Alternatively, you can register your interest on the Events Industry Forum website.

As part of the process to update The Event Saftey Guide the HSE is also undertaking market research to enable it to clarify the position of paramedics and ambulance technicians. Currently, the guide defines paramedics as members of NHS ambulance services registered with the Institute of Health Care and Development (IHCD), which has now been replaced by the Health Professions Council (HPC).

There is no legal requirement on event organisers to use only NHS providers of medical cover, and the HSE says it has no objections to provision by a private contractor of paramedics registered with the HPC. Similarly, it is not against the provision of ambulance technicians by private contractors as long as they are suitably qualified and equipped, etc.

The Events Industry Forum website will be updated regularly with information on the revision of the guide.