Event safety

Guidance for event organisers

Public safety must be a top priority at any event. As an event organiser you are responsible for ensuring that appropriate health and safety precautions are in place.

As a minimum, you need to ensure that those attending the event know what to do in the event of an emergency and how they can obtain first aid.

You should also advise any external contractors that they need to comply with fire and safety requirements when on site.

The Health and Safety Executive’s website provides helpful guidance on:

Let us help

Ipswich Borough Council’s Events Team provide an event management service and can support you throughout your event planning and delivery. You can reach out to the team on events@ipswich.gov.uk

Contacting your area Safety Advisory Group

Organisers planning larger events should consult with their area Safety Advisory Group (SAG) at an early stage. The purpose of the Safety Advisory Group is to enable the relevant regulatory and response agencies to consider events that have implications for public safety.

Membership of the SAG can vary according to the event being considered but the core members of any SAG will be local authority representatives, Fire and Rescue Service, Police and Ambulance Services. Event organisers may also be invited to the advisory group meetings to discuss their proposals.

The group has no statutory powers but individual members may have regulatory powers. Organisers will be advised of any aspects that cause the group concern although the SAG is not in a position to make decisions about the event.

Further information about the role of the SAG and further guidance on running events safely is available on the Suffolk Resilience website and the Health and Safety Executive website.