2.15 GENERAL SAFETY (FORMING YOUR RISK ASSESSMENT)

Marquee structures, doors, linings, heaters, electric cookers, generators, stored fuel, toilets, public access, stake heads, ropes and floorings, to name a few, all have risks particularly with regard to fire.

It is the responsibility of the event organiser to evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from risk to their staff, exhibitors and by the public by consultation with the Licensing Authority and by the following procedures:

Evaluate the risk	for example: – Overload of weight suspended from roof. – Uneven floor. – Ground stake heads projecting out of ground. – Display lighting is too close to combustibles. – Potential use of unsuitable or unauthorised electrical equipment. – General proximity of ignition sources with combustible material during exhibition change-over.
Evaluate the risk to people	for example: – Collapse of marquee. – Slip, trip, falls. – Predominantly open plan with high ceilings. – Fire in exhibition hall could affect other areas.
Remove and reduce the hazards	for example: – Use specific truss-work for lighting rigs. – Fence-off areas of risk or protect stake-heads. – Regularly check flooring for lifting. – Issue written instructions to exhibitors and check all displays, lighting and electrical equipment prior to public access each day. – Improve housekeeping during change of events.
Remove and reduce the risks	for example: – Monitor and regulate the frequency of traffic over specific areas. – The current fire precautions (refer to floor plans) have been assessed in view of the findings of the risk assessment and are considered adequate with the following exceptions. – Re-site fire extinguishers in accordance with guidance from supplier. – Replace poorly sited fire exit signs.

When scheduling installation and dismantle dates an allowance needs to be made for the installing and dismantle of marquee structures to work, ideally, with no other contractors on site, and only to allow access to other contractors once the marquee is deemed structurally safe by the marquee contractor?s foreperson.

When snow forms on a marquee structure roof, to prevent overloading and possible collapse of the marquee structure, there needs to be sufficient heating to keep the temperature to +12 degrees Centigrade to minimise snow build-up. This is particularly true if there are loads already fixed to the roof, such as lighting.

No exit doors are to be locked or incapable of being opened in one easy release operation if any one person is in the marquee (including staff).