WHARFEDALE FESTIVAL OF PERFORMING ARTS

 

• HEALTH & SAFETY POLICY
• GENERAL STATEMENT
• The Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts Committee believes that the health and safety of persons attending its classes is of paramount importance. The first requirement for maintaining high standards of health and safety is that everyone is vigilant and undertakes personal responsibility for their health and safety and that of others.  We intend to prevent accidents and where possible, eliminate hazards in the performance venues.

 

This policy acknowledges:

The Health and Safety Work Act 1974

Consumer Protection Act 1987

Defective Premises Act 1972

BIFF Festival Child Protection Policy 2018

BIFF Online Safety Policy 2018

BIFF Risk Assessment Policy 2019

Online Safety Act 2023

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025

 

• ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We believe that health and safety standards will be maintained only with the co-operation of all volunteers and participants of the Wharfedale Festival.

We also take into account the Health and Safety Policy of the venues that are used during the festival.

In addition, we will ensure that all visitors are provided with the information they require to enable them to comply with this policy.

We shall:

• Monitor and review health and safety issues annually and update this policy if required.
• Take all reasonable precautions for the safety of all concerned.
• Take all reasonable precautions to prevent damage, accident or injury.
• Ensure that risk assessments are carried out before the start of each festival and take appropriate action if necessary.
• Ensure that volunteer stewards and helpers have adequate information, instruction, induction and support to ensure they can support the H&S policy of the Wharfedale Festival along with the H&S Policy of the venue used.
• Ensure that all visitors and participants are aware of and co-operate with the H&S policy through

our website and Festival programme.

• Record any accidents and inform any appropriate individual, school, organisation or authority.
• Seek advice from other organisations or professionals, such as Bradford Council, safety advisers etc. as and when necessary.

 

RISK ASSESSMENT

The Wharfedale Festival will fill in a Risk Assessment form (Appendix 1) for each venue before the start of the festival and record and address potential risks. They will also ensure that safety notices and information are on display. They will also check that:

• Electrical safety of any equipment supplied (e.g. PAT – Portable Appliance Testing has been carried out by the venue).
• Welfare and safety arrangements for those staffing and participating in the festival are adequate at each venue.

GENERAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

This includes fire, criminal activity such as bomb threats, natural disasters etc.

• In line with each venue’s policy, The Wharfedale Festival Committee will ensure that all steward volunteers know the emergency procedures, including fire alarm sounds, correct routes for evacuation and meeting points, The duty staff of each venue will have overall authority in the safe evacuation of their building.
• The Wharfedale Festival asks that it is notified in advance if any person with physical disabilities requires additional help in case of an emergency so that the organisers and duty staff of the venue are aware of this.

 

FIRST AID PROCEDURE

When dealing with any child under the age of 18 permission must be obtained

from the parent/responsible adult before any first aid is administered.

 

• A ‘Minor First Aid’ box provided by the Wharfedale Festival will be available at each venue along with medical supplies and equipment that each venue already has.
• Depending on the venue, a designated area will be available for the dealing with minor injuries and ailments.
• If the injury/medical emergency requires a hospital but is mobile then he/she should be taken for emergency treatment by an appropriate adult.
• If the injury/medical emergency is of a major nature, then an ambulance should be summoned immediately without undue delay. This should also be the case for any child under 18 years before trying to contact the responsible adult/parent if they are not with the child.
• No child should be sent to hospital unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
• The duty staff of the venue will be informed of the accident to prevent re-occurrence.

 

HEALTH ISSUES

• The Wharfedale Festival will comply with individual venues´ policies on smoking.
• Any participants and volunteers under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be excluded from the venue and festival.
• The Wharfedale Festival will comply with any government guidelines regarding the transmission of any communicable diseases (such as Covid-19)

 

 

Wharfedale Festival of Performing Arts Committee

Reviewed: November 2021

                    January 2024

                  October 2024

                  January 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1

 

RISK ASSESSMENT FORM – WHARFEDALE FESTIVAL

 

Control Measures For each risk consider whether it can be eliminated completely. If it cannot, then decide what must be done to reduce it to an acceptable level. The following could be considered:

• Removal of the hazard completely
• Substitute the hazard with something less hazardous
• Prevent access to the hazard
• Reduce exposure to the hazard (e.g. frequency of exposure, number of people exposed)
• Reduce the likelihood of the hazard occurring
• Transfer responsibility for managing the risk to another responsible person (e.g. venue manager)

 

Likelihood (L) –                1 is unlikely        2 is possible        3 is likely

 

Severity (S)                        1 is minimal        2 is minor injuries that may require first aid on site

                                             3 is major injuries that may require hospital treatment

 

Risk Level =(L) x (S) – calculate for each risk and assess the risk level as:

                                             1-3 is low risk

                                             4-6 is medium risk

                                             7-9 is high risk

HAZARD	Who or What is at Risk?	Likelihood (L)	Severity (S)	Risk Level (L) x (S)	Control Measures