Place of Worship
Festivals & High Holy Days Risk Assessment Template
The complete guide to creating professional risk assessments for festivals and high holy days.
Free to use Instant PDF download Updated February 2026
Essential guidance for festival safety
Religious festivals and high holy days often bring significantly larger congregations than regular services. These special occasions require enhanced planning for crowd management, fire safety, catering, and additional parking and accessibility needs.
This guide covers key hazards including large crowd management, temporary seating safety, candle and flame use, and weather considerations for outdoor services.
Community Safety
Community Safety
Activity Benefits
Why festivals matter
Sacred Calendar
Marks the most significant moments in the religious year.
Community Gathering
Brings together the wider faith community including occasional attenders.
Tradition & Heritage
Maintains cherished traditions and passes them to new generations.
Outreach
Provides welcoming entry points for newcomers to the faith community.
Risk Identification
Key hazards & control measures
Large CongregationsHigh Risk
Potential Harm
Overcrowding, restricted exits, crushing from larger than normal attendance.
Control Measures
- Capacity limits enforced
- Additional services offered
- Extra stewards deployed
- Overflow areas prepared
Candles & Open FlamesHigh Risk
Potential Harm
Fire, burns, smoke inhalation from increased candle use at festivals.
Control Measures
- Candle guards used
- Flame supervision throughout
- Fire extinguishers positioned
- Clear from decorations
Temporary SeatingMedium Risk
Potential Harm
Collapse, falls, obstruction from additional temporary seating.
Control Measures
- Stable seating only
- Aisles maintained
- Exit routes preserved
- Weight limits observed
Outdoor ServicesMedium Risk
Potential Harm
Cold, heat, slips, disruption from outdoor festival services.
Control Measures
- Weather forecast checked
- Shelter available
- Indoor backup plan
- Ground conditions checked
This guide covers the most common hazards. Our risk assessment wizard includes 26 hazards and 47+ control measures for Festivals & High Holy Days, sourced from industry guidance — create your assessment in minutes.
Safety Checklist
Festival checklist
Crowd Management
- Capacity confirmed
- Extra stewards deployed
- Overflow plan ready
- Exit routes clear
Fire Safety
- Candle positions safe
- Guards in use
- Extinguishers accessible
- Evacuation plan reviewed
Parking
- Marshals briefed
- Overflow parking arranged
- Disabled access clear
- Emergency access maintained
Welfare
- First aiders present
- Water available
- Rest areas identified
- Toilets accessible
Ready to create your festival risk assessment?
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