Festivals & high holy days Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Slips and trips — Keep walkways clear of bags, coats, and cables, tape down temporary wires, anchor mats securely, and inspect flooring before and during events. Train volunteers to identify and correct hazards quickly, and provide good lighting in all passageways.
• Toilets and sanitation for large gatherings — Provide portable toilets in sufficient ratio to attendees, ensure at least 10% accessible units, position them in well-lit areas with non-slip flooring, employ a contractor for cleaning/emptying during events, and post clear signage to facilities.
• Safeguarding concerns — Ensure all staff and volunteers working with children or youth have appropriate background checks, are clearly identifiable, and are briefed on supervision ratios. Establish a safeguarding point with trained leads present, follow clear reporting procedures, and restrict unsupervised access to sensitive areas.
• Waste build-up and litter — Deploy bins every 25m with clear labelling for recycling, appoint waste volunteers for patrols, hire collection service for large volumes, and include clean-up time in event plan. Provide gloves and tongs for safe collection of sharps or glass.
• Heat or dehydration during summer events — Provide shaded areas with gazebos, free water refill stations, encourage hats and sunscreen, schedule pauses in long services, and brief stewards to recognise signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration, with first aid cover ready for escalation.