Festivals & high holy days Risk Assessment Template

Typical hazards & measures

• Cold exposure in winter events — Encourage participants to bring blankets or layered clothing, provide heated indoor space or outdoor heaters, lay grit on icy paths, shorten outdoor elements, and assign stewards to check regularly on elderly or vulnerable participants.
• Security threats or disruptive behaviour — Appoint security stewards, brief on de-escalation techniques, install CCTV where lawful, maintain close contact with police, and keep restricted backstage zones. Establish emergency evacuation routes and rehearse responses with staff.
• Outdoor services in poor weather — Continuously monitor forecasts, erect marquees or gazebos secured with weights/pegs, establish a wet-weather indoor venue as contingency, and brief leaders on evacuation plans. Provide ponchos/umbrellas for vulnerable attendees where necessary.
• Noise impact on local community — Measure sound levels with decibel meters, direct speakers away from residential areas, restrict evening timings, liaise with neighbours before events, and adjust sound checks to avoid nuisance. Provide a hotline for complaints on the day.
• Fireworks or special effects — Contract licensed pyrotechnicians, establish exclusion zones, have extinguishers and fire blankets ready, notify local fire service, and announce timings to crowd. Keep viewing areas cordoned and supervise setup and takedown carefully.