Soundstage One, Health and Safety
Public Event Health and Safety for indoor and outdoor stages
Safety should be a prime consideration of any event organiser. Soundstage One takes its Health and Safety responsibilities very seriously and can also help you to ensure your event operates safely.
As a contractor Soundstage One is committed to providing safe stages, structures and technical equipment operated and installed by staff working safely. We aim to make sure that our policies not only comply with all regulations but meet or exceed all relevant guidelines:
Training
We undertake training of staff in a number of ways including job specific independent courses.
The Safety Passport scheme is an initiative by the Production Services Association designed to ensure a recognised level of safety training across the entertainment and events industry. Soundstage One are participating in the scheme which provides training in safe working procedures to members of our team. It is ultimately expected that event organiser's and venues shall be insisting that contractors are part of this scheme.
A number of our team have undertaken additional specific training qualifications such as Forklift operations, LGV driving, Rigging, Fire, First Aid and Electrical. Of course all our training is an on going process.
Stages & Structures
Forces that are put onto a structure outdoors by the weather can easily be underestimated as you would expect all of our stages and other structures have been designed by respected manufacturers and/or assessed by independent structural engineers to calculate the suitability and capability to withstand weather forces to the standards recommended by the institute of structural engineers guidelines for temporary / demountable structures. A safety inspection is carried out upon completion of each structure. Often we shall leave a 'baby siter' on site with our stage to keep check on the safety of the stage and monitor weather conditions.
Equipment
In order to maintain safe equipment we are required to have tests and inspections of items on a regular basis, this includes Loller inspections of all lifting equipment and PAT Testing of all electrical equipment.
The Risk Assessment
The most important safety document is the Risk Assessment, this is used as a way to analyse the safety risks involved in various methods, procedures and operations such as the installation of a stage and use of a stage by performers. The finished document not only provides evidence that safety has been considered and the risks managed but also as a guide to training staff undertaking the work.
Obviously there are differing risks for different structures and sometimes specific venues or requirements can present additional risks to be considered.
Soundstage One have performed risk assessments on all its common tasks such as installation and use of each of its stages and other structures. We consult and revise this for each job and if required perform new risk assessments specific to the project.
Insurance
As you would expect we carry full liability insurance:
- Public Liability £5m
- Employers Liability £10m
Documentation
The documentation described forms part of our health and safety portfolio. All of this is designed to provide our client and us with the peace of mind that Soundstage One shall fulfil each contract in a safe way.
- Company Health and Safety Policy
- Insurance documents
- Structural plans and reports for all structures
- Loading plans where appropriate
- Method statements for generic work
- Risk assessments
- Lifting equipment inspection certification
- Portable Appliance Testing certification
- Safety Passport Certificates for key staff
- Other individual safety qualifications
Please contact SoundStage One to discuss how we can help and order your free quotation.
