WORDS IN WATCHET 2027

WORDS IN WATCHET FESTIVAL HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY


Duty of Care Statement

Words in Watchet Festival will take all reasonably practicable steps to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions and environment for all volunteers and any other people who are directly affected by our activities, such as members of the public at our events.

Responsibility

  1. For health and safety at all events and activities organised by Words in Watchet Festival, overall and final responsibility will be delegated to a named member of the Words in Watchet Committee for each event. This individual will be responsible for ensuring that this policy is upheld.
  2. For all events where there is an audience in attendance, the responsible person will be named in advance and their name will be noted on all relevant documents. All volunteers involved will be made aware of who is responsible for health and safety and safeguarding.

General arrangements

  1.  For each venue at which events are regularly held, a risk assessment will be carried out. The format and contents of the risk assessment will be reviewed annually.
  2. A pre-event safety checklist to be completed prior to every event.
    This safety checklist will be completed by two members of the Words in Watchet Committee.
  3. The named member of the Words in Watchet Committee will brief the volunteer stewards on their duties, including the emergency evacuation procedures.
  4. The named member of the Words in Watchet Committee will make a safety announcement to the audience, including emergency evacuation procedures.
  5. The named member of the Words in Watchet Committee will make sure all volunteers at events and activities are aware of the location of fire exits.
  6. All volunteers will be made aware of the precautions they need to take as noted on the relevant safety checklists.
  7. Wherever possible, neither the named member of the Words in Watchet Committee nor any volunteer will run an event on their own, and at least two of these should stay at an event until it is finished and the last attendees have left.
  8. An accident record sheet will be taken to all event venues.
  9. Words in Watchet Festival also has a Safeguarding Policy that all volunteers will be made aware of as part of their training prior to assisting with events.
  10. Words in Watchet Festival holds Public and Products Liability Insurance up to £2,000,000 from Hiscox insurance Company Limited.


This policy will be reviewed annually by the Words in Watchet Festival.

 Next Review date: January 2027