The advice comes from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health's (IOSH) Sports Grounds and Events Group, in the light of new Construction Design Management Regulations (CDM), which are set to take effect in October 2014.
Carl Hagemann, chair of the IOSH Sports Grounds and Events Group, said: "Event organisers and those working in safety at events really do need to realise the impact the new CDM regulations could potentially have on their day-to-day jobs.
"Although the regulations coming into play may seem like a lifetime away, there's no time like the present to start preparing."
When applied to the events industry, the new CDM rules could mean change for organisers and all those involved in the build and break down of event structures
Hagemann added: "Potentially organisers may need to map their existing safety management processes to an unfamiliar framework, there may be more pressure to buy more tenancy time for break downs and potentially more training could be required across the industry."
Following the concerns within the events industry about looming changes, the IOSH Sports Grounds and Events Group will be hosting 'Event Health and Safety Game Changers' on Tuesday 12 November, at Warwick Race Course.
The seminar will address concerns surrounding the Health and Safety Executive's current approach to health and safety enforcement at events, and how that may be exacerbated further under the new legislation. Delegates will also have the opportunity to discuss the interpretation and enforcement of general health and safety law and the financial impact of the HSE's Fee for Intervention, the penalty that was introduced for those who breach health and safety regulations, in October 2012. The HSE will be attending the event to take questions.
(Claire Beeson)
