Event Organisers – Are You Aware Of Your Legal Responsibilities?

Event organiser CDM Regs responsibilities

Event Organisers – Are You Aware Of Your Legal Responsibilities Under The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015?

As a direct result of working within this sector, it has become apparent that some who manage events have little or no concept of The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), and how it is applied within the entertainment industry.

You may say what have construction regulations got to do with us? The CDM Regs 2015 relate to the planning, design and management of tasks associated with construction work (including erection of stages, temporary buildings) undertaken in TV/film broadcasting, theatre and performing arts, live events, exhibitions/trade fairs and conferences. More specifically, activities such as building/erecting structures for an outside broadcast at a sports ground, building/erecting a TV set in a studio, touring theatre set and music or other stages for festivals & events.

Health and Safety Executive Approach

It is the intention of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for construction health and safety considerations to be treated as a normal part of an event/production’s management and development, not an afterthought or bolt-on extra. In respect of concert, wider measures must be taken to ensure a safer event/production, that is, the objective of CDM 2015 is to reduce the risk of harm to those that have to build, fit out, use, maintain and take down structures. There are now numerous examples of prosecutions for non-compliance with the Regulations.

In September 2015 the HSE undertook an initiative to visit as many construction sites as possible as a result of which they issued numerous notices for breaches.The key principles of CDM 2015 will be familiar to those already managing risks effectively as part of an event/production.

The key principles are:

  • eliminate or control risks so far as reasonably practicable;
    (This means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control the real risk in terms of money, time or trouble. However, you do not need to take action if it would be grossly disproportionate to the level of risk)
  • ensure work is effectively planned;
  • appointing the right people and organisations at the right time;
  • making sure everyone has the information, instruction, training and supervision they need to carry out their jobs safely and without damaging health;
  • have systems in place to help parties cooperate and communicate with each other and coordinate their work; and consult workers with a view to securing effective health, safety and welfare measures.

Any actions you take to comply with CDM 2015 should always be proportionate to the risks involved (H.S.E. 2016).

COTW training are now working with clients across the sector to ensure compliance through our bespoke course entitled ‘ CDM 2015 for Event Organisers’.

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