Health & Safety rules for exhibitors
Contents
Exhibitors’ responsibilities
- When an exhibitor employs, or contracts out, work on a stand, the stand (either indoor or outdoor) and any associated demonstration area becomes a separate ‘workplace’.
- The exhibitor is deemed to be ‘the employer’ in respect of the stand space and is subject to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and relevant regulations made under it.
- The demonstration areas on site are designated as a working quarry and the 1999 Quarries Regulations apply in full.
- It should be noted that exhibitors have a wider responsibility for their stand space/demonstration areas than they would normally have in their normal workplace, in that they have a duty of care to each contractor and sub-contractor, along with every person on site who may be affected by their work practices.
- Exhibitors are also directly responsible for the safe use and maintenance of every aspect of their stand/demonstration area.
- It is the exhibitor’s legal duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that their stand/demonstration area, and the access to and from it is safe for any person who either works on, or visits it, throughout the build-up, open and breakdown periods.
- Exhibitors must ensure that all staff, contractors or agents working on site are competent to perform their duties ie appropriately trained, qualified and experienced.
- It is the exhibitor’s duty to define and record exact areas of responsibility between themselves and their contractors prior to coming on-site.
- Exhibitors must satisfy themselves that their contractors have undertaken a suitable Risk Assessment, along with a Method Statement for the construction of complex stands, structures or exhibits.
- In accordance with the guidelines agreed with the Health & Safety Executive by the Association of Event Organisers, shell scheme exhibitors with low risk stands may opt to complete a Health & Safety Declaration Form in lieu of a Risk Assessment.
- It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to ensure that all safety documents are accurate, valid and also that control measures are in place throughout the build-up, open and breakdown periods.
- Exhibitors must take reasonable steps to ensure that the contractors are operating to a safe system of work, including access and egress to and from the stand.
- Exhibitors have a duty to inform the organisers of all potential hazards that they may bring on to the site.
- The Exhibitor (or a co-exhibitor sharing a stand) is also responsible for the action or inaction of the contractors and the working practices undertaken on-site, whether or not a member of the exhibiting company is present.
- Exhibitors should take such steps as are reasonably practical to ensure that only authorised persons attend their stands during the build-up and breakdown periods.
- The Exhibitor is also responsible for ensuring that all exhibits, features and materials comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and its associated regulations.
- Exhibitors are advised that it is in their own interests to monitor their health and safety performance throughout the event.
