2024 Reading - Live Safety

Build 25 July – 20 August 2024

Break 26 August – 09 September 2024

Site Health & Safety Induction


Reading Festival is committed to the Health, Safety and Welfare of all employees, contractors, and visitors involved in the operation of the event site.

To ensure all employees, contractors and visitors have the information to cooperate with the Event Management in maintaining a safe working environment and to fulfil the legal requirements of Health & Safety legislation everyone is required to complete this Health and Safety induction before arriving to site.

Induction guide

You will only be permitted access to site if you have:

Completed the online Health and Safety induction and provided your details when requested

Please bring the confirmation email and photo ID the first time you visit

Festival Production Office

Blue Gate. Reading Festival, Richfield Avenue. Reading, Berkshire, RG1 8EQ

Site operating hours are 08:00 to 20:00 unless by prior agreement.

Event management team

Claire Armstrong

Event Manager

Festival Republic


Becky Gundry

Site Manager

Festival Republic


Elisabeth Poulsom

Health & Safety

Festival Republic



Equality, Diversity, Inclusion logo

Diversity & Inclusion

Our festivals are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where discrimination against any individual based on their age, disability, gender, marital status, race, or beliefs is not tolerated. This commitment is at the heart of our festivals, ensuring a space for everyone to work in and enjoy.

24% of the UK’s population is disabled, and not all disabilities are visible – for example a person may be neurodivergent, have a mental health condition, a learning disability or a severe lung condition.

People are disabled by barriers or obstructions in society rather than by their impairment or difference.

These can be physical, like not providing any accessible toilets. People’s attitudes can also create barriers, like assuming a disabled person can or can’t do something.


We are required to remove barriers for disabled customers before they arrive on site. As part of our commitment to removing barriers for disabled customers, we recognise the crucial role you play. Your actions and attitudes are instrumental in creating an inclusive festival environment. Please remember:

  • To treat everyone equally and with respect;
  • Do not assume you know someone’s requirements – please always ask;
  • Please consider whether there are any barriers or obstructions to disabled customersin the area within which you are working and do what you can to ensure those are removed.

We take pride in the diversity of our festivals and customers. Everyone working at our festivals shares the responsibility to respect and uphold our values and it is also a legal obligation. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment. If you witness or experience any behaviour that undermines this, regardless of its severity, you must report it immediately to Event Control.


Personal protective equipment (ppe)

As a minimum you will need to wear a Hi-Vis tabard.

Hi-vis

It should meet the requirements of EN ISO 20471:2013 and ensure you are clearly visible

(Yellow, Orange or Red only)

Footwear

You should wear appropriate footwear for the work activity and environment

Headwear

Head protection must be worn when operating in areas of overhead works

Other PPE as detailed in your RAMS may also be required

Body Harness

Eye Protection

Protective Gloves

Dust Mask

First Aid

First Aid is available at the production office


A defibrillator is located at the production office


All accidents, near misses MUST be reported to the production office

First aid

Defibrillator

welfare

There are toilets with handwashing facilities in the Production area for you to use during your time on site as well as in other areas of the site.


Hand sanitiser will be provided at crew catering and Production areas.


Please ensure that you wear appropriate clothing for the weather on site.


There will be a drinking water point and hot drinks in the Production areas. Please ensure that you stay hydrated.


Please bring a reusable bottle to refill at the water point.

Adverse Weather

A detailed Adverse Weather Management Plan is in place and held in the Production Office


Certain weather conditions such as high winds or lightning will impact work activities. You may be required to stop working on the advice of the Health & Safety Team


If you need to seek shelter for safety you will be directed to the nearest safe refuge


Daily weather forecasts are available from the Production Office


fire

If you discover a fire:

Contact the Production Office immediately


Warn those around you by shouting “Fire Fire Fire”


If you are trained to do so and firefighting equipment is available attempt to put out the fire.


Evacuate by the nearest exit. These will be marked with running man signs.


Make sure you know where the assembly point is at your site or venue.

Counter Terrorism

Run

Hide

Tell

Please ensure all bags coming to site are clearly labelled

In the event of an evacuation, please report to your line manager.

Please report anything suspicious or anyone acting suspiciously to Production/ Licensing/H&S.

No matter how small it may seem, it is better to say something than nothing.

If there is a major incident, please follow all given instructions and do not take matters into your own hands.

We encourage you to complete The ACT E-learning training session

Driving any vehicle on site

The site speed limit is 10 mph reducing to 5 mph in pedestrian areas


Do not use your mobile phone when driving


You must only carry one passenger per seat


You must not carry passengers in vehicle load areas


Only drive vehicles for which you are licensed


Do not leave keys in unattended vehicles


Do not leave engines running when stationary

Buggy Driving

All buggy drivers must have a full driving licence or recognised plant licence.

Plant & Machinery

All plant drivers must have a valid plant licence. This must be produced to the Production Office prior to operating any vehicles on-site.

Any machinery requiring specialist training must only be operated by licensed staff.

Dust

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) requires that exposure to materials that cause ill-health are adequately controlled:

Many work activities can create dust, and exposure to any dust in excessive amounts can create respiratory problems.

You must take all reasonable steps to remove or reduce dust from your work activities and protect your employees and those affected by your work.

You must provide adequate PPE for any staff who are still affected by residual dust or are expected to work in potentially dusty environments.

Vehicle movement in dry conditions is a significant cause of airborne dust.

To reduce this Festival Republic will:

Ensure speed limits are set and adhered to.

Keep vehicle movement to a minimum.

And:

In high risk areas the use of water spray to dampen roadways will be used.

Working
at height

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 requires that all activities must be adequately planned, supervised, and carried out by competent people. Do you need to work at height? Can the work take place at ground level? If no, then:

Is there a safe means of access and appropriate fall protection available?

Make a visual check of your equipment and platform before use. This includes toe boards being in place, no dangerous gaps in the platform, and correct guardrails in place. (Will it hold your weight?)

Take special care of yourself and your materials when on a sloped surface at height, as the slope increases the risk of a fall.

Harnesses must be used when working above head height, and securely fastened to a fixing point at all times.

When working at height, or in a Head Protection area, or when there is Work at Height going on above you, you must wear Head Protection.

If you have any concern about Work at Height, please contact the Health and Safety team to discuss it.

Manual
handling

To minimise the risk of injury from lifting and carrying, please keep in mind that there is a difference between what someone can lift, and what someone can safely lift. The following principles may help.

Plan the lift How heavy is the object? Are you wearing appropriate footwear? Can you clear obstructions between the object now and where you are setting it down? Would it be safer to lift with another person?

Adopt a stable position: Feet apart, well balanced.

Starting the lift well: Get a good grip on the object, lift with your legs, do not use your back as a lever. Move smoothly, avoid quickly moving the object. Place the object down midway on another surface if needed before you are upright.

Carrying the object: Avoid twisting your back, keep the load close to the waist with the heavier side towards you. Keep your head up and look for anything that may be in your way, or another surface to put the object down on if needed.

Setting the object down: Continue to keep the object close to the waist to avoid overstretching, lower the object down with your legs rather than by leaning with your back.

Portable Appliances and Power Tools

Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, all work equipment, including Power Tools, is required to be:

Fit for purpose & In good repair


Operated by a competent person, with appropriate PPE


Suitably protected and guarded, meaning it is inherently safe to use.


Key managers shall ensure that all activities within their section are properly planned and those working with power tools are doing so safely.

Drones

No Drone Zone

Please note that the event site is a no drone zone. We cannot permit the use of drones within or near the site.

Site Specific Hazards

Not all hazards are identified on the Hazard Map. A Permit to Work may be required for some tasks. You will be advised by the Health & Safety Team if this is necessary.

Each hazard will be written up individually, based on information from pre site meetings and provided in the Event Risk Assessment with photographs or hazard map images where appropriate.

Reading Festival Site Hazards

Be mindful of overhead power lines. Staking, excavation or breaking ground deeper than 0.5m requires a permit to work. Contact the Health & Safety Team to discuss any works prior to breaking ground.
Working by the river is only permitted at certain times. Please check with Jenny in the production office for details of when you can and cannot work by the river.
There will be no reversing bleep alarms permitted on site. Please ensure any hired in plant has white noise alarms only.

Alcohol
and Drugs

There is a zero tolerance for being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. You should inform your employer if you are taking any prescribed or over the counter medication that could affect your work.

Anyone suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs will be removed from site immediately

Yellow / red
card policy

Any breach of the site rules can result in a yellow or red card being issued by the Event Management Team.

Examples are

Not wearing Hi Vis after being warned

Speeding on site after being warned

Ignoring Health and Safety Regulations

Ignoring the Site Rules

Not reporting incidents to the Site Office

Working at height without appropriate PPE or fall protection

Not working according to the procedures outlined in the Supplier’s own Risk Assessment and Method Statement

Food Traders not complying with Environmental Requirements.

Yellow Card = Record of offence
Red Card = £100 fine for the Supplier, or a day’s pay docked if a member of our staff.
(We reserve the right to permanently remove staff or contractors from site.)

Ensuring safety is everyone’s responsibility. If you see something that you think could be made safer, report it and do something about it. Look out for people that might need help and help them. If you spot something that doesn’t look right to you, please report it.

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