News

A fairground ride manufacturing company, its director and two ride assessors have been sentenced after a catalogue of errors led to a teenage rider being ejected from a brand new extreme ride at a festival in Hertfordshire.

The student, who was 14 at the time, was attending the Sonisphere music festival at Knebworth Park in Stevenage on 1 August 2009 when the incident happened.

As he was riding the Orbitor Extreme ride, which was only on its third outing after being handed over from the manufacturer to its new owner, the student suddenly came free from the ride’s car harness and was propelled through the steel perimeter fence panels.

The young rider suffered life-threatening injuries including a torn aorta, broken ribs and shoulder, and a shattered ankle. He had to be treated by emergency services and was in hospital for a week. He later had to have his ankle pinned.

The incident was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which today (Friday 4 July) prosecuted Perrin Stevens Ltd, the manufacturers of the ride, director Perrin Stevens and ride examiners Dr Martyn Lacey and Mr Frederick Meakin, for safety breaches at Cambridge Crown Court.

Inspectors told the court that their investigation uncovered a number of serious defects which were not picked up at any of the ride’s design, testing or sign-off stages – all of which are required by law. Crucially, that included the failure to make an adequate analysis that the restraint system was of suitable dimensions to hold typical riders.

In addition, numerous discrepancies in the documentation for each stage also revealed design, design review and initial test processes had not been carried out adequately – resulting in the eventual use of a completely unsafe ride.

Perrin Stevens, of Kimbers Lane Farm, Oakley Green Road, Windsor, Berkshire, as sole director of Perrin Stevens Ltd, was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Perrin Stevens Ltd, of Fitzherbert Road, Farlington, Portsmouth, was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,000 after pleading guilty to the same offence.

Martyn Lacey, of Main Road, Gedling, Nottingham, was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000 after pleading guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Frederick Meakin, of Five Counties Caravan Park, Stretton Road, Greetham, Rutland, was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,000 after pleading guilty to a similar breach.

Following the case, HSE Inspector Stephen Manley said:

“Fairground machinery is designed to provide people attending fairs with an exciting, fun time without exposing them to serious danger. There are defined procedures to follow to make sure rides are safe when they are designed, built and used. These must be respected at all times, as they are by the majority of operators in the industry.

“In this instance, not one of the parties involved properly fulfilled their duties, and the outcome was a very serious but entirely preventable incident, which could easily have cost a young teenager his life.

“Luckily, no one died this time, but this incident should serve as a lesson to fairground owners, ride manufacturers and examiners that cutting corners is unacceptable and will lead to putting lives at risk.”

For HSE guidance for fairgrounds, visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/fairgrounds/

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is inviting views on the proposed definitions of those self-employed people who will continue to have duties under health and safety law.

Under current proposals self-employed persons will be exempt from Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) except those undertaking activities on a prescribed list.

On Monday 7 July, the HSE launches an online consultation that explains the prescribed activities, as well as seeking views on the proposed definitions.

The consultation will run for eight weeks, closing on 31 August Responses will be analysed once it is closed.

Prescribed activities are those:

• that have high rates of injuries and/or fatalities, such as agriculture;
• where there is a significant risk to members of the public, for example fairground attractions;
• where there is the potential for mass fatalities, such as explosives; and
• where there is a European Union obligation to retain the general duty on self-employed persons, for example at temporary or mobile construction sites.

 Sarah Wadham from the Health and Safety Executive says:

“We are keen to hear from self-employed people who carry out these prescribed activities. Health and safety law will still apply to them and we need to ensure that legal definitions are clear and easy for them to understand.

“We also want to provide clear health and safety guidance to all self-employed workers in an accessible way. Feedback from this consultation will be invaluable in helping us do this.”  

“Anybody wishing to have a say on the proposals should visit the HSE website today.”

The proposed changes are still subject to parliamentary clearance, and if approved, are likely to come into effect in 2015.

The prescribed list of those high hazard industries and activities that will not be exempt from health and safety law under the proposals can be found on page 16 of the consultative document, available online at http://www.hse.gov.uk/consult/condocs/cd273.htm

Recent Bulletins from the Freight Transport Association have highlighted French and Belgian authorities imposing changes to rules regarding truck drivers’ rest periods, with both countries outlawing the practice of taking certain obligatory rest periods in the cab of the vehicle and the possibility of fines being imposed for non-compliance.

The impact of these changes is obvious, with extra accommodation costs incurred if rest periods coincide with tours calling in France and Belgium – and who knows which other territories will follow suit.

As always, early engagement with transport suppliers is key to ensuring the most cost effective solution.

Potential impacts are:

1. Insurance Goods In Transit cover/conditions of Driver having to stay with a loaded trailer.
2. location of Hotel that can accommodate a 16.5 metre Truck and Trailer,(not many) With a GVW of 36.000 kgs, 40.000 if Rigging Motors.(not many)
3. Hotels will not want trucks taking up space on its car park.
4. Truck will need security if left unattended.
5. Trucking operations are carried out after a show, Drivers could encounter problems obtaining a parking place, or when they need to move, they find exit blocked with other vehicles.
6. Multi truck tours would obviously need secure parking for more than 1 truck

The International Road Transport Union (IRU) has raised concerns with this new prohibition with EU authorities in Brussels.

It's worth pointing out that there are variations in cover for overseas work, especially the USA. Some policiesdon't cover, most that do have time limits. Our friends at Crewcover do include cover which is suitable for most visits over the pond but, for extended periods, they can now offer extra  'blocks' of 30 days, up to a maximum of 210 days.

Check other policies too like travel, personal accident and kit.

www.crewcover.com.

Savingmoney, using less fuel, cutting carbon emissions, saving the planet....how many reasons do people need for reducing their energy use? Pwerful Thinking is a not-for-profit industry think-do tank working towards an energy efficient, low carbon and cost effective future for festivals.

Recently, it has produced a series of useful fact sheets, aime at helping stakeholders consider and reduce fuel use and subsequent emissions. Take a look at http://www.powerful-thinking.org.uk/resources/fact-sheets/

A Birmingham firm has been fined after a worker suffered life-changing injuries in a two-metre fall from a ladder while constructing scaffolding for the set of a television programme.

Craig Shakespeare, 49, of Birmingham, sustained serious foot injuries in the incident at The Bond on Fazeley Street, Birmingham, on 25 March 2013. He is now reliant on a wheelchair and has been unable to work since.

Mr Shakespeare was working for Solihull-based Swan Scaffolding Contractors Limited, which was today (8 May) prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for failing to ensure sufficient measures were in place to prevent or mitigate the fall.

Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard the company was building the supporting scaffold to hold a theatrical set in place.

Mr Shakespeare was working from a ladder to attach supporting scaffold to the back of the wooden set. As he pulled a fixture on the set towards the scaffold the fixture came away and he lost his balance.

He realised he was about to fall and jumped from the ladder, but landed heavily on his feet, badly breaking both heels.

HSE established a tower scaffold or elevated work platform should have been used instead of a ladder, as readily-available guidance clearly states. The court was told that had more suitable access equipment been used, the incident could have been avoided.

Swan Scaffolding Contractors Limited, of Knowle, Solihull, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £535 in costs and a £120 victim surcharge.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Edward Fryer said:

“The danger of using ladders should not be underestimated. This is another example of serious injuries being sustained where other access equipment could have been used instead.

“A tower scaffold was available and should have been used. As a scaffolding company, Swan Scaffolding should be experts in access and working at height. They know it is a high-risk activity, and they should know what measures to put in place to keep workers safe.”

Last year more than 6,300 employees suffered major injuries after falling from height at work. Information on preventing falls is available at www.hse.gov.uk/falls

In a move that is rather timely for our sector, HSE has issued a safety alert  about the selection and use of devices to reduce entrapment and crushing to operators working at the controls of boom type mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs).

Using them, hiring them, buying them, managing them? READ MORE HERE

Event organisers have called for a national ban on Sky Lanterns branding them dangerous to the public, livestock and buildings.

The campaign by the National Outdoor Events Association has a three-pronged approach aiming to raise awareness among the public, event organisers and to gain a parliamentary debate in the bid for an outright ban.

Launched in the South West at England’s biggest agricultural show, the Royal Bath and West in Somerset, the campaign is now being rolled out nationally.

Susan Tanner, NOEA’s chief executive said: “In essence balls of fire are being sent into the air uncontrolled and unmonitored causing damage to animals and property. Ultimately there is a risk to human life; we have already seen firefighters injured while tackling a blaze caused by a lantern.”

Richard Limb, NOEA’s president, added:  “Part of our problem is that they do look really pretty but we are sure if people realised the long term effect they would be horrified.

“They may not set something on fire but little bits of wire may end up in silage and the consequences for livestock can be dire.

“We are asking people to follow a voluntary ban while we gather the evidence to support an outright ban; at the moment much of the evidence is anecdotal and a ban cannot be put in place without that evidence.  We are asking government for a Parliamentary debate to support the ban.”

Michael Hirst, OBE, chairman of the Business Visits & Events Partnership, said: “We support NOEA’s bid for an outright ban. There is simply not enough awareness of the damage that can be caused. In the meantime we are asking our Partners to bring these concerns to event organisers and venues across the UK.”

“The events industry is vital to the UK economy. It is important that we take a lead in ensuring a safe environment for attendees and the communities in which events are operated”.

Alan Lyons, Show Manager, said: “We are delighted the National Outdoor Events Association has launched this campaign at the Show. We hear many anecdotes from farmers regarding these lanterns and to have a body collating all the information I am sure will be welcomed.

“As a Society we are here for the farming community and will give our support to initiatives such as this which will help those in the rural area who are suffering damage to their livestock and property.”

Examples of damage caused are:-

• a £6m blaze at Smethwick in the West Midlands injuring 11 firefighters
• Reports of an increase in moorland and forest fires as well as scorched gardens and domestic roofs.
• Cows aborting and dying in agony due to wire perforating the gut
• Injury and death to marine life
• Confused with distress flares

NOEA’s website – www.noea.org.uk - has a section where evidence can be submitted of issues faced by the public as well as downloadable posters, signs and letters for use in backing the campaign. There is also a link to an existing petition calling for the Parliamentary debate.

Tickets are now on sale for the 11th UK Festival Awards and Festival Conference, which returns to London’s Roundhouse for the fourth year running.

Discounted early bird passes, available at 10 per cent discount, start at just £107.10 (excl VAT), making it one of the best value music industry conference and awards events out there.

The UK Festival Awards and Festival Conference is regarded as the premiere networking event for the music festival industry, attracting over 1,000 people to enjoy a whole day of knowledge-sharing, network-building and fun.

The events are the only ones that bring together the whole festival industry, enabling all sides of the business from major festivals to up-and-coming talented promoters, suppliers, brands, artists and more to get together and do business.

Comprising an expanded conference, awards show including delicious three-course meal, complimentary drinks and much more, the UK Festival Awards and Conference promises the ultimate way to round off your season – and start the next one with success.

To take advantage of the early bird prices, click here

 Backstage Academy students are currently confirming work placements for the summer season and invite employers to get in touch if they need extra skilled people to support existing crew teams.

The students, who are half way through the Academy’s 16-month FdA Live Events Production, are available to work in June, July and August and are seeking either ad hoc events work or three-month placements.

Most students have already gained experience at live events in a variety of backstage roles and all have completed modules in Introduction to Working in Live Events Production, Concept Design & Presentation, Staging, Live Sound, Lighting and Live Visuals.

During the Introduction to Working in Live Events module, students undertook a range of industry-based certificates to prepare them for working safely on site: Event Safety Passport; Emergency First Aid; Stage Pyrotechnics; Practical Fire Safety; Working at Height; Introduction to Rigging; Working with Electricity and Manual Handling.

Backstage Academy Work Placement Manager David Hughes said: “We place a real emphasis on practical experience and employability on this course which is why our students have over three months of industry placements to complete.

“We’d like to work with companies again this year who are able to offer valuable experience to our students in a range of roles.”

If you would like to discuss the opportunity of recruiting one of Backstage Academy’s students, please contact Ria Forsyth: ria.forsyth@backstage-academy.co.uk / 01977 659 880.

www.backstage-academy.co.uk

Today, ofcom released 3 consultation documents relating to the future use of the 700MHz band...another squeeze on PMSE use, basically. We'll respond; you might also like to respond.

The consultation can be found here.

CDM - Construction (design and management) regulations have been a pet subject of ours for a long time. Their application, their enforcement, what they are, what they are not and who enforces have all been covered. We've always been supportive of the theory - identify certain roles and responsibilities and make sure the people with those roles create a safe workplace. We've also maintained that, if you do it right, you've nothing to worry about. Things are about to change....but maybe they're not.

As previously reported, CDM has always applied to our sector but HSE policy has been to not enforce it, instead enforcing the Health and Safety at Work Act, allowing our sector to manage responsibilities. That approach has worked.

As recently reported, CDM has been reviewed, and HSE are consulting on changes. The changes look good; they're designed to comply with EU directives (to avoid big EU fines) and simplify things to better engage SMEs. But that's in Construction; there's nothing to say how it will actually apply to entertainment and events. All it says is that its rules willl apply to 'projects' with 2 or more contractors. Stage, light, sound, video, crew, catering, power....that's 2 or more; DJ and magician setting up a kids' party....does that count?

Needless to say, our response reads similarly to other organisations in the sector. Please be less vague, please assess the potential impact. Construction already work with the regulations, any simplification will decrease the regulatory burden. For entertainment, any decision to introduce without any word of guidance, any measure of where it should apply or any assessment of its financial impact will be seen as a huge increase in the regulatory burden - not something Government want to see. Very recent developments have seen a slightly different direction from HSE. CDM changes are being overseen by HSE Construction, their Entertainment division is looking now at the policy to not enforce CDM. The impact of changing that policy can and should be assessed...and it will. It goes without saying that we'll be helping with that work.

In the nmeantime, we urge you to view the consultation and respond before the deadline. If you would like a copy of our response, email gm@psa.org.uk.

The HSE consultation and response details can be found here