HEALTH & SAFETY


Remember, remember: fire safety first


entertainment themselves.


If your school is the location for a community event or is situated close to a community bonfire, that peace of mind is more critical than ever given the burgeoning risk of hosting, or being near to sparks, flames and debris as a central attraction! A bonfire night event, including a fireworks display, can make an exciting school or community fundraiser, but it is essential that everybody is on board with the plan, that a risk assessment has taken place and responsibilities – before, during and after the event – are clearly allocated with a project manager or responsible person at the helm.


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cott Macarthur, Principal Fire Risk Consultant from Inspectas – the fire safety and property compliance specialist which undertakes Fire Safety Risk Assessments, Fire Door Surveys and Fire Compartmentation Surveys – looks at the issues around bonfire celebrations in the school community and offers insight and guidance if your school is near to, or considering hosting, a bonfire event this year.


Bonfire night is much less a night and far more a ‘period’ as celebrations and festivities can start as early as October and run for many weeks after the 5 November calendar date.


With more and more people being encouraged not to have a fireworks display or a bonfire in residential gardens, school playing fields could be considered by some as a good option for a public event. A school can provide space, facilities and even volunteers to make the event happen. Peace of mind is the very least we expect business owners and managers to have – particularly when we are working with one of our largest client bases, schools and educational establishments. That means peace of mind that your building is safe, secure and fit for the educational purpose it is intended. But there are some days and periods in the annual calendar when a school broadens its purpose from its primary function as an education establishment, to a secondary function as a place for entertainment – think assemblies, school productions and sports events; a place for consultation e.g. parents evenings and public meetings; and even a space for community celebrations, fundraisers and events. Bonfire night is one such event that can call for a diversification of the school function from education to entertainment. Many people are opting to forego the convenience of staying at home to mark the occasion and attending public events, leaving them to enjoy the spectacle rather than managing the flames and


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Health and safety considerations Even if your school is not hosting a bonfire event, it is advisable to take all health and safety precautions around the school buildings during the bonfire month itself.


Below we have created a general health and safety checklist to consider in the run up to bonfire night: • Is there construction work going on around the school site?


• If so, what measures are being taken to secure the area by the contractor?


• Does the school have any open skips / bins that should be away from the school that stray rockets and fireworks could land in?


• Keep on top of housekeeping and remove any debris from around the building that could ignite by surrounding bonfires or fireworks


• If the school is having an event, have you checked with the insurers of the building… are


any special measures in place?


• Are there any school pets etc that need to be moved or brought indoors for a period of time?


• Are out of hours procedures or evacuation procedures in place?


Guidelines for your school’s bonfire event It is best practice to hire a professional fireworks display company with experience in school events to deliver your onsite event. They will organise the design, setup, and firing of the fireworks safely. Check that they have public liability insurance and ask to see a copy.


If, however, the school is undertaking its own event, below is our critical checklist to help things go smoothly: • Ensure you review your insurance cover and always contact your current provider to address any stipulations


• Obtain the required licences and permits from your local authority. The UK has strict regulations regarding fireworks displays, always ensure you are compliant


• Complete a risk assessment - your Local Authority can provide guidance


• Ensure no sparklers are brought onto your site as these cannot be adequately managed safely


• Consult with the local police and fire brigade at least seven days before your event and put together a fire safety plan including designated escape routes, staff on duty, training, etc


• Ensure that the bonfire including the fireworks display is a minimum of 100 metres from any third party buildings (including your school)


www.education-today.co.uk


October 2024


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