Site Safety Rules

Health and Safety Information & Safe Working Practices for Contractors and Event Personnel

2026 SITE SAFETY RULES

The following rules must be understood and followed by ALL persons working or volunteering onsite. Anyone not following these rules may be asked to leave site.

The following rules apply during the build and break phases of the event. During this time, the site is a working construction area, and all personnel are advised to remain aware of the work activities that may be taking place around you at all times.

GENERAL SAFETY

Contractors must report to the Site Office before commencing work onsite. • All contractors must brief staff and subcontractors on the scope of work and provide toolbox talks as required. Staff and subcontractors must also be briefed on the general site safety rules and site-specific information including emergency arrangements.
All contractors should follow the control measures and safe working practises identified within the risk assessment and methods statements they have submitted for the event. Any changes to these plans must be
dynamically risk assessed, with particular consideration given to the effect on others working in the area.
Any significant changes to planned work activities must be communicated to the Site Office or Event Safety Team.
Contractors must liaise with third parties if planned work operations are likely to affect the safety of other persons working in the area. Safe working areas should be identified using barrier, tape or signage as appropriate.
All contractors must review their area of work to ensure there is sufficient working light. If work areas are insufficiently lit or if work is likely to extend into hours of darkness, this should be escalated to the Site Office.
Individuals must not work beyond a point where it is safe, or when the ability to concentrate is compromised.
Working under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs is not permitted, this includes working under any residual effects whilst hungover. Individuals suspected to be working under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be required to stop work and may be asked to leave the site.
All persons must maintain a good level of personal hygiene (including hand washing) and must leave sanitary facilities clean and usable for everyone. • Only water outlets marked “DRINKING WATER” are safe to drink. • Any concerns around staff welfare or safe working conditions should be raised to the Site Office or Event Control.
Children must be supervised at all times during build and break and shall not have access to areas where construction work in taking place. Any concerns can be reported to the Site Office or Event Control.
The use of drones is prohibited unless expressly authorised by Event Control. Persons using drones onsite will have them confiscated.

ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES

All contractors remain responsible for ensuring they make their own first aid arrangements. A first aid box will be available in the Site Office/Event Control, and suitably qualified first aiders will be identified amongst the event team to assist where necessary.
All accidents, incidents and near-misses MUST be reported to the Site Office or Event Control. Details of the incident must be recorded using the accident and incident form.
In some instances, the Safety Team may investigate the incident and offer advise on how to prevent reoccurrence.

VEHICLES AND PLANT

DRIVE SLOWLY. The site speed limit is 10 mph.
Anyone driving vehicles or buggies onsite must hold a full driving license, and is subject to the laws of the road:
Never use phones or radios when driving unless you have a proper hands-free device
Always wear a seat belt, where provided
Plant such as forklifts, telehandlers, cherry pickers, scissor lifts and cranes must only be operated by qualified and competent persons who have provided evidence of their training.
Vehicle movement is prohibited between 9pm and 6am throughout the build and break, unless expressly authorised.
All vehicles must use identified traffic routes and roadways within the site and avoid driving on the grass as far as possible. Attention should be paid to any diversions or restrictions implemented by the site team.
Hazard lights must not be used whilst driving around site and indicators should be used when turning.
Keys must not be left in unattended vehicles or plant, and vehicles should not block access routes when parked.
All passengers must have a dedicated seat. Riding on footplates or standing in trailers is prohibited.
All large vehicle or plant movements should be directed by a banksman. • Delivery drivers should supervise the unloading of equipment to identify where loads have shifted in transit or where releasing straps may cause loads to become unstable.
Tail lifts must be operated by competent persons only and should be closed or lowered flat to the ground when not in use.
All plant must be supplied in a condition that is fit for use. Operators must conduct daily checks of fuel and oil levels and the operation of lights and safety devices. All warning devices must be operable.
Use of cranes will be by ‘contract lift’ arrangement only. Contact the Site Office or Event Control for more information.
Telehandlers and all other lifting plant must be used within the capabilities of the machine, using outriggers and other stability devices where necessary. • The use of man cages must be approved by the Site Office and is only permitted in exceptional circumstances where no other means of access is possible or appropriate.
All queries or requests regarding vehicles and plant should be made to the Site Office or Event Control.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

All persons must have the right equipment and clothing to do their job before starting work.

Minimum PPE requirements onsite during the build and break phases include:

High visibility vests
Closed toe footwear (sandals and flip flops are not permitted) • All PPE must be properly maintained and worn correctly. Failure to use PPE properly or at the appropriate times may result in removal from site.

The following general task-specific PPE requirements also apply:

Steel toe shoes or boots are required for all manual handling work – Hard hats must be worn when there is a risk of injury from falling materials or equipment.
Full fall-arrest and fall prevention systems are required for persons working at height. Climbing helmets with chin strap are also recommended.

Hearing protection is required for all personnel working with noisy work equipment, or in close proximity to PA and sound systems.

Requirement for additional PPE, such as gloves, eye protection, dust masks and ballistic clothing, should be followed according to individual risk assessments submitted by each contractor.

FIRE SAFETY

Smoking and vaping are only permitted in designated smoking areas. No smoking is permitted in any enclosed structure. Smoking materials should be disposed of carefully and not left as litter or in general waste bins.
Fire exit routes must be maintained clear at all times, both inside and outside venues or enclosed structures.
All personnel must be briefed on the exit routes, the methods of raising the alarm and the location of any fire-fighting equipment within their work area. • All ‘hot works’ (grinding, welding, metal cutting etc) must be notified to the Site Office before starting works. Consultation with the Safety Team may be required to identify any precautions necessary to prevent the outbreak of fire. • All flammable substances or materials brought onto site should be notified to the Site Office, including any special instructions for use provided by the supplier.
Oxy-Acetylene is prohibited onsite due to the volatility of the fuel and other fuel risks onsite.

GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING

Good housekeeping is essential; work areas must be tidy and waste materials must be disposed of properly in appropriate waste and recycling bins.
Ensure any spillages and waste materials are cleared up as soon as possible.
Empty stillages, flight cases and unused materials must be stored in appropriate storage areas as identified by Site and Venue Management.
Traffic routes, pedestrian walkways and emergency exits must not be compromised at any time.
Tent pegs and other projections from the ground must be properly clad or highlighted.
Cables routing in public areas should be avoided in favour of alternative routing, digging or flying.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

No electrical equipment may be connected until onsite electricians have approved the supply as safe to use. Distribution units and other supply points may only be provided by accredited electricians.
All electrical equipment must be fit for purpose and in a good state of repair. Regular inspection and testing of all equipment is required and, where required, evidence of conformity with a Portable Appliance Test (PAT) should be available
The use of petrol generators is prohibited.
The use of portable personal generators is not permitted without prior approval from the Site Office.

MANUAL HANDLING

The use of mechanical handling aids should be prioritised over manual handling where practicable.
All crew undertaking manual handling must be briefed in manual handling principles and equipped with appropriate PPE for the planned loads.

NOISE

Warning signage, identifying mandatory hearing protection areas, will be displayed around the site. Hearing protection must be worn in these areas. • Contractors with staff working in high noise areas must provide appropriate rest breaks away from the source of noise and supply appropriate hearing protection.

POWER TOOLS

The use of handheld and electrical power tools should be restricted to properly trained staff only.
The use of battery or 110V powered tools should be prioritised as far as possible. All 240V tools must be fitted with a residual current device (RCD). • All fuels must be stored safely and a working area created to prevent access by personnel not involved in the operation of the equipment.
Safety guards and devices must not be removed or bypassed under any circumstance. Tools supplied must be suitable for the planned task.

STRUCTURES

All structures must be built according to the manufacturer’s design or approved drawings and meet the requirements of IStructE guidance ‘Temporary Demountable Structures’.
Wind-loading calculations must be supplied for all structures. All stages and marquees must be able to withstand winds of 25m/sec unless pre-approved by the Safety Team.
Structure suppliers must provide an onsite babysitter for the structure or provide contact details for an on-call member of staff.
Structure suppliers must provide a certificate of completion to the Site Office, stating that it has been built according to the appropriate design and that it is stable and ready for use.
All structures with elevated working platforms must be fitted with compliant guard rails to prevent falls from height. Stage edges should be highlighted and where possible demarcated with a temporary barrier, ratchet strap or hazard tape line during the construction period.
Attachments to structures, such as scenic cladding, signage or other elements should be agreed in advance with the structure supplier or the events structural engineer to ensure that the appropriate ballast or underpinning is in place.

RIGGING AND LIFTING

All lifting operations must be planned and assessed prior to any lift being carried out. This includes checking for overhead hazards, ground conditions or other limitations on the task.
All equipment used for rigging or lifting must be used within its safe working load and inspected/tested within 12 months of the event. Any damaged or unsuitable accessories must be removed from service.
Attachments of loads such as lighting trusses or scenic elements to structures must be approved and agreed with the structure supplier. • No crew member, other than those people designated by the rigging team, shall operate any lift, motor or winch system. Motor controls should be isolated or disconnected when not in use.
Specialist rigs for performer flying, tightropes or other circus-style acts must be designed and installed by a competent operator who is responsible for undertaking frequent checks of the system.

BURIED SERVICES AND CONFINED SPACES

Any ground penetration exceeding 750mm must be notified to the Site Office prior to works starting. A buried services map is available, and ground may require further scanning.
Art projects that include confined spaces should be planned to ensure that the public can be rescued easily if necessary and that the area cannot be subject to depletion or displacement of air.
Any work adjacent to or over water must be planned in consultation with the Site Office and Safety Team.
Lone working on or near open water must be avoided. Regular contact must be maintained with any staff undertaking lone working.
Where work on water is required then staff must use a life jacket or floatation aid. Rescue rings are available around the lake.
Lifeguards will be on duty during public opening period.