General Risk Assessment

Assessment Type: General & Activity-Specific Risk Assessment
Assessor: Trusttee board
Date: March 2026
Review Date: March 2027

1. General Risk Assessment (Applicable to All Upclose Activities)

Hazards Identified

Slips, trips and falls

• Fire and emergency situations
• Electrical hazards
• Manual handling injuries
• Lone working
• Stress and fatigue
• Public interaction and safeguarding
• Security and unauthorised access
• First aid and medical incidents

• Employees and volunteers
• Freelancers and performers
• Contractors
• Members of the public and audiences

• Clear health & safety policy communicated to all staff
• Appropriate staff training and inductions
• Fire risk assessments and emergency evacuation plans in place
• Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) and regular equipment inspections
• Faulty equipment removed from service immediately
• Manual handling guidance and use of trolleys where possible
• Lone working procedures and regular check-ins
• Safeguarding policy for work involving young people or vulnerable adults
• Secure premises and access controls where applicable
• First aid kits available and trained first aiders identified

• Electrical overload from studio and broadcast equipment
• Overheating of transmitters, mixers, computers and amplifiers
• Trip hazards from microphones, headphones and power/data cables
• Equipment failure during live broadcast
• Poor ergonomics from fixed desks, screens and control surfaces
• Inadequate ventilation for technical equipment racks
• Damage to equipment from spills or misuse

• All studio equipment PAT tested and logged
• Equipment loads assessed; extension leads and adapters not daisy-chained
• Adequate ventilation maintained around racks and transmitters
• Cables routed, tied, and covered where necessary
• Clear rules on food and drink near equipment
• Backup systems or contingency plans for critical broadcast equipment
• Workstation assessments completed and adjustable furniture provided
• Staff trained in correct use of studio equipment

Low

• Lighting rigs, lanterns and stands falling or being incorrectly secured
• Electrical shock from lighting, sound or effects equipment
• Trip hazards from stage cables, floor monitors and control desks
• Manual handling injuries from moving sound and lighting equipment
• Equipment failure during performance (lighting or sound blackout)
• Heat generated from stage lighting
• Use of powered tools during set construction

• All technical equipment installed and checked by competent persons
• Rigging inspected before each rehearsal and performance
• Secondary safety bonds fitted to overhead equipment
• PAT testing carried out on all portable equipment
• Cables taped or routed away from walkways
• Appropriate PPE used during get-in, fit-up and get-out
• Fire-retardant materials used where possible
• Emergency lighting and backup power arrangements identified

Medium

• Damage to equipment during loading, unloading and transport
• Manual handling injuries when lifting staging, lighting and sound gear
• Incompatibility of equipment with venue power supplies
• Unsafe temporary rigging or staging due to unfamiliar environments
• Increased wear and tear on portable equipment
• Equipment not secured correctly during vehicle transport
• Loss or theft of equipment while on tour

• Equipment cases clearly labelled and designed for transport
• Manual handling training and team lifts used for heavy items
• Load plans used for vehicles; equipment secured during transit
• Pre-show technical checks at every venue
• Venue power supplies assessed before connection
• Spares carried for critical equipment where practicable
• Equipment inventories maintained and checked in/out

Medium

• Electrical shock from generators, temporary power and outdoor cabling
• Equipment damage from rain, wind or extreme temperatures
• Instability of masts, aerials, speakers or broadcast desks
• Trip hazards from long cable runs across public areas
• Interference or failure of wireless equipment
• Theft or tampering with unattended equipment
• Noise exposure from PA systems and monitoring equipment

• All outdoor electrical equipment rated for external use
• RCD protection used on all temporary power supplies
• Generators positioned and operated by competent persons only
• Equipment weighted, secured or guyed where necessary
• Cables covered with cable ramps or routed overhead
• Weather conditions monitored and events paused if unsafe
• Equipment supervised at all times or secured when unattended
• Sound levels monitored and managed

Medium

• This assessment should be reviewed annually or following any significant incident, equipment change, or new activity.
• Separate event- or venue-specific risk assessments should be completed where required.