Risk Assessments.

Before a [URL="http://zacleigh.co.uk"]fireworks display[/URL] the risk assessment is probably the most important bit of paperwork that I do. Why then do people only ever give you half of the information that you need to carry out a risk assessment correctly? The latest one I did was to ensure we could put on a display at a local sports stadium. Safety distances were no problem, fall out area was no problem, there were no overhead objects and there was no chance of upsetting any neighbours, all we needed to do was decide exactly where the fireworks were going to be set up. "Whats in the compound over there?" I asked. "Oh nothing much, thats just the groundsman's store".

So we decided I would set up in the general area of the compound.

Then 2 days before the display was going to happen I got a frantic phone call from the event organiser. "Help, we have a problem" "Can you come back to the stadium and redo the assessment?"

"Whats the problem?.........................."

In the groundsmans store is a tank, containing 500 gallons of fuel for his tractors and machinery.

So, not a major problem in this particular case, all we did was move the set up area, but it does go to show.....

If you are responsible for an event and I am coming to do a risk assessment for you please make sure you know all the risks before I get there.