Statutory Health and Safety Requirements
Exhibitors and contractors are reminded that among the statutory duties which they have under health and safety law, the following are most important and could be subject to verification, either when booking space or during the course of the exhibition.
- Written Policy: A written company Health and Safety Policy should exist if the company has 5 personnel or more. (See Section 2 (3) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974)
- Risk Assessment: A suitable and sufficient risk assessment should exist in respect to all the significant risks on your stand. This assessment must be in writing. (See Regulation 3 - The Management of Health and Safety Regulations (MHSW) 1999)
- Safety Advisors: One or more competent safety advisors must be appointed by an employer (exhibitor/contractor) to assist them in discharging their Health and Safety responsibilities (Regulation 6 - a MHSW)
- Co-operation: Every employer (exhibitor/contractor) has a duty to co-operate with other employers, when sharing a workplace, whether temporarily or permanently. (Reg. 9 – MHSW)
- Contractor Information: Every employer (exhibitor/contractor) must provide appropriate information to the principle of any outside contracting company they may decide to use on the risks associated with the work they will be doing, along with details of their H&S Policy (Reg 10 – MHSW)
- Compliance: They must also ensure that any appointed contractors abide by all regulations in the exhibitor manual.
As you are no doubt aware, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 together with all the regulations under this act impose duties and responsibilities on all employers in the UK. These regulations are not reduced when an employer is exhibiting at a trade fair. As the organisers of exhibitions, we are required by law to ensure all exhibitors and contractors abide by the regulations and all requirements of health and safety legislation.