Fire safety is just one of many safety issues management must address to ensure the safety of the public and employees at an event.

Fire has the potential to injure or kill large numbers of people very quickly, this can be as a direct result of a fire or crush injuries caused by overcrowding and large scale panic. Good planning, management and having a robust set of procedures to reduce the risk of fire as well as what to do if a fire does occur, are essential.


Fire Risk Assessment

If you employ five or more people or if you are a licensed premises, you should keep a written record of your fire risk assessment and any significant findings. It should also be reviewed regularly, especially if any changes to the premises are made. This will identify what you need to do to reduce the risk of a fire occurring and keep you, your employees and your patrons safe. You need to have an emergency plan for dealing with any fire situation, and it should be based on the outcome of your fire risk assessment.  The purpose of an emergency plan is to ensure that people know what to do if there is a fire and that the premises can be evacuated safely. The guide below is for all employers, managers, organisers of events, occupiers, and owners of open air events and venues, such as:

  • Theme Parks
  • Zoos
  • Music concerts and festivals
  • Sporting events
  • Fairgrounds
  • Car boot sales

The Fire Risk Assessment Guide for Open Air Events and Venues can be viewed here and contains further relevant information.



Calculating Occupancy Figures

As the organiser, you will need to ensure occupancy figures are safely calculated. Guidance is given in the guide below or further advice can be sought from your local authority.

To find your local authority, type in your postcode at

Other Guidance

For further guidance on your responsibilities as an employer, business owner or landlord, please see:

Further Advice
