Health and Safety Policy

Bournemouth Youth Marching Band

Health and Safety Policy

1. Policy Statement

Bournemouth Youth Marching Band (BYMB) is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all its members, volunteers, instructors, parents, visitors and members of the public who may be affected by its activities.

The Band recognises its responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent accidents, injuries and ill health arising from its activities.

Health and safety is everyone's responsibility. All members and volunteers are expected to take reasonable care of themselves and others and to follow the Band's health and safety procedures.

The Band will seek to ensure that its activities are properly planned, risks are assessed and appropriate precautions are taken.

2. Responsibilities

The Management Team

The Management Team has overall responsibility for health and safety within the Band and will:

• Ensure that appropriate health and safety arrangements are in place.

• Ensure that suitable risk assessments are completed where necessary.

• Make sure that accidents, incidents and hazards are reported and recorded.

• Ensure that appropriate first aid arrangements are available.

• Review health and safety arrangements periodically.

• Take reasonable steps to ensure that venues and facilities used by the Band are suitable and safe.

Instructors and Band Volunteers

Instructors and volunteers are responsible for:

• Following the Band's health and safety procedures.

• Taking reasonable care of members in their supervision.

• Identifying and reporting hazards or unsafe conditions.

• Ensuring that equipment and instruments are used safely.

• Following relevant risk assessments and event instructions.

• Raising any concerns with the Management Team.

Band Members

All members are expected to:

• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others.

• Follow reasonable instructions from Band instructors and volunteers.

• Use instruments, equipment and facilities responsibly.

• Report accidents, injuries, damage or potential hazards.

• Avoid behaviour that could put themselves or others at risk.

3. Risk Assessments

The Band will undertake suitable and proportionate risk assessments for its activities where required.

These may include:

• Weekly rehearsals and practice sessions.

• Concerts, parades and marching performances.

• Carnivals, tattoos and outdoor events.

• Travel to and from performances.

• Residential weekends and annual camps.

• Fundraising activities and social events.

Risk assessments will identify potential hazards, who may be affected and the measures required to reduce risks to an acceptable level.

They will be reviewed when circumstances change or following an accident or significant incident.

4. Rehearsals and Performances

The Band will take reasonable precautions to ensure that rehearsals and performances take place safely.

Particular attention will be given to:

• Keeping rehearsal areas clear of obstructions and trip hazards.

• Ensuring instruments, music stands and other equipment are positioned safely.

• Maintaining safe spacing during marching and drill.

• Ensuring members follow instructions when moving around venues.

• Taking care when loading, unloading and transporting instruments and equipment.

• Identifying potential hazards at outdoor venues and performance locations.

Members must not engage in activities that could unnecessarily endanger themselves or others.

5. First Aid and Medical Emergencies

The Band will make reasonable arrangements for first aid at rehearsals, performances and other activities.

• Appropriate first aid provision will be considered when planning events.

• The location of first aid facilities should be identified.

• Any accident or injury must be reported to the responsible Band adult.

• Where necessary, emergency medical assistance will be obtained by contacting 999.

• Parents or guardians will be informed of significant accidents or injuries involving children and young people.

6. Fire Safety and Emergencies

The Band will take reasonable steps to ensure that members understand the emergency arrangements at venues and events.

Members and volunteers should:

• Familiarise themselves with fire exits and evacuation routes.

• Follow instructions from venue staff and emergency personnel.

• Leave buildings promptly when an evacuation is required.

• Assemble at the designated meeting point.

• Never obstruct fire exits or interfere with fire safety equipment.

7. Equipment and Instruments

All Band equipment, instruments and associated materials should be maintained and used safely.

• Damaged or defective equipment must be reported.

• Equipment should be stored securely when not in use.

• Heavy instruments and equipment should be lifted and carried safely.

• Members should receive appropriate instruction when using unfamiliar equipment.

• Only authorised and suitably competent people should operate equipment where specialist knowledge is required.

8. Outdoor Activities and Weather Conditions

The Band recognises that many of its activities take place outdoors and that weather conditions can create additional risks.

Event organisers and responsible Band adults should consider:

• Extreme heat, cold, rain, wind and thunderstorms.

• Suitable clothing, footwear and protection from the weather.

• Access to drinking water and appropriate rest breaks.

• Slippery, uneven or obstructed surfaces.

• Safe marching and movement in public areas.

• Whether an activity should be changed, postponed or cancelled because of weather conditions.

9. Transport and Residential Activities

Where the Band organises transport or residential activities, appropriate arrangements will be made to protect members and volunteers.

These will include consideration of:

• Safe arrangements for boarding and leaving vehicles.

• Seatbelts and appropriate vehicle safety requirements.

• Safe loading and unloading of equipment.

• Suitable accommodation and emergency arrangements.

• Appropriate supervision and access to first aid.

• Relevant event-specific risk assessments.

10. Accident and Incident Reporting

All accidents, injuries, near misses and significant health and safety concerns must be reported to the Management Team.

The Band will:

• Maintain an appropriate accident and incident record.

• Investigate significant incidents where necessary.

• Take action to prevent similar incidents happening again.

• Notify parents or guardians where appropriate.

• Consider whether any incident needs to be reported to an external authority.

11. Information, Instruction and Training

The Band will ensure that members and volunteers receive appropriate health and safety information relevant to their activities.

This may include:

• Health and safety information during member and adult induction.

• Instructions relating to rehearsals and performances.

• Information about relevant risk assessments.

• Emergency and evacuation procedures.

• Safe handling of instruments and equipment.

12. Review of Policy

This policy will be reviewed at least annually by the Management Team, or sooner if there are significant changes to the Band's activities, relevant guidance or organisational arrangements.

All members, parents and volunteers should have access to the policy.

OCTOBER 2026