Rank: Forum user 
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Hi all. Just wondering if anyone gets involved with extracarricular events e.g Volunteering in the community (clearing rubbish, gardening etc) and sports/team events (football matches, mountain biking etc). Some of these also involve members if the public i.e. family and friends and can finish up with picnics, BBQ's etc. I'm assuming that as these are organised as 'company' events, the full H&S process should be involved. The company we are advising are finding different events being organised by different departments, some being 'more official' than others. So they are looking to find some type of centralised H&S system where heads of departments can go to for H&S advise when organising events, but as with all H&S, this system must be kept simple (KISS). Otherwise, events would be cancelled and once again, H&S get blamed!! Just wondering if anyone else has come across this, and what if any advice can you give. Thanks.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Your assumption may not be correct.
If the events aren't designed or organised by the employer (i.e. they're voluntary things concocted by staff) are outwith company premises, company time and don't involve company equipment or other resources then there is little or anything to attribute to the employer's undertaking and occupational health and safety is likely to be irrelevant from that employer's persepctive.
Might be useful to apply the what-if reverse test of RIDDOR application. IF there was an accident, could it be considered as arising out of or in connection with work.
attributable to the manner of conducting an undertaking;
the plant or substances used for the purposes of an undertaking; or
the condition of the premises used for the purposes of an undertaking or any part of them?
Other bodies (e.g. charities organising an event your people volunteer to participate in) may have work-related duties, but your employer may not.
Hope this helps.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks Ron. Sorry I didnt get beck to this last Friday, our VPN went down for the afternoon. Intresting response that if not in connection with work activity, company time and don't involve company equipment or other resources then not H&S related. I like that as probably most of what we are discussing her would be in that catagory. Just leaves the 'official' events to risk assess and we could put some guidance together on that. Just so you are aware, when I said 'advising a company' we are not external consultants, just an in-house H&S team advising our parent company.
Thanks again. Edited by user 10 April 2017 08:33:00(UTC)
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I agree with Ron, company social events or activities rarely lie within the scope of health and safety in practice. I was asked to provide a RA for a company sports day BBQ last year. I advised one was not necessary on the proviso the event was properly planned and managed. I did give some advice on things like first aid provision, food hygiene, supervision, etc.
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