Posted By Jeepster In my experience, we have always Risk Assessed all corporate events. If the company pays the bill compared to a few colleagues going out on their own, it is a work related activity and should be considered as such. This is why a lot of these events no longer have a free bar. It is also worth noting that all policies will apply also as it is work, so behaviour could be disciplined if inappropriate. We had an incident were at a company bbq where an employees child fell off a company hired quad bike. We were glad we had completed the risk assessment and communicated it to all prior to the event. So in simple terms, if the company pays and requests your presence then they are responsible for your safety.

Posted By Dee Sorry the search on google should be "Work Xmas Party Liability"

Posted By Ashley Williams At the risk of getting told off: always remember to issue the permits to work for the office cupboards as they are a confimed space when two or more persons occupty them. Remember to have adequate supplies of PPE in a range of sizes to suit the wearer. Party crackers may hit 134bd short term exposure and disco will be around 110dB so thats only 15 minutes exposure so these all now require Noise assessment. COSHH assessment for the mistletoe and sun cream for the UV exposere from bums on copiers. Also just to be on the safe side have a stock of New and Expectant Mother risk assessments ready for the January rush. Did i miss anything? Ash

Posted By Darren J Fraser I would like to thank everyone for their input, I was asked the question by someone in the company and merely provided the answers. I too would rather go to Ash's party..............do you want me to bring the manual handling and ppe risk assessment forms??????????? Cheers Darren

Posted By Merv Newman Maybe we are going off the silly end a bit here but yes, the event is work related, employees really don't have much choice in attending. Check the probable noise levels and ensure that any live group knows you have authority to tell them to turn it down or they won't get paid. Use a reliable caterer, check emergency exits, toilet and first aid facilities. Know how to summon fire or ambulance using only internal phones. Give out tickets for a restricted number of drinks per person (no tickee no drinkee) even if drinks are paid for. But this will not stop trading of tickets. Hide or lock-out all photocopiers (we don't want the splinter problem again, do we ?) A "manual handling" problem at a Xmas party ? You should be so lucky Ash. (£50 do you for an invite ?) Nostalgia moment coming up. Those of a tender age or of sensitive natures should switch off now I remember a do at Whipsnade zoo. Didn't see a single animal (apart from Terry B : "Rabbit, Rabbit" (Chas and Dave song)) I remember a do at Madame Tussaudes in amongst the wax works. Free bar. Security guard bombed off his trolly. Hmmm. You might be right about the manual handling bit. We all sang "in the quartermasters stores" on the coach home. This nostalgic interlude is now concluded. Thank you for your attention. Those who switched off earlier may now return to the chat forum. Merv (am I getting too old for this ?)

Posted By Christopher Kelly Jack Last year I was working for a company who had an Xmas party in the offices. First off they insisted on having the hog-roast in the fire escape, against my advice and against the RA - fire alarm went off and the fire brigade were called out. Then a lady fell over drunk in the toilets and managed to amputate her finger between the door and the catch. She wasn't the sort to get drunk, the company's caterers were not using optics and consequently did not know how much vodka they were giving out. Point is the incident happened in the workplace involving a piece of work equipment, was foreseeable and involved other sub-contract employees. We reported as a RIDDOR and, as far as I am concerned the employer owed her a duty as their employee. It would have been covered by EL insurance. If the IP had been a partner of an employee it would have been PL insurance but that is just a matter of contract. The employer had a duty to carry out a risk assessment and implement suitable control measures to protect people at the party. Obviously anyone who drinks alcohol has a duty to look after themselves but, if they can't look after themselves because you have given them bigger measures than they expected then you are more than negligent. Incidentally another guy got home, fell over and knocked himself out against a radiator, his wife couldn't move him for 10 minutes and he had a serious burn to his back. Our risk assessment did cover risks from alcohol and, before the party my attitude to alcohol was that it was down to individual responsibility. Afterwards (possibly affected by the fact that my employer ignored most of the control measures identified) I was definitely of the contrary opinion! As a result of risk assessment we did have procedures in place for supervision of toilets etc but I do think my attitude to the risk was wrong (ie biased to everyone look after themselves, as long as supervised etc). One thing I learned from this was that even the most innocuous piece of work equipment can bite you on the .... It's good to stand back, forget about JUST the really hazardous stuff and start from scratch.