Safety Advisory Group (SAG)
Safety Advisory Group (SAG) can include representatives of the following partners:
- Event Manager
- Event Safety Manager
- Licensing
- Police
- Security Provider
- Fire service
- Ambulance Service
- First Aid Provider
- Building owner / Land representative
- Traffic Management
Smaller events will not always require all elements. Larger events may require additional partners.
COVID-19 Update: Many Safety Advisory Group (SAG) sessions are being held remotely online.
What is a Safety Advisory Groups (SAG)?
Safety Advisory Groups (SAG) are a meeting designed to provide a platform for discussing and advising on public safety for the event.
The event organiser is responsible for co-ordinating the Safety Advisory Group (SAG). This includes sending the event plan and invites to the partners.
The aim is to help event organisers with the planning and management of the event ensuring coordination between all relevant partners.
The main purpose of this group is to fully discuss the public safety issues relating to the event.
The group has no legal powers, it is an advisory group and therefore cannot give consent for the event to take place.
It is set up to advise the event organiser on any public safety issues which they feel need to be addressed.
In reality if concerns are raised which effect the public safety of your event there are actions of individual partners which can stop your event.
It is worth noting that Event organisers and others involved in the actual running of an event and retain the legal duty for ensuring public safety.
The Safety Advisory Groups (SAG) is there:
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to ensure that each member of the group is aware of their individual role within the group and at the event and are suitably qualified and authorised to represent their organisation.
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to ensure, as far as possible that the risk to public safety is minimised for all those working at or attending the event.
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to support the event organiser in the production of a written event plan setting out all the public safety plans relating to the event. A draft event plan must be made available prior to the initial SAG meeting.
- to support the event organiser in keeping a written record of all SAG meetings. To clearly note recommendations agreed by the advisory group and note actions arising from those meetings. The Chair of the SAG is responsible for distributing the written record of the meetings to all of the members of the SAG.
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to ensure that the event organiser appoints an Event Safety Officer who can demonstrate competency throughout the planning of the event and who will be responsible for all safety aspects of the event.
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to ensure there is a thorough debrief and make recommendations as necessary.
Health and Safety Executive
You may be surprised to learn that the Health and Safety Executive does not routinely attend Safety Advisory Groups (SAG).
The Local Authority (LA) has responsibility for co-ordinating the Safety Advisory Group (SAG).
HSE inspectors are not in a position to authorise or approve an event organiser’s safety plan
Source: Health and Safety Executive
Training Courses
Experiance is key when working in Event Management as an Event Organiser.
Want to go it alone?
The Emergency Planning College provide a wide range of useful course to develop skills.
Find out more:
https://youtu.be/3aLcQz9o1sM
Last Updated on May 28, 2021 by Admin1