Simon Lewis Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 All, A nice man from the HSE has written to me (as a purchaser of this book) stating that they're reviewing the usefulness of the purple book, and are canvassing opinions with a view to improving it. Do any of you have comments about the present edition? Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewart Newlands Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 I believe there is quite a debate going on, HSE are reviewing how thy handle such publications and if THEY should be the publisher of a revised version. The purple book has been used in many different ways and covers so much it is hard to keep it updated in a printed version. What I believe is one of the big questions is; is it an H&S guide or an event guide and how and who should carry it on, as it is a valuable resource in many respects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lewis Posted March 2, 2008 Author Share Posted March 2, 2008 is it an H&S guide or an event guide and how and who should carry it on...I can see their dilemma! For example, our local council bases pretty much every decision to do with outdoor events on the purple book. However, the first edition was written (somewhat hastily if I recall) after the 1998 Monsters of Rock at Donnington where two died and a third was seriously injured. It was relatively brief. The second edition carried a lot more general planning and background information. However, if it were to (for example) become a code of practice / British Standard, the language used would of necessity become far more formal and potentially less accessible. A working committee would be needed that was prepared to invest significant time, and there would be a significant number of stakeholders involved. If it stays as a HSE document, I guess that expanding it means that it risks moving away from the core health and safety remit, and it becomes more of a general planning guide. Do any of you use this guide as part of event planning and management, or is it mainly the councils and enforcement bodies?! Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnhuson Posted March 2, 2008 Share Posted March 2, 2008 However, the first edition was written (somewhat hastily if I recall) after the 1998 Monsters of Rock at Donnington where two died and a third was seriously injured. I do believe the tragic deaths occured in 1988 not 1998. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lewis Posted March 2, 2008 Author Share Posted March 2, 2008 I do believe the tragic deaths occurred in 1988 not 1998. Correct! - that's my poor typing (I looked it up before posting to check the exact date!). If anyone ever wants to see what the crowd management people sometimes go through in these events, then read Mick Upton's first hand account of this particular tragedy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewart Newlands Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 Here is some more detailed background to this, which we all may have some interest in as event industry stakeholders as HMG seems to call people these days. HSE Books have started a consultation process and have been contacting a sample of owners of HSG195 (that bought a copy from them rather than from a bookshop!): Dear Customer We want your views about HSE's Event Safety Guide It’s big, it’s purple and we know you’ve bought it – but what do you really think of it? We are reviewing the usefulness of the Guide and want to hear your views. HSE has commissioned an independent research company called Navigator to undertake the review and to contact some of our customers to get your views on its usefulness and how it could be improved. Over the next few weeks you may receive a telephone call from Navigator and be asked to take part in a very short informal consultation. If willing, you may also be asked to take part in a face-to-face discussion. We would be very grateful if you could set aside a few minutes to talk to Navigator if approached. Of course, if you aren’t contacted and have views that you'd like to share please email John Sargent on john.sargent@navigator-research.com. Navigator adhere to the Market Research Society Code of Conduct. Any information provided will be strictly confidential and will not attributed directly to individuals or organisations. Feedback will only be used for the purposes of this work and your details will not be passed to any other organisation. If you have any queries please get in touch with us. Yours faithfully HSE Books I think it is important for people to respond as this is quite a widely used publication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lewis Posted March 4, 2008 Author Share Posted March 4, 2008 ... is it an H&S guide or an event guide and how and who should carry it on, Similar to the purple book, but in (perhaps) a less "friendly" format, BSI have produced PAS 51 "Guide to industry best practice for organizing outdoor events"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewart Newlands Posted March 4, 2008 Share Posted March 4, 2008 ... is it an H&S guide or an event guide and how and who should carry it on, Similar to the purple book, but in (perhaps) a less "friendly" format, BSI have produced PAS 51 "Guide to industry best practice for organizing outdoor events"... PAS 51 is only 28 pages long and costs £114.00 from BSI (to non members), HSG195 at £19.95 is about 200 pages and still points people in the direction of more detailed advice or standards relating to the areas covered. I don't think it could be described as in depth, but as I have not read it yet, although I have spoken to some of the NOEA members who helped write it with BSI I can't comment fully but I believe it evolved partly from the NOEA code of practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhysjones Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 To be honest I have copies of both, and if you have a copy of the purple book I don't think you are missing out on much, PAS 51 is very brief, much more useful info in the purple book, and written in the usual prescribed format of a British Standard so not exactly user friendly! ... is it an H&S guide or an event guide and how and who should carry it on, Similar to the purple book, but in (perhaps) a less "friendly" format, BSI have produced PAS 51 "Guide to industry best practice for organizing outdoor events"... PAS 51 is only 28 pages long and costs £114.00 from BSI (to non members), HSG195 at £19.95 is about 200 pages and still points people in the direction of more detailed advice or standards relating to the areas covered. I don't think it could be described as in depth, but as I have not read it yet, although I have spoken to some of the NOEA members who helped write it with BSI I can't comment fully but I believe it evolved partly from the NOEA code of practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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