Health & Safety Rules and Regulations

As an exhibitor at Manchester Art Fair you must:

• nominate a health and safety representative for your stand who is aware of your company's health and safety policy. (see: E-Zone - Operations Form)
• have a copy of your health and safety policy available (and of any sub-contractors you are employing) for inspection on-site, if requested.
• make sure you and anyone manning your stand understands the fire and evacuation procedures and locations of the hall's emergency exits.
• make sure all electrical work is carried out by an IEE qualified electrician.  There is a halls electrical inspector who will be pleased to provide information or answer questions. All work will be inspected by the Local Authority on completion.
• ensure that all rubbish and packing from your stand is removed from the site. It must not be stored on or behind your stand during the show.
• ensure that measures are taken to minimise the impact of your operations on the environment.
• make sure that you are properly insured for the exhibition.
• treat all electrical cables as though they were live.
• be aware of others working around you and report any concerns you may have about unsafe work practices or violation of the health and safety procedures outlined.
• ask the advice of the halls management or the Organisers if you are in doubt about any aspect of health and safety issues.

As an exhibitor/contractor at Manchester Art Fair you must not:

• use flammable materials as part of your displays.  This includes plastic flowers, polystyrene etc. Some combustible materials may be acceptable if treated correctly.
• have overloaded or insecure displays.  Stands and displays can be knocked by visitors and must be safe and secure.
• bring children into the halls during build-up and breakdown.  The halls are regarded as a potentially dangerous place of work during these periods.
• overload trolleys.  This does not only does damage your exhibits but it will make it much harder to manoeuvre your way to your stand through crowded aisles and may cause injury to you or other people.
• block the aisles with your rubbish or equipment.

The abuse of alcohol, drugs and other addictive substances can affect work performance and impair safety. Therefore, any person found to be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other substances which in the opinion of the Organisers constitutes a danger to themselves or any other person using the venue, will be asked to leave the halls and if necessary will be removed by security or indeed the police.  

It is the responsibility of every exhibitor and contractor to ensure that all employees working at Manchester Central during Manchester Art Fair are familiar with the venue's emergency procedures.

In the event of an emergency, the fire/evacuation alarm will be raised in the form of a message relayed by the security team. The message will be repeated as follows:

'Attention please! Attention please! Will everybody please leave the building by the nearest exit. This is an emergency. The staff will assist and direct you. Please do not use the lifts.'

Full emergency procedures will be distributed to each stand via a stand drop on the opening morning of the show. 

In the event of an emergency, the fire/evacuation alarm will be raised in the form of a message relayed over the tannoy system. The message will be repeated as follows:

'Attention please! Attention please! Will everybody please leave the building by the nearest exit. This is an emergency. The staff will assist and direct you. Please do not use the lifts.'

Please immediately advise a member of the Manchester Art Fair team at reception,  the organisers’ office or floor manager if you are aware of the outbreak of fire.

There is a first aid centre which will be manned during the build-up, open and breakdown periods which can be contacted on 0161 834 2700 ext 2211 or mobile 07527 254221.

Assistance may also be obtained via any member of the Manchester Art Fair team, Security staff or the Organisers' Office.

In a first aid emergency, where an ambulance is considered necessary, a telephone call should be made directly to the Central Control Room on 0161 834 2700 ext 2206.

It is a legal requirement that any accident sustained, however small, should be reported in the first instance to the Floor Manager via the Organisers' Office. Some accidents must be further reported to the Local Authority in which case the Organisers will advise.

Risk assessments are a statutory requirement within the workplace, and consequently, it is essential that the Organisers receive assessments from all exhibitors.
Please refer to the on-line Risk Assessment Declaration form in the E-Zone - Operations Form.