Use this checklist to confirm your creative arts and entertainment business meets its obligations before you open to the public. Work through each item and answer yes or no. If you answer no, follow the linked guide before you proceed.

Health and safety is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Great Britain and by HSENI in Northern Ireland. Premises licensing under the Licensing Act 2003 is an England and Wales regime enforced by local licensing authorities; Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate frameworks. Child performance licensing is devolved, enforced by the child's home local authority. Each section names the body that applies.

Section 1 — Workplace safety and employment (every business)

These workplace and employment duties apply to every creative arts and entertainment business. Confirm each one.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA)

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - primary UK workplace health and safety legislation establishing employer and employee duties. Pure data reference.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA 1974) is the primary legislation governing workplace health and safety in the United Kingdom. It establishes the legal framework for protecting the health, safety and welfare of people at work and those affected by work activities.

Legal status: Primary legislation - principal UK health and safety statute
Royal Assent: 31 July 1974
Came into force: 1 April 1975 (in stages)
Geographic scope: Great Britain (separate legislation applies in Northern Ireland)
Applies to: All employers, employees, self-employed persons, and those who control work premises
Primary duty (Section 2): Employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
Duty to non-employees (Section 3): Employers must protect persons not in their employment (contractors, visitors, public) who may be affected by work activities
Employee duties (Sections 7-8): Employees must take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, cooperate with employers, and not misuse safety equipment
Enforcement authority: Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities
Maximum penalties (post-2008 amendments): Unlimited fines in Crown Court; imprisonment up to 2 years for individuals; up to 6 months and/or £20,000 fine in Magistrates' Court
Referenced by regulators: Cited in 31 regulatory documents in the ORDS (Office for Regulatory Delivery and Simplification) dataset
Secondary regulations: Enables creation of health and safety regulations (e.g. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, COSHH, Manual Handling)

Reasonably practicable: The Act uses the term "so far as is reasonably practicable" throughout. This means employers must balance the level of risk against the time, trouble and cost of controlling it. However, the law is weighted in favour of health and safety - employers must demonstrate that control measures would be grossly disproportionate to the risk before they can be considered not reasonably practicable.

Self-employed persons: The Act also places duties on self-employed persons to protect their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their work activities.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (legislation.gov.uk)

HSE - Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 guidance

1

Have you written your risk assessments and put safe systems of work in place?

Your general duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your people and anyone affected by your work — performers, crew, audiences and visitors. Risk-assess rigging, stage machinery, temporary structures, electrical equipment, noise and crowd management, and put safe systems of work, training and supervision in place. If not, follow "Set up and run a safe creative arts and entertainment business".
2

Have you carried out your fire risk assessment?

The responsible person must carry out and maintain a fire risk assessment for every premises you use — theatres, venues, studios, rehearsal rooms. Assess means of escape, fire detection, alarm, emergency lighting and staff training under the fire-safety regime for your nation.
3

Do you hold employers' liability insurance?

Hold at least £5 million of cover once you employ anyone. If performers or crew count as employees, the duty applies to them. The requirement runs across Great Britain, with an equivalent duty in Northern Ireland.
4

Do you meet your equality and data protection duties?

Do not discriminate under the Equality Act 2010 (or separate NI equality law enforced by the ECNI). Make reasonable adjustments for disabled audiences and visitors. Comply with the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, registering with the ICO unless exempt.

Section 2 — Premises licensing and child performance licensing

Confirm the licensing duties for what you stage. Premises licensing is an England and Wales regime; Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate frameworks — check the position with your council if you operate there. Child performance licensing is devolved, with separate regulations in each nation.

1

Do you hold the right premises licence or temporary event notice?

If you provide regulated entertainment (plays, live music, dance, film screenings), sell alcohol or provide late-night refreshment, you need a premises licence from your local licensing authority under the Licensing Act 2003. Check whether the Live Music Act 2012 exemption applies (amplified live music on licensed premises, up to 500 audience, 08:00–23:00). For one-off events with up to 499 people lasting up to 7 days, a temporary event notice at £21 may be enough. If not, follow "Set up and run a safe creative arts and entertainment business".
2

Have you arranged child performance licences and chaperones where needed?

If you engage a child of compulsory school age in a paid or broadcast performance, you generally need a child performance licence from the child's home local authority, a registered chaperone, and must observe the restrictions on hours and conditions. If not, follow "Set up and run a safe creative arts and entertainment business".

If you answered no to anything

Work through the guide linked in that item before you open to the public. The spine guide — Set up and run a safe creative arts and entertainment business — sets out what to do. Start from the router if you are not sure which apply to you.

Official sources

Authoritative health and safety, licensing and safeguarding guidance.

Creative arts and entertainment: compliance checklist

Film, TV and music production compliance checklist

Set up and run a safe creative arts and entertainment business

Sports, amusement and recreation compliance checklist

Set up and run a safe mineral products factory

Security and investigation compliance checklist

Section 1 — Workplace safety and employment (every business)

Have you written your risk assessments and put safe systems of work in place?

Have you carried out your fire risk assessment?

Do you hold employers' liability insurance?

Do you meet your equality and data protection duties?

Section 2 — Premises licensing and child performance licensing

Do you hold the right premises licence or temporary event notice?

Have you arranged child performance licences and chaperones where needed?

If you answered no to anything

Official sources

Related guides in Health & Safety

Section 1 — Workplace safety and employment (every business)

Have you written your risk assessments and put safe systems of work in place?

Have you carried out your fire risk assessment?

Do you hold employers' liability insurance?

Do you meet your equality and data protection duties?

Section 2 — Premises licensing and child performance licensing

Do you hold the right premises licence or temporary event notice?

Have you arranged child performance licences and chaperones where needed?

If you answered no to anything

Official sources