Sports, amusement and recreation compliance checklist

Work through every section that applies to your business. Tick off each item when you have confirmed it is in place. If an item does not apply — for example you do not operate a swimming pool — skip that section.

Section 1 — Health and safety at work

• Have you identified your general duties as an employer (or self-employed person) under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974?
• Have you carried out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment covering your premises, equipment, activities and participants?
• If you employ five or more people, have you recorded the significant findings of your risk assessment in writing?
• Have you appointed a competent person to help you comply with health and safety law?
• Have you set up arrangements for first aid, accident reporting and emergency procedures?
• Have you provided your employees with the information, instruction, training and supervision they need to work safely?
• Have you consulted your employees (or their safety representatives) on health and safety matters?
• Have you displayed the HSE-approved health and safety law poster (or given each employee the equivalent leaflet)?

Section 2 — Fire safety

• Have you carried out a fire risk assessment of your premises?
• Have you identified and maintained clear escape routes and exits, taking account of crowd capacity at your venue?
• Have you installed appropriate fire detection, alarms and firefighting equipment?
• Have you provided fire safety training to your staff?
• Do you have a written fire emergency plan, and have you practised it — including evacuation of spectators or participants?

Section 3 — Employers' liability insurance

• Do you employ anyone (including part-time staff, seasonal workers, coaches or instructors)?
• If yes, do you hold employers' liability insurance with a minimum cover of £5 million from an authorised insurer?
• Have you displayed the certificate (or made it available electronically to employees)?

Section 4 — Equality and data protection

• Do you understand your duties under the Equality Act 2010 (or the equivalent Northern Ireland legislation) not to discriminate against participants, spectators, employees or job applicants on the basis of the protected characteristics?
• Have you made reasonable adjustments for disabled participants and spectators — for example accessible seating, pool hoists or ramps?
• Have you registered with the ICO for data protection (unless exempt)?
• Have you identified a lawful basis under UK GDPR for each type of personal data you process — membership records, booking details, medical questionnaires, safeguarding records, CCTV footage, staff payroll?
• Do you have a privacy notice informing individuals how you use their data?
• Are personal data stored securely — both paper records and electronic systems?

Section 5 — Premises licence (if applicable)

• If you sell or supply alcohol or host regulated entertainment, do you hold a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 (England and Wales), or the equivalent licence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005?
• Does the designated premises supervisor hold a personal licence?
• Are you promoting the four licensing objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm?

Section 6 — Sports ground safety certificate (if applicable)

• If your sports ground is designated under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, do you hold a general safety certificate from the local authority?
• Are you operating within the capacity and conditions set by the certificate?
• Have you carried out an annual review of the safety certificate with the local authority (and the SGSA if your ground hosts Premier League or English Football League matches)?
• If you have regulated stands (covered accommodation for 500 or more spectators), do you hold a safety certificate for those stands?

Section 7 — Swimming pool and spa safety (if applicable)

• If you operate a public or semi-public swimming pool, spa pool or water-play facility, have you carried out a specific risk assessment for pool activities?
• Have you provided trained and qualified lifeguards appropriate to the pool design and bather load?
• Are you maintaining water quality within PWTAG parameters — including disinfection, pH, turbidity and microbiological testing?
• Have you displayed pool rules, depth markings and emergency procedures?
• Do you keep records of water-quality tests, incidents and near-misses?

Section 8 — Safeguarding and DBS checks (if applicable)

• If your staff or volunteers coach, instruct or supervise children or vulnerable adults, do they hold enhanced DBS checks with the relevant barred-list check (or PVG in Scotland / AccessNI in Northern Ireland)?
• Do you have a written safeguarding policy and a designated safeguarding lead?
• Have you checked that no barred person is employed in regulated activity?
• Do you know your duty to refer to the DBS if someone is dismissed for harming a child or vulnerable adult?

Section 9 — Fairground and amusement ride safety (if applicable)

• If you operate fairground rides, does each ride have a current Declaration of Operational Compliance (DOC) from an ADIPS-registered inspection body?
• Do you carry out daily pre-use checks on each ride?
• Are ride operators trained and competent?
• Do you have emergency procedures for ride evacuation?
• If you operate inflatable amusement devices (bouncy castles), are they anchored, supervised and inspected in accordance with BS EN 14960?

Section 10 — Adventure activities licence (if applicable)

• If you provide caving, climbing, trekking or watersports to young people under 18 for payment, do you hold a current adventure activities licence from AALS (HSE)?
• Are your instructors appropriately qualified and your equipment maintained and inspected?
• Do you have documented risk assessments and safety management systems for each activity you provide?

Section 11 — Gaming machines and amusement arcades (if applicable)

• If you operate gaming machines or run an amusement arcade, do you hold an operating licence from the Gambling Commission (Great Britain)?
• Do you hold a premises licence from the local authority for the specific premises?
• Are the categories of gaming machine you offer appropriate to the type of premises licence you hold?
• If you operate in Northern Ireland, have you checked the requirements under the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985?