
      Risk Assessment for Fire Jugglers 
            
            
The following Risk Assessment endeavours to reduce the risk of the activity by the control measures identified
            
 below and by using professional, selfemployed, performers who have many years of experience, a good safety record,
            
 and Fire Performers Public Liability Insurance of £2,000,000, through First Acts Insurance.
            
            
Description of activity
            
The artistes juggle props such as Juggling Torches, Staffs, Poi, Devil Sticks, Staffs, Fire Eating Wands, FireWhips
            
which have been dipped in Paraffin and set alight. The Paraffin is transported by the Juggler to the site in the
            
manufacturer's recommended container or metal fuel bottle. A small amount of fuel is poured into a fireproof
            
container (metal, glass, ceramic) called the; dipping container; and the original container resealed.
            
The fuel is then transferred to the juggling prop by dipping the wick of the prop into the dipping container.
            
Excess fuel is removed from the wick by dripping, flicking, and shaking the prop into the dipping container.
            
The artiste then ignites the wick by using a lighter or outdoor candle and burns off any excess fuel on the
            
prop before proceeding to juggle. The equipment is checked before each performance and regularly maintained.
      
         
      
      On arrival at the site, the artistes will identify the nominated person/event organiser and obtain details of
         
how to contact them in an emergency and the location of thefirst aid point provided by the organiser. In the
         
case of an accident, the event organiser and Cake's Entertainment will be informed immediately. Depending on
         
the severity of injury, the artiste will treat it himself, contact the ambulance service or the first aid point.
         
         
Summary of risks
         
         
1. Risk of artistes being burnt. Likelyhood: Low. Severity: High. Risk: Medium. Action: The artistes will burn
         
off excess fuel prior to juggling. If windy, the artistes will scale down the fire juggling, stop performing, or move
         to a more sheltered position. The artistes will keep a water or a Clean Wet Towel (for treating minor burns) and Cling Film
         (for covering severe burns) at the dipping container to treat any burns. Depending on the severity of the burn, the artiste
         may treat the burn himself, go the first aid point, or be taken to the nearest hospital. As each artiste is working alone,
         the event organiser will provide one steward per artiste to keep an eye on the artiste and assist him if he is burnt. Each
         artiste will brief their steward before the performance on what action to take in the event of an accident.
         
         
2. Risk of artistes inhaling Fire/Vapour. Likelyhood: Low. Severity: High. Risk: Medium. Action: The artistes
         
will burn off excess fuel prior to juggling. If windy, the artistes will scale down the fire juggling, stop performing,
         or move to a more sheltered position. The artistes will keep Water, Clean Wet Towels, and Cling Film at the dipping container
         to treat any injuries. Depending on the severity of the injury, the artiste may treat the burn himself, go the first aid point,
         or be taken to the nearest hospital. As each artiste is working alone, the event organiser will provide one steward per artiste
         to keep an eye on the artiste and assist him, if he is burnt. Each artiste will brief their steward prior to the performance
         on what action to take in the event of an accident.
         
         
3. Risk of artistes getting splashes of fuel in the eyes. Likelyhood: Low. Severity: High. Risk: Medium.
         
Action: The artistes will burn off excess fuel prior to juggling. If windy, the artistes will scale down the fire juggling,
         stop performing, or move to a more sheltered position. The artistes will keep water at the dipping container to flush
         
the fuel from their eyes or mouth. Depending on the severity of the injury, the artiste may treat the burn himself, go
         the first aid point, or be taken to the nearest hospital. As each artiste is working alone, the event organiser will provide
         one steward per artiste to keep an eye on the artiste and assist him if he is burnt. Each artiste will brief
         
their steward before the performance on what action to take in the event of an accident.
         
         
4. Risk of artistes catching fire. Likelyhood : Low. Severity: High. Risk: Medium Action: The artistes will burn
         
off excess fuel prior to juggling. If windy, the artistes will scale down the fire juggling, stop performing,
         
or move to a more sheltered position. The artistes will keep a wet towel, Fire Blanket, Fire Extinguisher, 
         
and Clingfilm at the dipping container. As each artiste is working alone, the event organiser will provide one steward
         
per artiste to keep an eye on the artiste and assist him if he catches fire. If an artiste does catch fire, then the 
         
steward will warn the artiste by shouting; "Orange". Each artiste will brief their steward before the performance
         on 
         
what action to take in the event of an accident. Depending on the severity of injury, the event organiser will take 
         
the artiste to the first aid point, take the artiste to the nearest Hospital, or call the ambulance service.
         
         
5. Risk of burning audience with splashes of fuel or burning props. Likelyhood: Low. Severity: High. Risk:
         
Medium. Action: The artistes will burn off excess fuel prior to juggling. The artistes will keep a wet towel, Fire
         
Blanket, Fire Extinguisher and Clingfilm at the dipping container If windy, the artistes will scale down the fire 
         
juggling, stop performing, or move to a more sheltered position. The artistes will always keep a safe distance of at least
         4 metres between themselves and the audience at all times during the performance. If anyone enters this
         
safe zone, then the artiste will stop performing. The event organiser will provide barriers to keep the audience 
         
at a safe distance. As each artiste is working alone, the event organiser will provide a one steward per artiste to 
         
keep an eye on the spectators and make sure they stay at a safe distance. Each artiste will brief their steward before
         the performance on what action to take in the event of an accident. Depending on the severity of injury, the event
         
organiser will take the spectator(s) to the first aid point, take the spectator(s) to the nearest Hospital,
         
or call the ambulance service.
         
         
6. Risk of fuel container or dipping cup catching fire. Likelyhood: Low. Severity: Medium. Risk: Medium.
         
Action: The artistes will perform at least 4 metres feet away from the sealed main fuel container and the dipping
         
container. The artistes will extinguish any wicks before placing them in the dipping container and keep a lid on the
         
dipping container. The artistes will keep a fire blanket and fire extinguisher at the dipping area to help extinguish
         any fire. As each artiste is working alone, the event organiser will provide one steward per artiste to keep an eye on the
         fuel containers and warn the artiste if a fire starts. Each artiste will brief their steward before the performance on what
         action to take in the event of an fire.
         
         
7. Risk of someone stealing the dipping or fuel container and starting a fire. Likelyhood: Low. Severity:
         
High. Risk: Medium. Action: As the artiste is working alone, the event organiser will provide one steward per
         
artiste to keep an eye on the fuel containers while the artiste is performing and prevent any spectaotors from
         
stealing them or tampering with the artiste's fire props.
         
         
8. Risk of accident. Likelyhood: Low. Severity: High. Risk: Medium. Action: On arrival at the site, or venue, the
         
artistes will identify the nominated person/event organiser and obtain details of how to contact them in an
         
emergency and the location of the first aid point provided by the organiser. In the case of an accident, the event
         
organiser and Cake's Entertainment will be informed immediately. Depending on the severity of injury, the artiste will
         treat the injury himself, go to the first aid point, or the steward will contact the ambulance service or take the artiste
         to the nearest Hospital.
         
         
9. Risk of artistes setting Fireworks on fire. Likelyhood: Low. Severity: High. Risk: Medium. Action: The
         
event organiser will ensure that the artistes are situated at least 20 metres from any fireworks which have been set
         
up in the park. As each artiste is working alone, the event organiser will provide one steward per artiste to keep an
         
eye on the artiste's proximity to any fireworks and keep him at a safe distance from the fireworks.
         
         
10. Risk of artistes being injured by Fireworks. Likelyhood: Low. Severity: High. Risk: Medium. Action: The
         
event organiser will ensure that the artistes are situated at least 20 metres from any fireworks which have been set
         
up in the park and will not start the fireworks display until the artistes have finished their performance and have
         
retired to a safe distance with their fuel and props. As each artiste is working alone, the event organiser will provide
         
one steward per artiste to keep an eye on the artiste and advise him when to stop performing and vacate the area
         
before the Fireworks display starts.
      
      
      
         
            
               
                  | Booking Request | 
               
               
                   
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      "Just to say that everyone really enjoyed the UrbanCircus show at Rory's 21st on Saturday. Great welcome with your stilts
            and kangaroo springs and then brilliant acts juggling and ladder walking....and you judged the student humour well!! Thanks
            for everything!"
            
Patrick Gammell
            
submitted on April 29, 2007
      
         
      
      
         
            
               
                  | fire entertainers | 
               
               
                   
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                  | fire Spinners | 
               
            
          
      
      