I am looking to do a demonstration in a open area craft fair. Bar in the obvious safty precautions
1) Flash back valves
2) screen betreen flame and audience
3)Safety goggles
are ther any specific health and safety issues required in order to demonstrate.
Any constructive advice welcomed please.
Thanks you x
Cables taped down or out of the way. Also check whether they require items to be PAT tested. It's not compulsory any longer, but some venues still want it.
I used to have a sign that read: Everything is hot or sharp please don't touch!
It is amazing the amount of people who reach for a rod that has just come out of the flame even with a screen ::)
They'd need very long arms to reach my kit over the screen :D
Sounds good advice. Will get going on the sign.
We have a safety notice re standing back and keeping children under control, too! :)
I have just demo'd and taught in a school, over 13's....
All of the above really + make sure you are covered with Public Liability Insurance too.
If you have a spare bod to give you a hand - ie: keep the public at bay - could be useful and then you can relax a bit more :-)
Sounds fab - enjoy
Kerensky.
Portable fire extinguisher?
Thanks all, the extinguisher is on the list.
HI Pam are you doing the demo locally
Hopefully, just need to gain permission from the event organisers and the people who rent out the land. I am trying hard to work out on what grounds they are likely to refuse so that I am prepared. I an thinking their lack of knowledge will probably be enough on that account ::)
Soon as I get the thumbs up I will confirm with you Margaret.
Quote from: Shirley on July 14, 2013, 11:27:49 AM
Cables taped down or out of the way. Also check whether they require items to be PAT tested. It's not compulsory any longer, but some venues still want it.
That's interesting!
Can someone tell me with a hothead set up how far from torch to the safety screen to be safe, thankyou! :)
Some fairs want a £5million public liability go for £10 million at least for demos..
You may need to do a risk assessment too, this may be a requirement by the organisers. I have one somewhere if you need one, to give you a start anyhow. I demo every year with the full torch set up with oxycon and propane. We bought some hazard tape (black and yellow stripes) and taped round the edge of a plastic screen which we made. Most kids were ok, but some of the younger ones tended to try to lean on the screen, so it needs to be reasonably sturdy.
The other thing is that once behind the screen, you can't hear anything that anyone says, so I put up a wee note too, to that effect so folks don't think I'm rude not answering questions. An assistant is definitely a good idea.
It's great fun though, I thoroughly enjoy my public weekend and I think it's important that folk get to see how hand-made things are hand-made!
Check the terms of your policy too - I can do demos from my own premises but not at other venues on the bog standard policy - costs me an extra £90 a year on my policy. x
As a sole trader, you can get £2, or £5m public liability insurance. You can't get £10m (or it's very very expensive / hard to get). £2m covers you for most small events. Larger events will want £5m insurance. I get mine from Ian Wallace, and it covers me for fairs / demos / teaching both at home and out and about.
If you are taking electrics, such as kiln or oxycon, they should be PAT tested.
Make sure you have a screen round 3 sides of your demo to shield people from flying glass bits / stop them reaching in and touching stuff. Those perspex panels are a great thing to use for this, and can be easily folded flat afterwards.
The "everything is hot, please do not touch" sign is a definite "must". Also, leave yourself time at the end for your rods to cool down before you have to pack up, and take your vermiculite / bubbles in a container which can be lidded with the mandrels still in it if you don't want it all over the car!
Enjoy!
Just wondering if it could be worth using ACE202 sheet instead of perspex so that the attendees can see your beadwork better?
http://www.abrimagery.com/store/index.php/bench-shields-ace-202-c-433_17_257_258_266
It is an american site but does sell sheet but at a price