Stallholders, Craft Fair Sellers and Market Traders need to complete a risk assessment
Risk assessments are mandatory for both event organisers and sole market traders. They are necessary for acquiring insurance and for exhibiting within some venues. Risk management helps to reduce the likelihood of an incident occurring, assessing every aspect of your trading set-up. Injuries and illnesses caused by your stall can result in expensive claims, legal fees and financial compensation costs.
Effective risk management mainly involves hazard identification. Reviewing the likelihood of something becoming a hazard, or the severity of the hazard, is critical and should be documented within a risk assessment checklist. Identifying risks and proactively managing them will benefit the market trader or event runner from avoiding costly claims.
Risk assessment templates vary. Some are more complex than others. At Insure Our Event, we provide a variety of risk assessment templates for all types of events and scenarios.
Follow the brief points below to properly conduct a market trader risk assessment:
How to complete a Market Trader Risk Assessment?
Identify hazards
Review your stall and resolve any obvious hazards. Such as waylaid equipment, unsecure tables, wires. If your stall takes place outside, then tie down any gazebos and weight your crafts and merchandise.
Identify audience and customer risks
Who is attending the event and how could they be impacted by your stall. Are there small children or dogs, and does this require extra precautions? Is your stall wheelchair accessible or viewable? Is there enough space for event staff to move freely? How could customers of all ages and sizes be impacted or put at risk by your stall?
Identify the level of risk
Use a 1-5 scale to determine the severity level of the risk’s identified. A combination of how likely an incident is to happen and how serious the consequence would be.
State the steps taken to manage these hazards
To reduce the level of risk, take precautionary actions. The list of actions should be documented. This could include how equipment is secured, how staff are trained, displaying notices, installing barriers and protections.
Review the level of risk after precautions have been carried out
Now that precautions have been actioned, assess the new level of risk.
Ultimately, when performing a risk assessment for a market trading the two key actions that are lawfully required include: Identifying risks, Explaining steps taken to manage these risks.
Find more information on risk assessment examples and what needs to be recorded on the Government HSE website here. Example risk assessments and risk assessment template are available through the HSE here also.
Market Trader Questions
Why do market traders need a risk assessment?
Risk assessments are considered best practice for events. Due to the large number of visitors, risk assessments will significantly reduce the likelihood of an incident which leads to an insurance claim. Also if a claim were to be made against a market trader, risk assessments will be required for supporting evidence.
Who reviews the market trader’s risk assessment?
Markets and fairs will have an organiser or an appointed health and safety coordinator. These individuals will request a sole market trader’s risk assessment, and may rescind your invitation to attend if no risk assessment has been done.
What if an incident happens that market traders could not have predicted?
The purpose a risk assessment is to assess foreseeable risks. Market traders should do their due diligence, and anything reasonable to reduce the likelihood of an incident.
Risk Assessments are necessary when buying Market Traders Insurance
Sole market traders, stall holders and craft fair exhibitors each require specific event insurance. This type of insurance is different to trade fair event organisers’ insurance.
Market trader’s insurance offers lower limits and more accurate terms – including the necessary public liability insurance as well as event cancellation insurance. Most stallholders will be required by law to have public liability insurance, and proof of insurance will be requested by the event organiser. Insure Our Event also recommends event equipment cover and employers’ liability insurance for traders who employ staff or volunteers.
Setting up for an event can take weeks of preparation as well as a lot of time and money. Every stall or interaction with the public poses a series of risks which could result in a claim being made against you. Should an accident happen, you may be left facing a hefty claim for compensation, damages and legal costs. This is why it’s important to purchase comprehensive market stall insurance.
Market traders insurance is available from £25 and additional bad weather insurance is available. For a free comparison quote, follow through to Insure Our Event’s quote form.
