MONTGOMERY GROUP STATEMENT & EXHIBITOR DUTIES 

Montgomery Group Health & Safety Statement

It is the policy of Montgomery Group to endeavour to seek the co-operation of all concerned to achieve the highest standards, in all aspects, of health and safety. 

Montgomery Group and RAI Amsterdam, within the scope of their own laid down policies, have a responsibility to ensure that safe working practices are always maintained, which includes ensuring that provision is made whereby persons, other than Montgomery Group or RAI Amsterdam employees, are reminded of their responsibilities whilst working at the exhibition centre. 

 

RAI Amsterdam Health & Safety Regulations 

It is everybody’s duty to show due diligence and to assume responsibility at their own level of safety and to put in place all measures necessary to prevent accidents, both in their own interest and that of those around them. It is also imperative that everybody makes sure that the members of staff in their charge are duly provided with the information and relevant instructions to perform their job safely and securely. Any deliberate breaches of the rules and regulations shall be considered as breaches of RAI Amsterdam’s general terms and conditions. 

Please refer to the full RAI Amsterdam General Safety Regulations, terms & conditions here: 

RAI Amsterdam Regulations and Terms &  Conditions / Safe Working Practices Manual 

Health & Safety Information and Procedures 


Exhibitor / Stand holder Duties 

Exhibitors and stand holders have a legal duty of care for the safety of anyone who may be affected by their activities. This includes responsibility for all aspects of safety on the stand during the build-up, the open period of the show and during breakdown. Where an exhibitor has booked a Space Only stand and the building and finishing of the stand is contracted out, exhibitors and stand holders are still vicariously responsible for the activities of their contractors. It is therefore essential that exhibitors appoint a contractor who is fully aware of their Health and Safety responsibilities. The Organisers Official Shell Scheme Contractor is responsible for Health and Safety regarding the build of all shell scheme stands and the Organisers will liaise directly with them to ensure all appropriate information and documentation is provided. 

Exhibitor/ stand holder duties are to comply with the Organiser’s health and safety requirements as laid out in this manual, including submitting health and safety documentation such as a Health & Safety Declaration and Risk Assessment. 

Contractor Duties 

A contractor’s legal duty of care is as above, including taking into consideration any sub-contractors that they might employ.


 

 

GENERAL REGULATIONS

Below are some of the principal areas that need to be understood by everyone taking part in the event. 

  • An understanding of the Fire & Emergency Procedures of the venue and the protocol for First Aid assistance. All incidents to be reported to the Organisers or the Health and Safety Officer, including near miss accidents. 

  • Authorised access to the hall will only be allowed for persons who have read and understood the site rules and registered for a valid Access Badge here. 

  • The emergency gangways, as indicated on the site location plan, must be kept clear of obstructions at all times throughout build-up, open days and breakdown. 

  • All work areas must be maintained free from general waste materials that could be a hazard to anyone working on the stand. This also allows for any potential hazards to be clearly visible. 

  • Hard hats should be worn when working beneath or near overhead working, or if this is not practical, access to such areas should be restricted. It is also mandatory for hard hats to be worn when the red safety signal in the hall is lit. Hard hats and other PPE equipment can be purchased from the RAI Webshop

  • PPE including hi-visibility jackets/ vests and steel toe capped footwear must be worn during the construction phase of build-up and breakdown.  

  • Other suitable PPE relevant to the job being undertaken must be worn e.g. hard hats, goggles ear defenders etc. NB: PPE is the last line of defence when all other alternatives have been considered. PPE must be suitable and sufficient for the job and employees trained in its uses and limitations. 

  • The Health and Safety Representative for either the contractor or the exhibitor (depending on the user) is responsible for ensuring the safe use and storage of flammable liquids and substances, and segregation from waste and other risk areas. Compliance with the OSHA EU Regulations is required. 

  • Portable power equipment must only be operated by fully trained and certified personnel for the purpose for which it was designed, safety guards must correctly fitted and used. 

  • Portable electrical tools must be used with the minimum length of trailing leads and must not be left unattended with a live power supply to it. Trailing leads and electrical cables must not cross over gangways, doorways or fire exits. Any work using power or hand tools must be restricted to the stand space, i.e. no drilling or sawing in the gangways. 

  • All materials used for construction or displays, including signs and fascias must be:  

• Suitable for the purposes and conditions of their intended use  

• Adequately prepared and fixed in order to perform the functions for which they are designed 

• Non-combustible, inherently non-flammable or durably flameproof 

• Water-based, where applicable, e.g. adhesives and paint 

See Materials for Stand Fitting & Decoration under Space Only Stand Regulations & Information. 

  • A hot working permit must be obtained prior to commencement of hot work (ox-acetylene, cutting/welding, arc welding, gas/oil blowlamps, grinders, tar boilers, soldering). 

  • Safe working at height is a priority whether using ladders or scaffold towers. For more information see Working at Height and visit RAI Amsterdam Working at Height Regulations / www.stop-the-drop.co.uk 

  • All staff working on site (whether from our own company or those of any company contracted by you) are aware and adhere to the current Working Time Regulations. Click here for guidance on the regulations in The Netherlands. 

  • All construction materials, ladders, trolleys etc. must be removed from the building prior to any public entering the building. Similarly, no contractors will be permitted access for breakdown until all members of the public have vacated the building. 

Any queries with regards to the above please contact ops.iha@montgomerygroup.com 

Onsite any violations or concerns regarding the above points should be reported to the hall H&S Officer/ Floor Manager or Organiser’s Office. To contact RAI Emergency Services (Fire or Medical) call +31 20 549 1234 from an external line or mobile device. 


 

 

RISK ASSESSMENTS

 All exhibitors must complete a Risk Assessment that covers their activities during the Open Days. 

Risk Assessments do not just relate to the building of the stands. It also needs to cover the activities of ALL exhibitors staff while they are onsite, whether this is lifting boxes during Build-up or a Product Demonstration during the Open Days.  The Risk Assessment must be suitable and sufficient and needs to identify all significant risks to your own staff, other exhibitors, visitors etc that may arise from your activities. 

Significant risks are those which are reasonably foreseeable in terms of probability and severe enough in outcome to warrant consideration, i.e. they are more than trivial. 

The Risk Assessment is the most effective way of documenting, assessing, and controlling risks and under Health & Safety legislation is an absolute legal requirement. 

Completing a Risk Assessment does not mean that you are guaranteeing that there will not be any accidents on your stand. It means you have simply taken the time to think through your actions in advance and on an on-going basis. By filling out a Risk Assessment you will be able to reduce the risks of an accident happening or the severity of the accident if it does. If you were unfortunate enough to have an accident on the stand, you may need to prove that you took all reasonable steps to prevent it happening; a risk assessment would be part of this proof. Without it you could be found liable (both personally and corporately). 

Click here to find a risk assessment template or for further assistance contact your own company’s Health & Safety Officer. 

Exhibitors must submit their Risk Assessment by attaching it to their completed H&S Declaration Form, no later than Friday 13 March 

We are happy to provide help and advice on completing a Risk Assessment, please contact  Ops.iha@montgomerygroup.com 

We do not approve your Risk Assessments but require copies in order to add them to the show Health & Safety file.  This file will be made available for inspection by the venue, the HSE or the Local Authority should they request to see it. 

A copy must also be available on the stand for presentation to any of the above if requested.  If it is considered that unsafe practices are being undertaken, they have the authority to close down the stand. 


Stand Building Risk Assessments 

These must not be confused with the Exhibitor Risk Assessment and relate solely to the building of the stands, whether you are a Space Only, a Shell Scheme or an Organiser Build Package. As an exhibitor if you appoint a contractor to build your stand, they will complete the Stand Building Risk Assessment when they submit Stand Plans and a Method Statement. If you are building the stand yourself, you will need to complete the Stand Building Risk Assessment and submit Stand Plans and a Method Statement. Shell Scheme Stands and Organiser Build Packages are the responsibility of the contractors appointed by the Organisers. 


 

 

WORKING AT HEIGHT

 

Anyone who will need to work at height when building or decorating a stand at the show (this includes any form of step or ladder) must understand and follow the Working at Height Information below and as detailed in the RAI Amsterdam Working at Height Regulations. Falls from height are one of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities and major injuries. 

Appropriate management and safe methods of working at height are required at all times, checks on suitable equipment will be made onsite. It is not advisable to use ladders when working at greater heights than 2.5m but use an approved scaffold with appropriate guardrails instead. Maximum working time on a ladder is 2 hours.  

Before working at height, you must work through these simple steps:  

  • Avoid working at height wherever possible. 

  • Use work equipment or other measures to prevent falls where this cannot be avoided. 

  • If working at height cannot be avoided, use work equipment or other measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall should one occur. 

 

You should ensure: 

  • As much work as possible is done from the ground.  

  • Workers can get safely to and from where they work at height.  

  • Equipment is suitable, stable and strong enough for the job, maintained and checked regularly. 

  • Workers do not overload or overreach when working at height. 

  • Workers take precautions when working on or near fragile surfaces.  

  • Protection is provided from falling objects.  

  • You know the procedure should any accidents occur. 

 

Two rules apply specifically to the erection and dismantling of scaffolding: 

  • Anyone involved in erecting or dismantling scaffolding a height of more than 2.5 metres and working within 1.5 metres of the edge of scaffolding must wear an approved safety harness and line; this is required by Dutch law, namely Article 3.16 of the Working Conditions Decree (preventing the risk of falls) 

  • Anyone involved in erecting or dismantling scaffolding and working on or under the uncompleted structure concerned must wear an approved safety helmet. 

 

Please visit www.stop-the-drop.co.uk for more information on working safely at height. 

EMERGENCY/ FIRE PRECAUTIONS & PROCEDURES  

First Aid  
If you require non urgent First Aid assistance, RAI Control Room can be contacted on +31 20 549 1930 from an external line or mobile device. A qualified First Aider will be dispatched directly to any accident area if required. The closest First Aid Post can be found downstairs in Hall 5. 


Medical Emergencies  
In cases of a medical emergency, call RAI Control Room on +31 20 549 1234 from an external line or mobile device, giving exact location of the casualty and details of injuries sustained. Do not under any circumstances call the ambulance services direct. By involving RAI Amsterdam Control, they can co-ordinate the ambulance staff and due to their knowledge of the hall, can direct them to venue and site of accident correctly and quickly. 


Fire Precautions 
Fire extinguishers are located on the hall perimeter, as stipulated by the Authorities. At least two persons on each stand should know how to use these extinguishers and know the position of the nearest fire alarm point in the building. If you would like to hire a fire extinguisher for your stand, you can order one via the RAI Webshop

Exhibitors who, because of the nature of their exhibits, require special arrangements should contact the ops.iha@montgomerygroup.com in the first instance. 


Fire Procedures  

In the event of a fire emergency on your stand  

  • Break the glass on the nearest fire alarm point. These are located on the perimeter walls, in the organisers’ offices and in the entrance. 

  • Telephone the RAI Control Room on +31 20 549 1234 from an external line or mobile device, giving the location and the nature of the incident. 

  • Calmly notify adjoining exhibitors of the situation and, if safe to do so, tackle the fire with an extinguisher. 

Remember to remain calm. If you have followed these procedures, help will arrive. 


Emergency Precautions 

Exhibitors should nominate enough staff to ensure the observance of the following Emergency Procedures at all times including the location of the nearest fire alarm points. 


Checking the Stand 

Stands should be checked regularly to ensure that no unidentifiable packages, cases or bags have been deposited.  If suspicions arise, do not touch the article but call the RAI Control Room on +31 20 549 1234 from an external line or mobile device. When leaving the stand each night (or in the event of an evacuation) Please ensure that appliances are switched off, in particular any potentially dangerous items (e.g. naked flames). 

 

Emergency Procedures

Please click here to download a copy of following Emergency Procedures and Assembly Plan. 

 

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Assembly Point Outside Hall 5

   

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