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Rescue departments supervise the safety of public events

The organisation of public events is supervised by many parties. As an organiser, you may have to submit various notifications to different authorities and apply for several permits from different parties.

In the Assembly Act, ‘public events’ refers to amusements, contests, performances and other comparable events that are open to the public but are not considered to be public meetings. If participation in an event is conditional on an invitation or membership in a given organisation, it is governed by the provisions of the Assembly Act, unless the event is considered a private event owing to the number of participants, the nature of the event or other specific circumstances. The Assembly Act defines a public meeting as a demonstration or other assembly arranged for the exercise of the freedom of assembly, open for participation or observation also to persons who have not been expressly invited to it.

Safety is a basic element of a good public event

The event organiser must ensure that no danger is caused to people, the environment or property. Safety planning is supported by the rescue plan for the public event prepared by the organiser. The rescue plan shows that the event organiser is prepared to prevent accidents and incidents and for action in the event of an accident or incident.

An rescue plan must be prepared for public or other events under the following circumstances:

  1. at least 200 people are expected to be present at the same time;
  2. naked flames, fireworks or other pyrotechnic products will be used or flammable or explosive chemicals will be used for special effects;
  3. the event site has unusual exit arrangements; or
  4. the nature of the event poses a particular danger to people.

First aid plan
A separate first aid plan must also be prepared for public events of more than 2,000 people and submitted to the rescue department as an attachment to the rescue plan.

Submit the rescue plan and first aid plan to the rescue department no later than 14 days before the start of the event. If you wish to arrange a fireworks display or a fire show or to use pyrotechnic effects at the event, also submit notifications to the police as needed.

Supervision fees
In accordance with the Rescue Act, most of the supervision work of rescue departments is subject to a fee.

Submission of an rescue plan and other notifications for a public event
Submit the rescue plan and first aid plan for a public event, as well as notifications on special-effects use and fire shows, to the rescue department no later than 14 days before the event.

For contact information for the submission of plans and advisory services, please contact your local rescue department.

Read more:

Assembly Act, public event
Rescue Act 379/2011, section 96
Rescue plan
Rescue Act, rescue plan