Donald Berry · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 28 Sep 2018•Manchester South

Published report and response evidence

This report’s concerns and statements found in recipients’ published responses. Statements are included even where no link to an individual concern is recorded. A link shows an evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

View original report
Concerns
4

Raised in this report

Recipients
4

Named on the report

Responses found
3

Of 4 recipients

Stated actions
3

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised4

  1. Failure of relevant authorities to identify high voltage power lines over event sites
  2. Lack of nationally replicated site visits for large events
    Part of recurring concern: Failure of external safety inspections to identify physical safety deficienciesPart of recurring concern: Inadequate regulatory oversight of organised public events
  3. Failure to identify high voltage power lines over event sites

Stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.3

  1. Kendal Calling

    Appoint Ground Control to undertake all safety and event management activity for Kendal Calling.

  2. Health and Safety Executive

    Raise awareness of the incident with industry stakeholders and underline the importance of following event safety guidance.

  3. Health and Safety Executive

    Publish web-based event safety guidance addressing risks from overhead high-voltage power lines.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.5

  1. Kendal Calling

    Ground Control is responsible for undertaking all safety and event management activity for Kendal Calling.

    Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
  2. Health and Safety Executive

    Local authorities are responsible for enforcing health and safety law at individual events within their geographical areas.

    Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
  3. Health and Safety Executive

    Current available guidance is considered sufficient to enable event organisers and relevant bodies to identify risks from overhead power lines.

    Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
  4. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

    Responsibility for health and safety risks at work rests with the Health and Safety Executive.

    Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
  5. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

    Health and safety risks from high-voltage electrical installations fall outside the department’s product-safety remit.

    Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure of relevant authorities to identify high voltage power lines over event sites

Wider context from the report

“1. The inquest heard that the organisers of the event Kendal Calling had not identified that a clearly visible high voltage power line was running over the site and no steps had been taken to minimise the risk although an Event Safety Plan had been submitted to the licensing authority. 2. the inquest heard that the lack of identification of such a significant risk and need to take steps had been missed despite all the steps required by law to licensing such an event had taken place and an indication that the guidance in the Purple Book had been adhered to by the organisers . None of the authorities involved had noted the issue. Eden District Council (EDC)had now taken steps to do site visits for similar events within their area but this was not replicated nationally and was only done within EDC’s area for large events such as this. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of nationally replicated site visits for large events

Wider context from the report

“1. The inquest heard that the organisers of the event Kendal Calling had not identified that a clearly visible high voltage power line was running over the site and no steps had been taken to minimise the risk although an Event Safety Plan had been submitted to the licensing authority. 2. the inquest heard that the lack of identification of such a significant risk and need to take steps had been missed despite all the steps required by law to licensing such an event had taken place and an indication that the guidance in the Purple Book had been adhered to by the organisers . None of the authorities involved had noted the issue. Eden District Council (EDC)had now taken steps to do site visits for similar events within their area but this was not replicated nationally and was only done within EDC’s area for large events such as this. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Failure of external safety inspections to identify physical safety deficiencies; Inadequate regulatory oversight of organised public events.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to identify high voltage power lines over event sites

Wider context from the report

“1. The inquest heard that the organisers of the event Kendal Calling had not identified that a clearly visible high voltage power line was running over the site and no steps had been taken to minimise the risk although an Event Safety Plan had been submitted to the licensing authority. 2. the inquest heard that the lack of identification of such a significant risk and need to take steps had been missed despite all the steps required by law to licensing such an event had taken place and an indication that the guidance in the Purple Book had been adhered to by the organisers . None of the authorities involved had noted the issue. Eden District Council (EDC)had now taken steps to do site visits for similar events within their area but this was not replicated nationally and was only done within EDC’s area for large events such as this. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to minimise risks from high voltage power lines over event sites

Wider context from the report

“1. The inquest heard that the organisers of the event Kendal Calling had not identified that a clearly visible high voltage power line was running over the site and no steps had been taken to minimise the risk although an Event Safety Plan had been submitted to the licensing authority. 2. the inquest heard that the lack of identification of such a significant risk and need to take steps had been missed despite all the steps required by law to licensing such an event had taken place and an indication that the guidance in the Purple Book had been adhered to by the organisers . None of the authorities involved had noted the issue. Eden District Council (EDC)had now taken steps to do site visits for similar events within their area but this was not replicated nationally and was only done within EDC’s area for large events such as this. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Appoint Ground Control to undertake all safety and event management activity for Kendal Calling.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Ground Control were appointed the season following the incident to undertake all safety and event management activity for Kendal Calling. They are industry leading professionals and have a joined up approach on safety and event production.”

Source location

2018-0324-Response-by-Kendal-Calling
Page 1 · response
Published 24 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Raise awareness of the incident with industry stakeholders and underline the importance of following event safety guidance.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I consider that the current available guidance enables event organisers and other relevant persons and bodies to identify the risks arising from overhead power lines. I will however take the opportunity to raise awareness of this incident with industry stakeholders, underlining the importance of all people involved in event organising and planning to adhere to the standards set out in guidance.”

Source location

2018-0324-Response-by-HSE_Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 24 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Publish web-based event safety guidance addressing risks from overhead high-voltage power lines.

Verbatim wording from the response

“HSE has published web-based event safety guidance to help event organisers comply with their legal duties – see http://www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety/index.htm. The guidance helps organisers identify risks, such as those arising from contact with overhead high voltage power lines”

Source location

2018-0324-Response-by-HSE_Redacted
Page 1 · response
Published 24 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Ground Control is responsible for undertaking all safety and event management activity for Kendal Calling.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Ground Control were appointed the season following the incident to undertake all safety and event management activity for Kendal Calling. They are industry leading professionals and have a joined up approach on safety and event production.”

Source location

2018-0324-Response-by-Kendal-Calling
Page 1 · response
Published 24 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Local authorities are responsible for enforcing health and safety law at individual events within their geographical areas.

Verbatim wording from the response

“HSE leads on national occupational health and safety policy for the entertainments and leisure sector, whilst Local Authorities are responsible for enforcing the law at individual events in their geographical area. In this case, Eden Council successfully prosecuted the event organisers for breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in March 2013.”

Source location

2018-0324-Response-by-HSE_Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 24 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Current available guidance is considered sufficient to enable event organisers and relevant bodies to identify risks from overhead power lines.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I consider that the current available guidance enables event organisers and other relevant persons and bodies to identify the risks arising from overhead power lines. I will however take the opportunity to raise awareness of this incident with industry stakeholders, underlining the importance of all people involved in event organising and planning to adhere to the standards set out in guidance.”

Source location

2018-0324-Response-by-HSE_Redacted
Page 2 · response
Published 24 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Responsibility for health and safety risks at work rests with the Health and Safety Executive.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I note that in your report you identify that the organisers of the event did not properly consider the health and safety risk of high voltage electrical installation at the place of the event. This is not an issue relating to the safety of an electrical appliance, which would fall within my Department’s remit. As this is a health and safety at work issue, it falls within the remit of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who are sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. I note you have sent this notice to the Acting Chief Executive of the HSE. My officials have contacted the Principal Inspector at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to inform him of your letter.”

Source location

2018-0324-Response-by-Department-for-Business-Energy-Industrial-Strategy
Page 1 · response
Published 24 February 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Health and safety risks from high-voltage electrical installations fall outside the department’s product-safety remit.

Verbatim wording from the response

“I note that in your report you identify that the organisers of the event did not properly consider the health and safety risk of high voltage electrical installation at the place of the event. This is not an issue relating to the safety of an electrical appliance, which would fall within my Department’s remit. As this is a health and safety at work issue, it falls within the remit of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who are sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions. I note you have sent this notice to the Acting Chief Executive of the HSE. My officials have contacted the Principal Inspector at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to inform him of your letter.”

Source location

2018-0324-Response-by-Department-for-Business-Energy-Industrial-Strategy
Page 1 · response
Published 24 February 2019

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026