Procession Classes | Insurance Requirements

Safety Reg’s: General | Entry Criteria | Conduct of Procession 

Entry Forms

In addition to the Insurance Requirements and General Regulations all entrants shall satisfy the conditions listed below, as applicable, before being allowed to leave the Assembly Field:

ALL CLASSES

FLOAT CONSTRUCTION – Float Owners and, where applicable, Costume Designers shall adhere to the following guidelines in preparing their entries:

• COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS – the use of combustible materials in Floats and Costumes is to be kept to a minimum; use the safest alternative material wherever reasonably practicable.
• NAKED FLAMES – no form of naked flame shall be used for the purpose of decoration or effect on Floats or Costumes. Smoking is to be discouraged particularly close to combustible materials.
• HARNESSES / RESTRAINTS – Float Passengers shall be seated wherever possible. If persons are to be standing or moving about, there shall be some form of safety harness (with quick release mechanism) or secure handrail in place to prevent them falling from the vehicle.
• SAFE ACCESS – Float Passengers shall be provided with a safe means of getting on and off the Float, e.g. by the inclusion of properly secured ladders.
• FLOAT/BANNER HEIGHTS – all Floats and/or Banners shall be built within a height limit of 4.5m.
• NOISY EFFECTS – no use shall be made by any participant of any form of firework, flare, bird-scarer, two-tone horn or similar source of unpredictably loud noise.
• LITTER – all materials used in the construction of Floats or Costumes shall be properly disposed of when finished with. In particular, Polystyrene bubbles shall not be used on any Float or Costume (poisonous to livestock).

FLOAT MOVEMENT – Float Owners shall instruct their Driver only to move as directed by a Steward and to stay with their vehicle at all times in case it has to be moved in a hurry, e.g. in a medical emergency. A sign to indicate the Class in which the Float is entered shall be prominent on entry to the Assembly Field so that it can be directed immediately to the correct line for its Class (early arrivals have the best chance of being first away).

FLOAT PASSENGERS – Float Passengers shall not attempt to climb on or off the float at any time unless the vehicle is stationary and the Driver has been made fully aware of what is happening.

CLASSES 1, 3 & 4

FIRE EXTINGUISHER – all Floats in the Motorised Procession shall carry a fire extinguisher (2Kg ABC dry powder or CO2). This is to be used only in the event of fire and strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

GENERATORS / SPARE FUEL – motor vehicles and/or generators shall not be refuelled on the procession route and no spare fuel shall be carried on any Float. Owners shall ensure tanks are sufficiently full prior to departure from the Assembly Field where any topping-up shall be in strict accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, i.e. provided that the generator has stopped running and has been allowed to cool in a well ventilated position (to avoid risk of spilling fuel on hot surfaces). Where towed, a generator shall have a dual means of secure attachment to the host vehicle.

ELECTRICAL WIRING – all self-installed electrical wiring on Floats shall be checked by a qualified electrician.

FLOAT SAFETY STEWARDS – each Float in the Motorised Procession shall appoint two competent adults to act as Float Safety Stewards (rising to four Stewards where the platform length, excluding drawbar, is in excess of 7m [i.e. Class 3 - Admin, Aug 09]). Their function is to patrol each side the vehicle to ensure that all persons, and especially children, are kept well away from the wheels of the Float’s platform, towing vehicle and any towed generator. They shall not to be distracted from their task by being asked to perform additional duties, e.g. collecting money.

STEWARDS BRIEFING – all Float Safety Stewards shall attend a formal briefing in the Assembly Field where they will be provided with distinctive tabards and safety information sheets summarising their responsibilities.

FLOAT SIGN-OFF – all Floats in the Motorised Procession shall have a separate Risk Assessment (see Entry Forms) carried out by their owners. This is to be handed in along with proof of Insurance to enable the Float to be signed-off by the Carnival Organiser (or their nominee) at the Assembly Field before being allowed to join the procession. Owners should retain a copy of their Risk Assessment for their own records.

CLASSES 1 & 2

IDENTIFICATION – all Pedestrian entrants (Classes 1&2) shall receive a Procession Badge prior to leaving the Assembly Field; anyone subsequently discovered in the Procession without such badge will be asked to leave by a Steward.