The Collingwood Elvis® Festival is vitaly interested in the safety of all people involved with the festival: The Board of Directors, the Staff, the Volunteers and all participants and spectators. We will take all practical steps to provide a safe and healthful atmosphere for the enjoyment of our events.

It is the responsibility of everyone involved in the festival to conduct themselves in a manner that will not endanger themselves, volunteers, staff or participants and spectators. As such, the festival has developed an overall policy statement of risk management that is listed below.

• Safety for themselves, fellow Board Members, Staff Members and Volunteers, and participants and spectators
• Protection for the festival property and for public and private property
• It is the responsibility of each Volunteer or Board Member to report to a Staff Member, to know and understand the safety guidelines which apply to the work they are performing
• No one shall work at an event while under the influence or apparent physical or mental impairment of any medication, illegal drugs or alcohol
• It is the responsibility of each Volunteer and Staff Member to be knowledgeable of emergency plans such as fire escapes and equipment, evacuation routes, and other safety procedures for each event
• Volunteers should report any incident immediately to the event chairperson and appropriate staff member so that a Situation Report can be filed

This manual contains safety guidelines for conducting the Collingwood Elvis® Festival. Please read this carefully and understand it fully. Your knowledge of these rules is essential in maintaining a safe and enjoyable event.

The Collingwood Elvis® Festival will implement an Emergency Information System should the decision be made to cancel or change an event, or if there is a crisis or emergency situation at an event. Authority to place the System into effect is delegated and limited to the following:

• Chairman - Municipal Services Board
• Other Festival Management appointed to act on the Chairman's behalf

It is not the policy of the Festival to cancel an event. Should a cancellation be necessary, only the persons listed above shall make the decision in concert or individually.

Upon implementation of the System communication shall flow as follows:

• Chairman of the Municipal Services Board shall contact the Board of Directors, Office Management, Portfolio Chairs and Volunteers
• The Chairman shall also contact:
  • Collingwood Police Services
  • Collingwood Fire Department
  • St. John's Ambulance
  • Collingwood General & Marine Hospital
• The Office Manager shall contact the following:
  • Radio Stations
  • Television Stations
  • Newspapers & Print Media
• The only authorized representatives of the Festival who will speak as part of the Emergency Information System are:
  • Festival Chairman
  • Board of Directors
  • Festival Office Manager
  • Festival Legal Council
• Office Phone System - It is essential that the cellular phones be used for outgoing calls for emergency assistance and requests. Incoming calls will be limited and passed through to personnel only if the call is related to the immediate situation. No information will be given by phone unless authorized by the Chairman or other party appointed by the Chairman to act on his behalf. All media requests will be passed on directly to a member of the Municipal Services Board or the Office Manager.

The Collingwood Elvis® Festival wants each and every staff member, volunteer, participant and spectator to have a fun and positive experience and safety is a key element. In order to promote safety at our events, it is recommended that staff and volunteers consider the following:

• Check your area upon arrival for unnecessary debris, hazards, boxes or containers which are not clearly labeled
• Do not allow anyone into the work area who is not properly identified or does not have the proper credentials
• Wear your name badge or other proper identification at all times
• Notify a Festival Staff Member who is wearing a Photo ID Badge of suspicious packages, people or activities
• Never try to handle a security related action by yourself. Report the incident and have the Police take the appropriate action
• Use common sense and good judgment at all times