Safety Management Guide& Risk Assessment:

Steve AdamsStage Hypnotist

Last reviewed & updated: January 2016

“The safety of the public, and anyone else attending, or connected with The Steve Adams Hypnosis show is the number one priority of the

performer and his staff.”

With the exception of Appendix 1 (1952 Hypnotism Act as Amended 1996) this entire document is copyrighted to the authors (Steve Adams) and must not be reproduced or shared with third parties without

the authors’ express written consent.

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This document sets out to demonstrate and record the measures in place to ensure the safety of the public, venue staff, assistants and everyone else involved in a performance of Stage Hypnosis and related hypnotic phenomenon…”

Each show will always have at least 1, if not more trained First Aid personnel. There will be a minimum of 2 assistants present during each performance to

ensure the health and safety of the volunteers. Health & Safety training – Steve has attended and completed a number of

training courses in relation to health and Safety, including Manual Handling, in previous job roles.

Experienced in working in Licensed Venues such as Pubs, Clubs and Bars as a comedy magician and aware of the potential hazards of the venues where performances are taking place.

Experienced in Amateur performances, including larger venues holding audiences of up to 500.

Teaches hypnosis as a certified trainer of Hypnosis, and also as part of his role as an NLP Master Practitioner and NLP trainer to private organisations and groups. Has been a qualified hypnotherapist since 1995.

Professional Organisations – Member of the Professional Organisation of Stage Hypnotists.

Hypnosis Training – Alex Smith, Geoff Ronning, Marc Savard Certified Instructor of Hypnosis (Hypnotherapy) Qualified with 2 organisations as a hypnotherapist. Studied a number of stage

hypnotists and online courses including Jonathan Royle, Peter Cassels, Robert Temple, Sean Michael Andrews and Geoff Ronning.

The performance will comply with the 1952 Hypnosis Act (Appendix 1)

The shows performed are classed as family entertainment, although anyone under the age of 18 will not be allowed to participate.

Publicity materials including posters and tickets etc conform to the requirement of the 1952 Act, in that they will contain the wording:

Conforms to the 1952 Hypnosis Act No person under the age of 18 shall be allowed to participate in the performance Participation is strictly on a voluntary basis Volunteers will have the option to leave the stage at any point License approved by local council (Where applicable)

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Pre - Performance

Steve will ensure that the following wording (or similar with same meaning) is delivered to the audience at the beginning of each show:

“I shall be looking for volunteers aged over 18 who are willing to be hypnotised and participate in the show. Anyone who comes forward should be prepared to take part in a range of entertaining hypnotic suggestions but can be assured that they will not be asked to do anything which is indecent, offensive or harmful. Volunteers need to be in normal physical and mental health and I must ask that no one volunteers if they have a history of mental illness, or are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs or are pregnant”.

During Performance

There will be 2 assistants on stage throughout the performance who will be responsible for:

Ensuring that the volunteers: Are able to access/exit the stage in a safe manner Do not walk past the demarcation line at the front of the stage Do not walk off the stage into the wings Do not come to any physical harm through use of props Do not fall of their chairs at any point.

Post Performance

Volunteers will be told at the start of the performance that they will instantly return to a normal waking state should any emergency take place that required them to leave the stage, or evacuate the premises.

All volunteers will remain in the Steve’s presence until all hypnotic suggestions have been removed.

All suggestions will be removed apart from any that will benefit the volunteers, for example feeling well, refreshed and relaxed.

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Safety Management

Overview

Each performance venue will be risk assessed prior to the audience being admitted.

A named individual will be delegated to ensure the Safety checklist has been completed before the performance, and any identified risks are minimised before the performance. (Appendix 2)

Steve will ensure that all suggestions are removed from the volunteers and that they are returned to the audience safely, and feeling 100% fit and well.

Steve will remain behind after the end of the performance for a minimum of 30 minutes in order to deal with any questions that may arise with volunteers at the end of the performance.

Public liability insurance will be held for each performance to a value of £5,000,000.

The policy document will be available to view at each performance if requested by:

o a constable; oro an authorised officer of the licensing authority; oro an authorised officer of the fire authority

A copy of the public liability insurance certificate is included with this document

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Specific Areas of Risk

Electrical Equipment All persons on stage are subject to a low level of risk from cabling and electrical

items. There will be no cables running across or directly in front of the performing area. Wireless microphones will be used throughout the performance. P.A. Systems will be placed in such a way as cabling is fed off stage, and suitably

taped, or cable tied. This will eliminate slip or trip hazards involving electrical cables.

Stage Furniture/props There will be no objects on the performing area other than single rows of chairs. Each chair will be checked before the performance to ensure it is in good condition

and fit for purpose. No volunteer will be allowed to use any chair other than as a seat. No volunteer will stand on any chair. Any props will be stored in a suitable container off to the side of the performing

area. No stage furniture or props will be allowed immediately in front of the performing

area where volunteers access and exit.

Access / Exit to performing area.

The steps leading to the performing area will be checked for condition. The steps will be well it and have a handrail where possible. If no handrail is available then an assistant will be allocated to ensure volunteers

can access / exit the performing area in a safe manner.

Performing Area A yellow or white taped line will be placed across the front of the stage, approx 2m

from the edge. This line will be pointed out to volunteers and they will be instructed not to cross this line for any reason.

The performing area will be adequately lit, and suitable for the number of volunteers.

The flooring area will be free from trip hazards and uneven surfaces.

Fire Precautions Fire exits will be identified at the beginning of each performance Fire exits will be checked to ensure they are unlocked, unobstructed and accessible

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Appendix 1 – 1952 Hypnosis Act

Hypnotism Act 19521952 c.46 15_and_16_Geo_6_and_1_Eliz_2An Act to regulate the demonstration of hypnotic phenomena for purposes of public entertainment.                                    [1st August, 1952] Annotations:Modifications etc. (not altering text)C1Act: functions of local authority not to be responsibility of an executive of the authority (E.)

(16.11.2000) by virtue of S.I. 2000/2853, reg. 2(1), Sch. 1 Table B16

1. Control of demonstrations of hypnotism at places licensed for public entertainment.— (1) Where under any enactment an authority in any area have power to grant licences for the regulation of places kept or ordinarily used for public dancing, singing, music or other public entertainment of the like kind, any power conferred by any enactment to attach conditions to any such licence shall include power to attach conditions regulating or prohibiting the giving of an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism on any person at the place to which the licence relates.(2) In the application of this section to Scotland, for the reference to places kept or ordinarily used for public dancing, singing, music or other public entertainment of the like kind there shall be substituted a reference to theatres or other places of public amusement or public entertainment.

2. Control of demonstrations of hypnotism at other places.— (1) No person shall give an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism on any living person at or in connection with an entertainment to which the public are admitted, whether on payment or otherwise, at any place in relation to which such a licence as is mentioned in section one of this Act is not in force unless the controlling authority have authorised that exhibition, demonstration or performance.[F1 (1A) The foregoing subsection shall not apply to an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism that takes place in the course of a performance of a play (within the meaning of the Theatres Act 1968) given either at premises in respect of which a licence under that Act is in force or under the authority of any such letters patent as are mentioned in section 17(1) of that Act.](2) Any authorisation under this section may be made subject to any conditions.(3) If a person gives any exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism in contravention of this section, or in contravention of any conditions attached to an authorisation under this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F2 level 3 on the standard scale].(4) In this section, the expression “controlling authority” means—(a)in relation to a place in any such area as is mentioned in section one of this Act, the authority having power to grant licences of the kind mentioned in that section in that area;(b)

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in relation to a place in any other area in England, the council of the . . . F3 district where the place is, and in relation to a place in any other area in Scotland, [F4 [ F5 council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994] for the area] where the place is.Annotations:Amendments (Textual)F1S. 2(1A) inserted by Theatres Act 1968 (c. 54), Sch. 2F2Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46 and

(S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1) ss. 289F, 289GF3Words repealed by Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70), Sch. 30F4Words substituted by Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (c. 65), Sch. 24 para. 40F5Words in s. 2(4)(b) substituted (S.) (1.4.1996) by virtue of 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13 para.

39; S.I. 1996/323, art. 4(1)(c)Extent InformationE1This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for

England and Wales only.

2. Control of demonstrations of hypnotism at other places.— (1) No person shall give an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism on any living person at or in connection with an entertainment to which the public are admitted, whether on payment or otherwise, at any place in relation to which such a licence as is mentioned in section one of this Act is not in force unless the controlling authority have authorised that exhibition, demonstration or performance.[F6 (1A) The foregoing subsection shall not apply to an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism that takes place in the course of a performance of a play (within the meaning of the Theatres Act 1968) given either at premises in respect of which a licence under that Act is in force or under the authority of any such letters patent as are mentioned in section 17(1) of that Act.](2) Any authorisation under this section may be made subject to any conditions.(3) If a person gives any exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism in contravention of this section, or in contravention of any conditions attached to an authorisation under this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F7 level 3 on the standard scale].[F8 (4) In this section, the expression “controlling authority” in relation to a place in any area means the authority having power to grant licences of the kind mentioned in section 1 above in that area.]Annotations:Amendments (Textual)F6S. 2(1A) inserted by Theatres Act 1968 (c. 54), Sch. 2F7Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46 and

(S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1) ss. 289F, 289GF8S. 2(4) substituted (E.W.) by Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (c. 30, SIF

81:1), s. 1, Sch. 2 para. 1Extent InformationE2This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been

created for Scotland only.

[F9 2A. Fee.The person making an application to a controlling authority, being the council of a London borough, for an authorisation under section 2 of this Act shall on making the application pay to the council such reasonable fee as the council may determine.]

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Annotations:Amendments (Textual)F9 S. 2A added (21.9.1994) by 1994 c. xii, ss. 1, 7(1)

3. Prohibition on hypnotising persons under twenty-one.A person who gives an exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism on a person who has not attained the age of [F10 eighteen] years at or in connection with an entertainment to which the public are admitted, whether on payment or otherwise, shall, unless he had reasonable cause to believe that that person had attained that age, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F11 level 3 on the standard scale].Annotations:Amendments (Textual)F10Word substituted (S.) by Age of Majority (Scotland) Act 1969 (c. 39), s. 1(3), Sch. 1 Pt. I and

(E.W) by Family Law Reform Act 1969 (c. 46), s. 1(3), Sch. 1 Pt. IF11Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46

and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1) ss. 289F, 289G

4. Entry of premises.Any police constable may enter any premises where any entertainment is held if he has reasonable cause to believe that any act is being or may be done in contravention of this Act.

5. Saving for scientific purposes.Nothing in this Act shall prevent the exhibition, demonstration or performance of hypnotism (otherwise than at or in connection with an entertainment) for scientific or research purposes or for the treatment of mental or physical disease.

6. Interpretation.In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires it, the following expression shall have the meaning hereby assigned to it, that is to say:—“hypnotism” includes hypnotism, mesmerism and any similar act or process which produces or is intended to produce in any person any form of induced sleep or trance in which the susceptibility of the mind of that person to suggestion or direction is increased or intended to be increased but does not include hypnotism, mesmerism or any such similar act or process which is self-induced.

7. Short title, extent and commencement.— (1) This Act may be cited as the Hypnotism Act 1952.(2) This Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland.(3) This Act shall come into force on the first day of April, nineteen hundred and fifty-three.

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Appendix 2 – Risk Assessment

Health and Safety / Risk management Checklist

Item Criteria Actions

Electrical Cabling

No cabling on stage.

Wireless Microphones off stage

P.A. cables tidy / clipped/taped

Stage Area Free from obstructions

Free from trip hazards / uneven surfaces

Taped line in place (2m from stage edge)

Stage lighting functional / Area well lit

Chairs – individually checked and in good condition

Access / Exit Well lit

Steps in good condition

Handrail available

Fire Precautions Fire extinguisher points located / checked

Fire exits noted / unlocked / accessible

Flammable and / or hazardous materials present?

Other Notes

Name (Printed) Date

Signature

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Appendix 3 – Certificates / Insurance

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