Safety Standards

Safety requirements of Medieval Fighting Demonstrations at the Osgoode Medieval Festival.


The Safety Officer of the Osgoode Medieval Festival will be Bill Fedun.
The Co-ordinator of the Osgoode Medieval Festival will be Judy Carey.


The safety officer of the Osgoode Medieval Festival has a duty to make sure people have full knowledge of our safety requirements.
They are very strict and sensible.
 
You must ensure that you are working within a safe area.
We will provide a double roped piste, however, some weapons forms may require moving the ropes to give the spectators some extra room.
Know this in advance.  If you pull stakes to move a rope, put them back later.
Be prepared to make your own roped off area if there is not one available for use, the co-ordinator will help you find one.  Or not.
You must have a marshal controlling the fight.
   
        
You may NOT mix your fight demo with any unqualified spectators.
Other WMA groups may play together providing marshals from both groups are present and actively marshaling on the field.
Some exceptions may apply...boffer fighting for instance "should" be safe enough to allow spectators to drop in and play under supervision.
But even then.....I reserve the right to shut it down if I even get a bad feeling about it. 
I have no problem with random members of the public touching your armour or swords, or even swinging them around providing
it is done under tight supervision, well away from the general public and in a roped off area.
But no, you don't let them run over to their wife/father/best friend/whatever to show it off outside the ropes....
Members of the general public will not participate in any fighting.
Don't hit members of the general public, even if they are wearing armour and asking for it.

       
Sword styles based on AEMMA, and by extension the OMSG,and many other WMA groups often risk sword breakage.
Your fight style may need to be modified subtly to miniminize the possibility of the shrapnel from busted swords flying into the audience.
For instance, the South Tower Armouring Guild forbids head "shots" when we are within a crowd and sticks solely to draw cuts.
A lanyard (an old boot lace will do!) will attach your sword to your wrist.
Knives, javelins or hatchets may not be thrown in the demo area, nor is any archery permitted except in the approved archery field.
   
No sword or sword like object such as a bokkun or wooden waster used for sparring on the list field may be able to be inserted into an eye slot or into a throat.
This means gorgets and eye slot mesh.
Safety glasses under the helmet are not good enough to stop a steel sword thrust, but will be acceptable for non steel swords.
Mesh will have a maximum hole diameter of three quarters of an inch, and may be welded or riveted in place.
For now, I will allow chain mail camails in lieu of gorgets.  This may change if I observe difficulties.

One or more members of your group must  be qualified and carry a valid certificate in first aid.  Any level is fine.
You must have a first aid kit there at the demo area when when you do your demo.

      
Carrying your swords to and from the list field will not require a peace binding,
though to prevent damage to jostling people, carrying them in a golf bag or duffel bag would prove your good intentions.
Walking around, chatting to people, visiting the vendors and merchants...
well, use a  strap tie to hold that sword or knife down against your side so that the curious kid won't grab it.
You can get a strap tie from the front gate.
Don't leave swords and knives on the ground unattended where some kid (or kid like adult!) can pick it up without supervision.
      
The safety supervisor will have waivers available for all your participants to sign on the day.
They simply cannot fight without signing a waiver.
The waiver will consist of this set of rules, and will require your signature before you can demonstrate.


Don't scare anybody.  Leave the sword in its scabbard no matter how tempting it is to show it off.

There will be cases arising from time to time which will need me to resolve.
I hope to be honourable, chivalrous and safe, hopefully consisent.
If you have a problem with the Safety Supervisor, you can appeal it to the event co-ordinator.