Safety Regulations

Instructions: Read the information below, enter your "Full Name" where required, provide the indicated signatures under the "OFFICIAL SIGNATURES" field, answer the "Security Question," and then click on the "Submit" button. Applicants under the age of 18 require the signature of a Parent or Legal Guardian.

DOWNLOAD a pdf verion of these Safety Regulations HERE

His Majesty’s Tenth Regiment of Foot, in America, (The Regiment) is dedicated to the authentic reproduction of an 18th century British regiment. This quest for authenticity, however, is seconded to safety considerations. The following guidelines, therefore, are intended to maintain our impeccable safety record, and to insure the safety of our members and the public.

The Regiment portrays a military organization, and as part of this portrayal, “Officers ” and “Non- Commissioned Officers,” (“NCOs”), will issue “commands” and give “orders.” These commands and orders, however, are similar to lines in a theatrical production. First and foremost, all members of The Regiment are responsible for their own safety and the safety of those about them. All members are expected to refuse an unsafe direction and to initiate a halt to activities when an unsafe condition is observed. Accordingly, if following the direction of an Officer or NCO would compromise safety, each member has an affirmative duty to point out the danger, and has complete discretion to fall out of ranks.

Each year, before the beginning of each season or upon joining the Regiment, all members of The Regiment shall read these Safety Regulations and certify that they have done so by signing the form stating that they have read the document in its entirety, that they understand them, and that they commit to abide by them. The following safety provisions are to be followed by every member of The Regiment. These rules, however, are not comprehensive, and may be superseded by safety rules specific to a particular event. Remember that your good sense must be your guide at all times.

SAFETY REGULATIONS (updated December 2022)

1. All members should be aware of all local, state, and federal laws concerning the transportation and possession of their muskets.

2. Members must never bring a weapon into ranks that has not been officially sanctioned by The Regiment.

3. At NO time is a member of The Regiment to surrender control of a musket to a member of the public. Likewise, edged weapons must remain under control of the member.

4. At NO time will any member of the public be allowed to fire a weapon

5. Members shall never demonstrate the firing sequence of their musket if the musket has recently been fired and not yet cleaned.

6. Members must take special care that their muskets are placed in a safe location while at an event attended by the public.

7. Rammers will be carried, but they may not be drawn or used when firing with live cartridges. Hammerstalls must be employed when the musket is in a non-firing sequence.

8. A functioning flash guard shall always be employed.

9. No intoxicating substances, which include, but are not limited to, alcohol and THC, shall be consumed by any member until all battle re-enactments and/or drills have been completed for the day. Members are expected to act in a responsible fashion that shall not disparage the reputation of the Regiment.

10. No loose ball, or ball-loaded cartridges of any type, may be carried when live firing is involved.

11. No cartridge shall be fastened with anything that may fall into the barrel while firing. (e.g. a staple).

12. Members shall never discard cartridges that contain any amount of black powder. Before discarding, every member must ensure that the powder has been thoroughly removed from the cartridge.

13. If so ordered, troops may have to retain their empty paper cartridges after firing. If this is the case, these empty rolls shall be placed in the haversack or coat pocket.

14. When the event is finished, all members must return all unused powder. Powder shall not be carried unless it is housed in an appropriate powder chest.

15. No “hand-to-hand” combat shall be portrayed unless it is part of a scripted scenario.

16. No “bayonetting” is permitted unless it is part of a scripted scenario.

17. Weapons may not be fired when opposing forces are closer than 30 yards. In all circumstances, the barrels of the muskets must be elevated over the heads of the opposing forces.

18. No member shall walk or march in front, or within the “muzzle cone”, of a loaded or “hot” artillery piece (gun). A minimum distance of 100 yards should be maintained from an opposing artillery piece. A loaded gun can be distinguished as follows:

A gun about to be fired: Gunners holding implements straight up into the air.
A gun that has misfired (gun still is loaded): Gunners holding implements crossed and resting
on the end of the barrel.

19. No artillery piece shall be overrun as part of a battle scenario until such time as it has been unloaded and deemed safe. This can be distinguished by the rammer being left inside the barrel of the gun and the gunners lying “wounded” under and around the piece.

20. No member's musket shall be loaded during a bayonet charge. If a charge is ordered, and the musket is loaded, it should immediately be brought to the "secure" position and dumped of the charge.

21. When the musket does not fire, there is always the possibility that a “hang fire” may cause the musket to discharge a few seconds later. Therefore, in the event that the musket does not discharge, keep the piece pointed at the ground, or at a safe direction, while the musket is either re-primed or the barrel emptied.

22. When the musket is loaded, and an order is given to “order firelocks,” it is imperative that members do not place their hands over the muzzle of the barrel. It is always inappropriate for a member to place his hand over the muzzle of the barrel at any time.

23. Before appearing in ranks, each member should inspect his own musket, running the rammer down the barrel, making sure the rammer “pings,” indicating a clean barrel. Remember, each man is responsible for the safety of his musket.

24. No weapon should fire when pressure is applied to the trigger while the musket is at the “half cock” position.

25. No member shall appear in ranks with a musket that he feels is unsafe. All muskets must be well cleaned, oiled, and kept in complete and thorough repair.

26. The signal to cease-fire is communicated by a hat held atop either a pole-arm or sword, or by the cease-fire beat of the drum. (All members must become familiar with this drumbeat.) When a ceasefire is sounded, all members must immediately cease firing and come to the shoulder position.

27. Muskets and cartridges boxes shall never be brought into the kitchen area.

28. The kitchen area shall never be left unattended during public hours or if the campfire is burning.

29. The last person(s) to leave the kitchen area is responsible for makiing sure the campfire and all lamps/candles have been extinguished.

30. There are occasions when the implementation of additional safety regulations may be required in response to a specific event, location, or other prevailing circumstance(s). The Command Staff will review such regulations to ensure that they are reasonable, necessary, and sufficient to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all. Proper and timely notice will be provided to the membership of such regulations.

CERTICATION OF COMPLIANCE

Member Name:

I, the above named person, acknowledge that I have received a copy of and read the Safety Regulations of His Majesty’s Tenth Regiment of Foot, in America; that I fully comprehend their meaning and importance; that I will follow the directions of any appointed Safety Officer; and that I will comply with these regulations fully, in letter and in spirit. I agree that, while the Regiment strives for safety, accidents can and may happen and understand the dangers of using or being around black gunpowder, edged weapons, saddle animals, environmental and weather exposures and rough terrain. I agree to hold the Regiment and anyone associated with it harmless for accidents that may occur. I further recognize my own responsibility to ensure safety at events, and I will not hesitate to prevent or stop any unsafe action.

OFFICIAL SIGNATURES (signature of parent/guardian required for members under the age of 18)

MEMBER/GUARDIAN: I understand and agree that entering my name below constitutes my official signature.
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