The following guidelines will be used by the IHA at all IHA events and can be changed or ammended by the safety committee at any time with a majority vote.
1) No live ammunition is to brought to any IHA event with a reenactment battle. (trips to shooting ranges uses range rules).
2) Unit commanders are solely responsible and will be held accountable for the conduct and safety of all members of their unit and anyone attached to it.
3) It is every members responsibility to think and act safely. If you witness an unsafe condition or practice, bring it to the attention of an event coordinator to be corrected.
4) Absolutely nothing should be thrown or fired at any vehicle.
5) No weapon is to be fired at anyone closer than 40 feet away and you are to be mindful of others hearing in front and beside you. You must get the attention of someone close to you before firing when it could hurt their ears. Do not fire behind people. Try to stay at least 10 feet away and shoulder to shoulder with the person/persons in your area.
6) No projectile is to be fired at less than a 45 degree angle, should not weigh more than 10 ounces, and made of soft pliable materials.(paper tubes work better than plastic which burns longer and sticks to the skin).
7) No weapons are to be fired into a building.
8) Heavy weapons such as cannons and mortars will not be fired close to buildings or towards any structure containing glass.
9) Bayonets and fighting knives are considered a uniform item only. You will not ever fix a bayonet to your weapon unless you are posing for a photo in a controlled situation and never during a reenactment battle.
10) Wooden tipped blanks may only be used in automatic weapons that have the proper shredding adapter installed.
11) You will never put any wood/plastic tipped blank into a bolt action rifle for any reason.
12) Homemade weapons or converted special weapons will be inspected for safe operation by event staff, before used.
13) No shotguns are allowed for use at any IHA event.
14) Blank adapting bolt action rifles are not allowed.
15) All weapons will be loaded on the battle field with safety on and will be unloaded on the battle field before leaving the feild.
16) The use of parachute flares is to be prohibited due to fire safety. No smoke rounds will be fired from a mortar or grenade launcher.
17) Alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs in violation of civil laws are not allowed. You may not handle weapons or ammunition until a period of 8 hours after alcohol consumption has ended and never during consumption.
18) Before making any blank charges you are to ensure that no one is smoking or has an open flame within 10 feet of your work area. You will not smoke or consume alcohol while handling gun powder,ever! No flashpowder is to be used! Shutzen reenactor powder, 3f,2f, and pyrodex powder is reccomended. Recklessly playing with powder is forbidden!
19) You are to stay 10 feet away from moving vehicles at all times and ensure eye contact with the driver when approaching, making sure you have the drivers attention before approaching any vehicle.
20) Any weapon that uses a reloadable casing (such as a cannon) will not use a fuse. You may only ignite a charge with the casing secured in the breech, breech closed, and with a percussion cap firing system, unless solenoid adapted.
21) Mortar and grenade bursting shall not exceed 50 grains powder (pyrodex preferred) and never fired directly at anyone. These are to be lobbed at a 45 degree angle.
22) Mines, booby traps, and trip wires are not allowed. Equipment is not to be booby trapped. No U.S. military simulators.
23)Pyrotechnic devices shall be used by event staff only to simulate battlefield conditions. Artillery,bombing, smoke, ect...
24) Blank ammunition should be of the star crimped variety with no wax seal and an amount of powder limited to ensure no fragmentation of the casing.
25) Pioneers, sappers, engineers, and anyone portraying any demolition role will at no time attach any demo device that can actually do any damage to anything and only with event staff approval after the device has passed safety inspection.
26) While p[articipating at any even IHA or other you will not fire upon, towards, or in any way cause distress to the wildlife or the surroundings.