In-person activities are resurfacing on our calendars, but monitoring the health and safety requirements will be more difficult than ever.
When it comes to event planning, health and safety should always come first. Part of the work include developing emergency plans and taking all required precautions to keep attendees and event employees safe.
Since the pandemic, the importance of event health and safety has never been higher. “With the potential of Covid transmission still at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Taking all the required procedures to ensure outstanding crowd control at a venue is crucial as we return to live events.
If you have multiple employees, you must have a written health and safety policy in addition to following all applicable regulations. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when planning an event with good health and safety measures.
Venue suitability
You can visit potential locations to assess their suitability if you have a clear concept of how your event will run.
Consider the following questions:
Is there enough access to the site to accommodate the amount of vehicles and attendees you anticipate? Is there simple access for those with disabilities, wheelchairs, or prams at the venue? Is there a sufficient number of emergency exits?
Capacity – Is there enough space to securely accommodate your guests? Will the capacity of the venue allow for social segregation? Are the attendees going to be sitting or standing? Is there a chance of overcrowding in pinch areas, necessitating extra management?
Facilities – How close is the nearest hospital and fire station? How efficient are the public transport links?
Hazards – Are there any existing hazards at the venue, like overhead power lines? Is the site prone to flooding? Consider the topography of a site when planning on erecting any temporary structures for your event
Risk assessing the event
The next step is to consider any potential safety risks and assign a risk rating to each one.
Consider the following hazards:
- Crowd management hazards
Is there a risk of overcrowding or crushing? Are there any significant pedestrian risks around the car parks or adjacent roads? How will drunken or aggressive behavior be handled?
- Equipment and trip hazards
Are there any loose cables that could pose a trip hazard? Will any electrical equipment or generators be accessible to the public?
- Staff hazards
Will staff be doing any heavy lifting? Have they all received the necessary health and safety training?
- Medical hazards
Are there any risks of injury as a consequence of your event? If so, what are they, and how will they be handled? What emergency plans are in place to respond to an urgent health concern?
Finally, some thoughts
Focusing on developing comprehensive health and safety plans will help ensure the safety of your employees, contractors, and attendees during your event.
The plans you make must cover the entire event, including set-up and cleanup. Create checklists to track risks as the event progresses, and designate staff members to handle critical concerns.
