Health and Safety – Making sure you get the headlines

for all the right reasons

by

Michael Slattery

12th November 2010

Legislation• Health & Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005

• Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003

• Planning and Development Act 2000

• Planning and Development (Licensing of Outdoor Events) Regulations 2001

Event Licensing ProcessEvent Definition

“A public performance which takes place wholly or mainly in the open air or in a tented structure and which comprises of music, dancing, displays of public entertainment etc.”

Threshold for Licensing

An event licence is required where 5,000 or more people are expected to attend

Exemptions

Section 19 (2) of the 2001 Regulations exempts a Local Authority event from complying with the licensing process

Event License ApplicationDraft Event Management Plan

i. Names and responsibilities of the Event Controller, Safety Officer, etc.

ii. Draft site emergency plan

iii. Draft traffic management plan

iv. Draft safety strategy statement

v. Draft environment monitoring programme

vi. Provision for removal of structures, reinstatement of land, full site clean-up etc.

vii. Relevant site location maps

Event GuidanceIrish Standards

• Code of Practice for Safety at Sports Grounds

• Code of Practice for Safety at Pop Concerts and Similar Events

UK Guidance

• Red Guide for Sports Grounds NI

• Event Safety Guide

Non Licensed Events• Sporting Events, e.g. Ploughing Championships

• All events below 5,000 threshold

• Should generally follow same process

- Event Management Plan

- Pre-event meetings and consultations

Event Types• Outdoor - stadium

• Outdoor - green field

• Outdoor - street

• Indoor marquee/temporary structure

• Indoor permanent building/venue

Event Management• Event Controller / Deputy

• Safety Officer / Deputy

• Head of Security / Head Steward

• Adequate provisions of security / stewards

Ticketing Arrangements• All tickets presold

• Tickets on sale on day/cash at turnstiles

• Ticketed free event

• Non-ticketed free event

Assessment of Venue Capacity• Entry capacity

• Holding capacity

• Exit capacity

Entry Capacity• Expected peak annual rate v’s Entry processing rate

– No. of turnstiles

– No. of ticket-check lanes

– No. of ticket scan lanes

– No. of search lanes (higher risk events)

Holding Capacity

• Seating: no. of seats within sightline

• Standing:

- Stadium terracing up to 4.7p/m2

- Level standing areas (e.g. concerts 2.0p/m2)

Normal Egress Capacity• 8min egress time

• Egress flow rate as per codes

• Avoidance of bottle neck effect

Emergency Egress Capacity• 2.5 – 8min egress time depending on fire risk

• Allowance for access routes for emergency vehicles

Circulation/Queuing Capacity• Bars and other facilities

• Toilets

Life Safety Systems• Public Address

• Radio Communications

• CCTV

• Fire Detection and Alarm System

• Lighting / Emergency Lighting

Front of Stage Viewing Areas• Avoidance of crushing potential

• Provision of appropriate barriers

• Provision of video screens

Particular Risks• Fire/Explosion

• Extreme Weather

• Electrical

• Structural

Slane

Oxegen

Croke Park

Questions?