Wires-If wires are left unattended people could trip over or even pull equipment out of place. Although the risk is not very extreme, it could cause issues and damage to equipment if it is not taken care of properly. To prevent this we can either tape down the wires so they are not loose, route the wires in a direction where no one will be standing or walking or we could use a cable sleeve to bunch the wires together to minimize risk.
Fires- A fire could be started by electricity or overheating. If a fire happens on stage or in the crowd it could be fatal. If the fire is small and controlled then it will not be as fatal as it could be if the fire was spreading bigger. To prevent fires avoid overloading power outlets as that can cause fires. In the event of a fire make sure to have a fire exit and a fire alarm to keep the audience safe, it may also be useful to have a fire extinguisher on hand to try and put out the fire.
Covid-19- Covid-19 can be spread by bodily fluids and breath. Covid-19 can cause a big risk to vulnerable people, that being old people or people with medical conditions. To prevent Covid being spread, you can follow the Covid guidelines on the government website.
Overcrowding- This can happen when the capacity limit of the venue is exceeded and there is not enough room for people to move freely. Overcrowding can be a big risk and can prove very fatal, as seen last year a the Travis Scott concert where there were multiple fatalities. To prevent overcrowding, security should be on high alert for people trying to sneak in. An appropriate amount of tickets should be sold so the venue looks full and fits as many people as possible, but also so the people attending are comfortable.
First Aid staff- First Aid staff are absolutely necessary at any event. as much as an event tries to prevent things from going wrong, unexpected things are always going to happen so it would be smart to have first aid staff ready to help. Not having first aid staff can prove fatal. First aid staff is vital in any event to prevent casualties.
Falling objects- Falling objects could prevent issues at any time during a live performance. Falling objects (especially if heavy) can prove fatal and can seriously injure people. To prevent falling objects, make sure that all equipment that is overhead is tied/screwed properly to a secure pole or part of the ceiling. If everything is screwed properly falling objects shouldn’t cause a problem.
Heights work -Working at a height can cause all sorts of incidents. Especially if the right safety precautions are not put in place. To prevent incidents happening when working from a height make sure the people who are working at said heights are attached to some sort of harness or have a way of protecting themselves in the situation of something going wrong.
Public Disorder-Public disorder is very hard to combat and most of the time can not be avoided. Public disorder is usually not a high-risk incident but it can sometimes be fatal. To prevent public disorder from being a problem at a performance, security is needed. Checks are needed upon entry to ensure people are not bringing things in that are not allowed, and security needs to be available throughout the performance to watch behaviors
Electrical safety- Electrical safety is a very important part of live performances and gigs. Electricity can be very dangerous when not in the right conditions. Its damages can range from small electric shocks to full electrocution. To prevent this from happening all wires should be powered off before people touch them. Gloves can also be worn to prevent incidents.
Noise levels- Permanent damage to the ears can be done if the noise levels of a live performance are not correct. You can develop an injury called tinnitus which can lead to permanent hearing loss. To prevent this, make sure the levels of each instrument are level and below the point where it could cause damage to people’s hearing.
Case Study:
This study relates to the health and safety point of overcrowding. On November 5th, 2021 famous rapper and artist Travis Scott hosted a show opening his Astro world festival. Eight people died on the night of the concert, and two more died in the hospital over the following days. Twenty-five people were hospitalized, and more than 300 people were treated for injuries at the festival’s field hospital. The cause of all these incidents was overcrowding which caused people to fall over and be crushed and trampled on. There was only 70 staff that were hired for the festival. The 70 staff expected to face 70,000 people but instead were faced with a crowd of over 100,000 festival goers. This concert was doomed from the beginning.
I wouldn’t even know where to start when looking for the problems that caused this horrible incident. But if I had to pick the main reason it would be security. Security allowed more than 30,000 people into the festival without tickets. The gates around the festival were jumped easily and people got in with zero problems. The next problem is public disorder. People in the crowd acted recklessly and there were few audience members who showed compassion and worry for the people who were injured. A lot of the people who died were tested and most of the tests came back saying they had taken drugs and alcohol on the night of the concert. This would have made it easier for them to lose control and get involved in this horrible event. Understaffing was also a big problem at this concert as more and more people were left untreated when injured. Although the event organizers did not expect this to happen, it is smart to be prepared for any incident.
To avoid this ever happening again, security needs to be stricter. Security needs to be doubled or even tripled so they can catch people who are not meant to be there. The same goes for the first aid staff. They need to be doubled or tripled so that if there is an incident, people are there ready to help. There is not much else to say on this matter. The venue was big enough for the number of tickets sold and there was optimal space for people to move. But with the extra 30,000 people who were not meant to be there, this horrible situation was created.