“Safety Doesn’t Happen By Accident”- Unknown
Today more than ever before, professional event planners are aware of the vital importance of incorporating the best safety and security procedures at their events. Event planners understand that “Luck is not a strategy.” They constantly assess potential risks and shift direction to meet safety concerns should a risk affect the safety and enjoyment of event participants.
Event safety planning has become a vital component in the planning stages of all events. In fact, in recent years, studies have shown that safety and security concerns are among the most important factors for meeting effectiveness to both event planners and the guests. These concerns are not unfounded. All too often, you hear of tragic accidents that occur at events. They can be related to weather, triggered by stages not being properly secured, caused by boats being overloaded, or produced by fires caused by pyrotechnics. Such safety oversights are no small matter and can result in serious injury and death. It seems that safety fears have become even more pronounced since the tragic events on September 11th, 2001 caused America and the world to questions what is truly safe and what is not.
“Nothing is as safe as we once assumed. Therefore, the solution is to always err on the side of caution.” Tweet This Quote
Performing your duties with a heightened awareness of the risks involved in events is an essential and game-changing aspect of your career. Because of the risks and the increased sense that more could go wrong when crowds of people assemble for any reason, every aspect of your event should undergo a thorough review and scrutiny.
Risk assessment is the process of identifying the risks specific to the destination and specific type of event being planned. This step in the process is a critical one, as it will affect many of the decisions you make about vendors, budgeting, and your overall timeline. It’s your job to weed out any and all vulnerabilities that are inherent in the type of event based on the destination, venue, number of guests, type of entertainment, and so on. The following table provides you with just a few examples of the kinds of risks that are inherent in the process in several keys areas.
Event risk and safety assessments must begin from the moment you start determining the event goal. This assessment must remain fluid and continue throughout the planning and production stages. To do so, a successful event planner must be skilled on predicting, spotting and adapting to potential risks while ensuring vendors and attendees enjoy their events in safety.
Want to learn more about event safety and risk planning? Download your FREE digital copy of “GOING LIVE: Insider Secrets To Corporate Event Production” here.