Rock Safe: Health & Safety for Live Music Events (Health & Safety)

• Event Planning
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Rock Safe: Health & Safety for Live Music Events

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to identify the health & safety requirements for a live music event.

Introduce the learning objective and explain why it is important to understand health and safety requirements for live music events.

What do you already know about health and safety at live music events?

Risk Assessment

Performing a risk assessment is the first step to ensuring safety at a live music event.

Risk assessments are all about:

- Identifying potential hazards

- Accessing the risk of potential hazards

- Putting measures in place to minimise risk

- Recording findings 

- Reviewing existing health & safety measures

Explain what a risk assessment is and why it is important. Provide examples of potential risks at a live music event.

Emergency Procedures

It's important to have emergency procedures in place in case of an incident. Most event emergency plans should address the basic requirements, to:

- Get people away from immediate danger

- summon and assist emergency service

- Handle casualties

- Deal with those who have been displaced but not injured (eg at a festival with camping)

- Liaise with the emergency services and other authorities and, where the situation is serious, hand over responsibility for the incident/emergency

- Protect property

Explain what emergency procedures are and provide examples of common emergency situations at live music events.

Crowd Management

Crowd management is crucial to ensure the safety of everyone at a live music event. Venues have capacities for a reason and if too many people attend an attend this could put attendees in danger.

Explain what crowd management is and provide examples of how it can be implemented at a live music event.

Stage Safety

Ensuring stage safety is important for the performers and the audience. The positioning of cables onstage is a paramount consideration when artists are performing a live set. Exposed wires running across the performance area will not only look bad, but are likely to affect the fluidity of the production. 

Explain what stage safety is and provide examples of potential hazards on stage.

Electrical Safety

Electrical safety is important to prevent electrocution and other electrical hazards. When erecting temporary installations outdoors, such as stages, electrical equipment should be shielded from rain and other adverse weather conditions. 

It is also recommended that access by unauthorised people to electrical systems is limited.

All cables should be rated to meet the required electrical safety standards. Professionals choose rubber to cover electrical wires safety at big events. This offers excellent insulation. 

Explain what electrical safety is and provide examples of potential hazards at a live music event.

Fire Safety

Fire safety is crucial to prevent fires and ensure a safe environment for everyone. 

Event organisers should always make sure in any workplace they are given information about fire evacuation and check that signage makes it clear how to get out of a building in an emergency.

Explain what fire safety is and provide examples of potential fire hazards at a live music event.

First Aid

Having first aid provisions is important in case of an injury or medical emergency. Whatever the size of event you are planning, you will likely need to consider what your first aid requirements will be.

In the UK, first aid legal requirements at events are covered by the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.  Event organisers could be prosecuted for breaching these pieces of legislation so it is worth knowing what they are and how they might affect you.

Explain what first aid is and provide examples of potential injuries or medical emergencies at a live music event.

Security

Security is important to prevent crime and ensure a safe environment for everyone. The more people that attend an event, the more security an event requires. These people will be tasked with keeping an eye on the crowd to ensure safety and raising the alarm if they see any crime/danger. 

Explain what security is and provide examples of potential security risks at a live music event.

Noise Pollution

Exposure to loud music can cause hearing damage and other health problems.

Repeated or long exposure to sounds at 85dB or above can cause hearing loss.

Explain what noise pollution is and provide examples of how to prevent it.

Conclusion

By following health and safety requirements, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable live music experience for everyone.

Summarize the main points of the lesson and emphasize the importance of following health and safety requirements.

Activity

We are now going to go into the venue and undertake a risk analysis. 

Things to consider:

- Are there any tripping hazards on stage or in the audience area?

- Are the emergency procedures and signage appropriate organised?

- What measures are already in place for electrical safety?

- What would you say is the capacity of the venue?

- How can we maximise safety and minimise risk for an event taking place in the venue?