Unit 6 Crowd Management

Unit 6 : Crowd Management

Mark your attendance in comments

Crowd management must take into account all the elements of an event especially the type of

event, characteristics of the facility, size and demeanor of the crowd, methods of entrance,

communications, crowd control, and queueing

It comprises of the steps taken to organize and manage crowds. The key points to consider

are:

1. The number of people at the venue

2. The likely behavior of the spectators

3. The timing of the event, session times and peak times

4. The layout of the venue and other facilities

5. The security services

6. Conduct an evaluation of all structures available for mosh pit management

7. Obtain engineering and specialist advice

8. Isolate the mosh pit from general audience.

9. Introduce mosh pit safety announcements in advance of the and during shows.

10. The legal requirements and general guidelines.

.

(i) Crowd Actions: To have an effective plan, facility management must be aware of the

characteristics of the audience attracted by a particular event. Once the facility operator,

police commander and event promotor know their crowd they must plan accordingly.

Hundreds of thousands of events are held nationally and few, if any, have problems. But

unquestionably, new and unexpected difficulties have been arising. In major cities, for

example, some police officers have informally estimated that at any one time anywhere

from one half to two percent of the spectators at sporting events are carrying handguns.

There are four types of conditions that can create crowd management problems:

(1) Problems created by a crowd from within; (2) Problems created for a crowd from

outside; (3) Environmental catastrophe; and (4) Rumor. These threats must be considered

by those responsible for managing crowds.

(ii) Public Education: Schools, governmental and social service agencies have prepared us to

confront many situations which pose serious threats to our personal safety. Fire drills teach effective escape procedures; driver educations courses encourage safe driving; and Notes

first aid, saving lives.

III) Drugs and Alcohol Abuse: Drug and alcohol abuse is a national crisis, not just a problem at

rock concerts. That recognition does not, however, diminish the problem at rock concerts

and at other events where patrons use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol. The complex and

overwhelming task of enforcing drug and alcohol laws at major events without violating

individuals rights has facilities and law enforcement agencies directing their attention to

drug sellers rather than to users.

The sale of alcoholic beverages at rock concerts and other events where rowdy audiences

are expected or where a high percentage of the audience will be under the legal age for

consuming alcohol can have adverse effects

Crowd Management and Evacuation

• Event organizers are responsible for crowd control and management at their event including ACE:
• Aisles are kept clear and unobstructed at all times. No sitting or standing is permitted in aisles or egress paths to exits
• Capacity of the Venue Space. Know the Maximum Legal Occupancy and ensure that it is not exceeded
• Exits are clear and unobstructed at all times and assist in facilitating evacuation of the venue in the event of an emergency 
• controlling access to the event to prevent overcrowding
• ensuring that audience members are not standing or sitting in aisles or exit ways
• facilitating evacuation of the venue in the event of an emergency
• Immediately prior to the start of any event in a venue holding more than 49 people, an announcement must be made to notify occupants of the location of exits to be used in the case of a fire or other emergency and advising occupants that if the fire alarm sounds they must evacuate from the building

Emergency Planning and Procedures:

EMERGENCY EXIT ANNOUNCEMENT

1. An audible announcement is required at events attended by more than 50 people and must be made not more than 10 minutes prior to the event start.
2. The announcement shall include:
1. The location of emergency exits;
2. The requirement to evacuate should the fire alarm sound; and
3. Any specific venue instructions.

CROWD CONTROL MANAGERS

1. Requirements:
1. Trained crowd managers are required when attendance reaches 1000.
2. One crowd manager is needed for every 250 attendees. The following table displays the crowd manager requirements for up to 2500 people. Beyond this, one crowd manager would continue to be added for every 250 person increase in attendance. 

Identify key Risks affecting crowd safety

Hazards from crowd dynamics

• Surging and swaying leading to crushing between people and against fixed structures
• Falling and being trampled underfoot
• Dangerous behaviour, such as climbing onto equipment/structures or throwing objects

Hazards from venue or event activity

• Pedestrians and moving vehicles sharing the same space
• Audience being close to an activity, for example in motorsport or at an air show
• Collapse of a temporary structure
• Poorly maintained and inadequately lit pedestrian routes
• Poor ground conditions
• Lack of suitable entrances and exits
• Stalls and concessions obstructing crowd movement and leading to congestion at entrances and exits during busy periods

Implementing Emergency Planning and Procedures

Develop an emergency plan

Most event emergency plans should address the same basic requirements, to:

• get people away from immediate danger
• summon and assist emergency services
• 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

Emergency procedures

Procedures for staff and volunteers to follow in an emergency should include:

• raising the alarm and informing the public
• onsite emergency response, ie use of fire extinguishers
• summoning the emergency services and continuing to liaise with them
• crowd management, including evacuation where necessary
• evacuation of people with disabilities
• traffic management, including emergency vehicles
• incident control
• providing first aid and medical assistance

First aid, medical assistance and ambulances

As well as workers, HSE strongly recommends that you include the visiting public in your first-aid, medical and ambulance needs assessment. Make sure you will have enough medical assistance and ambulances onsite and liaise with your local NHS and ambulance service so they can balance your needs against their local capacity.

Except for small, low-risk events where ambulances may not be required, and at events where they are not onsite, plans should be drawn up in conjunction with the local NHS ambulance service to clarify how patients will be taken to hospital.

Security and Incident Reporting

Incident reporting is the process of notifying a user or administrator of an abnormal event, process or action identified on a computing device, system or environment.

It is part of the security incident and event management Incident reporting is also known as security incident reporting or incident tracking.

Some of the incidents reported may include:

• Violation of security policies/procedures
• Unauthorized access/access attempts
• Abusive use of an alcohol
• Suspicious Behaviour