Don’t Panic! Health and Safety

If you were to propose the modern car as a new invention to most health and safety advisors today, you’d be laughed out of the room, “a machine powered by an extremely flammable liquid, that you are legally able to operate up to speeds of 70mph at the age of 17?!”, yet here we are.  

Here at Walk the Plank, we are in the business of managing risk and delivering the improbable, safely. Two standard hazards noted on most risk assessments – Fire and Water – both of which are in our DNA.  

We began life 32 years ago, touring a theatre ship around the British Isles, bringing theatrical pyrotechnical spectacles to port towns and cities. We have since dropped anchor in Salford (we are now landlubbers) but have continued to grow and create outdoor fire and firework spectacles presenting our work around the world. 

Inherently we all manage risk on a day-to-day basis and I’m sure within our business of events no-one will be unaware of a ‘risk assessment’ (or at least I hope not!). Yet sometimes we fall foul of some simple yet pivotal elements of safety management that apply to all event work, no matter the complexity or scale.  

So, my top three ‘trip-hazards’ of event safety management: 

A key part of all risk management and assessment processes which time and again can get left behind is the need to review safety documentation to ensure it is relevant to the tasks or processes at hand. We as an industry must deal with dynamic systems that change, with guidance and legislation amendments, and changes to market ambitions. Regular reviewing of key documents keeps systems of safety current and appropriate; a key example will be the potential new legislation of Martyn’s Law, called by its official name; The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill. 

Within most parts of safety legislation is the notion of competency, in-house and contracted, for specific tasks and to manage specific risks or hazards. Competency can, and should, be measured in a number of ways, including training and experience, but all specific and evidenced to the task at hand.  

Develop open means of sharing safety reports, assessments, safe systems of work and keep a means of dialogue-free from blame and recrimination with all who encounter your work practices. Developing a safety culture increases employee trust, and satisfaction and helps enable you to consider bolder and perceived riskier activities that will set your business apart from the rest of the marketplace. 

Thankfully the world of event safety is a fully developed vocation, with unprecedented levels of advice and materials from national government and support from your local authority licencing or events department.  

Some areas of the events world require more specialist advice and guidance and the use of fire, pyrotechnics, stage effects, and fireworks is one of them. 

Don’t Panic the improbable is possible with the right methodology, skills, and experience.  

This article was written for the October 2024's addition of Hospitality and Event News.