7 Tips for a Secure Holiday Municipal Event

Your festivity special event plan is likely all neatly wrapped with a bow and all of the excited community participants are looking forward to your parades, concerts and fireworks extravaganzas that are taking place over the holidays. Let’s make sure we check our list twice for all those naughty security gaps and risk hazards and offer some nice solutions that can mitigate things from becoming unwrapped.

7 Seasonal Event: Security and Risk Planning Stocking Stuffers

1. Any temporary fencing or barriers that will be used for access control or crowd management are resistant to climbing, being easily detached and moved and especially in inclement weather, won’t tip or be blown over by high winds.
2. Areas where crowds will gather have been checked for uneven ground, trip and slip hazards and are reasonably remedied.  This is important where the attendee’s attention will not primarily be at their footing but at the surrounding event festivities.
3. If you are using either a contract security firm or your in-house security team for your event, ensure they have valid CPR and First Aid training and all have their current Private Security and Investigative Services Provincial licences.
4. Where there is alcohol service, ensure there is a gate keeper at entry and exit points so alcohol is not removed or brought into the licenced area.
5. In advance of any nighttime outdoor events, inspect the lighting and ensure any burnt out, malfunctioning or off-timer lights are 100% functional.  Also ensure that overlapping light coverage is consistent, especially at pedestrian crossing areas and areas where the grading changes.
6. Where you have Closed Circuit Video (CCV) systems, be mindful of where you hang any holiday decorations.  Don’t block the field of view (FOV) of your cameras.
7. If you are collecting cash in non-traditional open space environments, ensure there are always two employees present and train those employees on how to respond to a robbery situation.

These simple and practical tips will help with heightening the security of your hosted events and aid in mitigating common risk exposures that can dampen the holidays for your residents, visitors, businesses and employees.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact us at [email protected]    

Happy Holidays

Patrick Ogilvie,

www.writerightrisk.com