Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to provide knowledge and propose a methodology for identifying the potential hazards and dealing with health, safety, and security risks in special events. The object of study is special events and the issues caused by their characteristics to concentrate visitors in a certain place for a limited period of time under a planned program. The highlighted issue concerning health, safety, and security in special events is crowd and its management. The author's main thesis is based on the need for a systematic management approach, in which measures are taken for the safety, health, and security of the employees, volunteers, and visitors while planning and conducting an event. This chapter focuses on risk management, which includes identifying potential hazards, risk analysis and risk assessment, measures to prevent or control the risk, as well as developing an action plan. The chapter attempts to provide a comprehensive health, safety, and security risk management framework aimed at special event management and to offer a set of planning and control tools.
TopBackground
An intrinsic part of event management is clarifying the sources of possible problems concerning health, safety, security, potential circumstances, and their consequences and likelihood. These problems may stem from anything that has the potential to affect or that may expose the event or event organization to losses and negative consequences. Health, safety and security may be affected by the environmental characteristics of the event location, by the type and manner in which the facilities and equipment are used, or by the behavior of the audience. Not only can the event organizing committee be affected, but also all event stakeholders – spectators, participants, sponsors, etc. Health, safety, and security risks can be divided into ones caused by internal forces and ones caused by external influences (Wagen & White, 2018). Therefore, event managers must know and manage not only the risks related to the host organization but also the potential external risks of the broad political, economic, environmental, social, and technological environment in which it operates (Ivanova, 2019). Accurate assessment of possible risks and preventive actions are part of the overall risk management.
Some theories suggest that the main reason for the failure of an event is the lack of good strategic planning (Getz, 2002). In turn, this is attributed to the limited capacity and knowledge of event organizers to plan and deal with problems in a systematic way. Recognized experts in the field argue that most event incidents are due to managerial incompetence, which makes it essential for event management professionals to be familiar with the risk management concept (Allen, O'Toole, Harris, & McDonnell, 2011).
Risk is generally defined as any threat that will adversely affect an organization’s ability to achieve its goals and successfully implement its strategy. Glaesser’s views are also well-known (Glaesser, 2006, p. 38), defining risk as “the product of magnitude of damage and probability of occurrence”. Another authoritative opinion on the subject is that of Berlonghi (Berlonghi A. E., 1994, p. 19), who accepts risk as “an actual possibility of loss or exposure to loss”. Against the background of the opinions expressed, it can be concluded that risk involves some form of uncertainty and the potential that this uncertainty will lead to losses or damage to the organization.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Risk: A form of uncertainty and potential for that uncertainty that could cause damage or loss to the organization.
Risk Analysis and Assessment: Assessing the likelihood of occurrence and the severity of the consequences for event goals and strategies.
Special Event: It occurs beyond our daily activities and is planned. It intrigues the audience by attracting and focusing on specific tastes, desires, and needs.
Event Risk: A threat that may adversely affect the event organization’s ability to achieve its goals and successfully implement its strategy.
Crowd Management: Creating facilities to avoid and prevent a negative density level of the presence of people in a particular area, which may adversely affect the quality of activities or experiences.
Dealing with Risk: Strategies implemented to reduce the vulnerability of the event and control any problem that may arise.
Risk Management: The process of anticipating, preventing, and minimizing potential costs, losses or problems for the event, organizer, the participants, and the audience.