I was just about to post the next blog in the emergency planning series, when I learned of the collapse in a storm of a large tent at Kilroy's Sports Bar last weekend: http://www.mercurynews.com/sports-headlines/ci_20508159/1-dead-after-storm-blows-down-st-louis. It is eerily similar to what happened at the Indiana State Fair. In a matter of seconds, the strong gusts of an oncoming storm upended the tent, killing one man, sending seventeen to hospitals, five of them in critical condition and 100 needing some kind of on site medical attention. The tent had been permitted and inspected according to local requirements. The investigation is just beginning, however we are entering the tornado season in the Midwest and the hurricane season in the U.S. coasts. That's millions of people in possible jeopardy at thousands of events: concerts, graduations, festivals, fairs, and sporting events as well as smaller gatherings. As a promoter or organizer of any event, especially outdoors, tragedy can happen in seconds, but pre-planning and timely execution of emergency procedures can and will save lives. It doesn't matter if 200 or 20,000 are at your event. You must be vigilant and prepared. I do think patrons are in part responsible to make decisions regarding their own welfare but once you assume the responsibility for others, you do just that. You are responsible to know when and how to protect your patrons and guests.
My next blog will be the elements of emergency preparedness plans for your business and the last will be how to make effective emergency plans for events.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse Reports
The reports are in on last year's tragic stage collapse, that killed 7 and left many severely injured. There seems plenty of blame to go around. Officials from the State of Indiana say this is not about fixing blame, just improving operations. In the real world, attorneys for the dead and injured file lawsuits to do just that. The promoter, the staging company, Sugarland and the State of Indiana have all been named in lawsuits. Some (but not all) of the take aways from the reports include:
- Incomplete and underdeveloped emergency plans and procedures
- No clear chain of command and no single designated person with the authority and responsibility to pull the plug on a show to insure public safety
- Poor communications and record keeping in meetings, of who attended and what decisions were made by specific persons
- The stage was not up to code to withstand mandated wind loads
- The state of Indiana adopted outdated code models and eliminated many inspection requirements
- The lateral support rigging was inadequate to handle the wind load once the roof tarp, LED screen and other equipment were added
- Inadequate use of available technology and expertise
You may read the reports and download them from the following links:
Over the next several days I will examine some of those recommendations in detail to help you avoid these types of problems and liability issues in your production or fundraising business. You do not have to have 12 thousand people at your show to end up with mass casualties and injuries and a moral and legal nightmare that lasts for years.
How do you prepare to keep your patrons safe? What is the chain of command in your company/nonprofit project management? How do you know the stage and rigging is safe? What do you do if there is oncoming severe weather? Are your plans adequate?
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