Health & Safety and Operations: GALA Festival
Background
OPS were asked by We Are The Fair to provide Health and Safety and Operations Management for the Summer 2021 instalment of GALA Festival. GALA is a three-day independent music, culture and arts festival which showcases the best food, drink and music from South East London and the surrounding areas. The event aims to bring together a selection of Peckham and South East London’s diverse and respected restaurant, bar and music culture in a festival / fete format. As well as providing a sense of community to local residents, GALA draws new visitors to the area to experience Peckham and what it can offer.
Challenges
Ensuring safety management through the construction, live and derig was rife, and that compliance and safe systems of work were maintained throughout.
Monitoring complex lifting arrangements for a bespoke stage, managing severe weather management incidents (lightening) and safe use of compression cannons.
Managing noise levels due to the close proximity of residents, and ensuring we did not exceed the agreed levels.
Although GALA took place following the removal of COVID-19 restrictions, it was still important to ensure all present were remaining vigilant and implementing measures to minimise the spread/transmission. For example, the provision of sanitiser, signage, checking negative COVID tests on entry.
Ensuring we were operating in line with the license, in terms of turning the music off and exiting the festival at the agreed times.
Auditing a wide range of suppliers/contractors prior to arrival onsite, and identifying any potential issues with documentation to ensure these were promptly resolved to allow for the build to commence.
Coordinating multiple security teams to ensure effective deployment and allow for all necessary bases to be covered.
Delivery
Ensuring compliance of all contractors through requesting the relevant H&S documentation, including insurance, H&S Policy and RAMS.
The provision of a dedicated stakeholder engagement manager and zone ex stewards engaging with local residents.
Crowd Safety Management, with use of the DIM ICE model. Implementation began at site design and artist scheduling phase and involved the formulation of a crowd management plan and incident management plan. Interventions included; dynamic signage, staff briefings, strategic toilet placement, security and stewarding.
Professional traffic management team used to safely escort construction traffic onto site and manage PUDO effectively.
Professional security team appointed to match crowd demographics ensuring a positive visitor experience.
Regular engagement with nearby residents and businesses to respond to any issues/queries, and minimise any disruptions from the festival.
Having an effective system in place to ensure that all calls to the noise hotline were investigated via the noise consultants, through home visitation to measure offsite noise levels, and personally conversing to residents where required.
Results
Excellent customer engagement throughout the weekend.
Positive client feedback.
Over 15,000 attendees over the weekend.
