Health & Safety: Houghton

Written By We Are OPS

Background

After two hugely successful edition in 2017 and 2018, Houghton Festival endured three years of gruelling cancellations due to extreme weather and COVID-19 restrictions. The event is much loved by the electronic music community and there was a significant hype for the 2022 edition following the 3 year hiatus. Finally, Houghton returned in 2022 and OPS supported the team to return with an event that was bigger and better than any of us could have imagined.

OPS supported Houghton throughout the planning stages working closely with the Organisers, Local Authority and Land Owners to ensure compliance with Health and Safety and Licensing Laws, to produce detailed plans for the event, and provide 2 x Safety Advisors to cover the 24 hour live event.

Challenges

  • Houghton had not taken place in 3 years, which meant it would take a little longer for all involved to adjust to building the site and delivering the festival. This meant that additionally safety support was vital to ensure compliance was rife throughout.

  • During the time of the event, there were extremely high temperatures of around 35°- 40°, this consequently resulted in extreme dust within the festival site.

  • Due to the hot weather and therefore an increase in demand for drinking water and showers, the OPS team had to ensure careful management of the events water supply, with regular daily top ups scheduled

  • The festival ran 24/7 from Friday morning until Monday morning, which resulted in the 2 x Safety Advisors operating on alternate shifts to ensure constant cover.

  • Ensuring artwork and infrastructure that had been in storage for several years was still safe for use at the festival.

  • Assisting with capacity management at some of the smaller and more popular stages including The Quarry and Terminus.

Delivery

  • Onsite Health and Safety during element of the build, break and entire live show

  • SAG Attendance

  • Event Safety Management Plan

  • Event Risk Assessment

  • Fire Risk Assessment

Results

  • Sell out show for second year in operation

  • 20,000 Capacity

  • Amazing reviews including those from Mixmag, Fesiticket, Electronic Groove and Skiddle



To read the Mixmag review click the link here.

We Are OPS
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