Clamping down on safety and security within the events and technical services industry, government recently set up a task force to move forward with ensuring the better regulation of this industry.

To avoid such government intervention, the exhibition industry has taken it upon itself to take steps towards self regulation.

Mike Lord – the general manager of the Coca-Cola dome and a safety consultant for the Exhibition Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) – comments:

“With the 2010 World Cup on the horizon, indifferent attitudes to safety at exhibitions cannot be abided. EXSA has taken the initiative and is ensuring that organisers, their clients and venues are aware of what measures need to be in place. The plan is also to educate the exhibitor, who will be more likely to report any failures in compliance with the safety measures we’re setting out.”

Both the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the health and safety at live events general requirements standards (SANS 10366) provide guidelines that can be used to facilitate safety at an exhibition. Furthermore, EXSA has developed generic safety guidelines that inform and educate the exhibition industry, as well as the exhibitor regarding the ‘best practices’ that should be used to exhibit safely in order to avoid any possible liability, injury, accident or loss of life.

The guidelines include a four tier guideline on assembling and building temporary structures at exhibitions, venue safety guidelines to create conformity in the exhibition industry and generic standards for exhibitors, suppliers and organisers, regardless of the venue in which they operate.

Additionally, procedures are being put into place for complainants to report accidents and incidents electronically through the EXSA office. "EXSA will investigate these reported incidents to facilitate the compliance and self regulation of the industry," says Mandy O'Connor, the general manager of EXSA. "The purpose is not to single out individual companies, but rather to ensure that all dealings within the industry remain above board.”

Jeff Davis of Safety Sail and Global Event Management comments: "The Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Bill will soon be promulgated and while EXSA agrees on the necessity of it, exhibitions - which are defined as events – need closer attention as there are different factors involved. All must abide by the common by-laws and EXSA is moving forward to facilitate compliance and ensure the success of exhibitions from a safety point of view before the bill goes through. In light of this, we are also advising organisers to employ a safety officer at their exhibitions."

Due diligence on the part of the organiser extends to the appointment of a safety risk consultant. This individual or company will consult on everything, from traffic congestion to the number of exit points, paramedics and event stewards on duty at a function.