Safety Requirements for Special Event Structures
Last reviewed: 2020/06/02 
Standards Generating Body: ESTA

This standard is an update of the 2018 version, correcting errata, and expanding on existing requirements. It covers any temporary structure used for special events ("temporary special event structures"), where such structures are used for presentation, performance, structural support of entertainment technology equipment, audience seating or viewing in conjunction with the event, and regardless if the event is indoor or outdoor. The scope of this standard covers any such structure not otherwise addressed by existing standards, codes or legislation, and to the extent that such other standards, codes or legislation do not already address conditional use of those temporary structures within existing structures.
In South Africa, safety requirements for special event structures are described in chapter 14 of the SANS10366 National Standard for Safety in the Events Industry.

The scope of this standard is to define "crowd management" as distinguished from "crowd control", to provide an overview of crowd management theory and vocabulary, and to apply these terms to certain reasonably foreseeable risks that arise during live events. The standard is intended both to identify minimum requirements and provide questions and suggestions that help event organizers make reasonable choices under the circumstances of their event. 

In South Africa, safety requirements for crowd management are described in chapter 12 of the SANS10366 National Standard for Safety in the Events Industry.

The purpose of this standard is to help reduce the risk of harm to people and their property while they attend music, sports, cultural, corporate, and other events and mass gatherings. This standard is expressly intended to be a companion piece to ANSI ES1.9‐2020, Crowd Management, in that event security is an essential component of crowd management, and some of the reasonably foreseeable risks and risk mitigation strategies will overlap. It distinguishes between privately retained or volunteer security providers, and public safety officials such as police, sheriffs, constables, or firefighters who perform crowd control. 

In South Africa, safety requirements for event security are described in various chapters of the SANS10366 National Standard for Safety in the Events Industry. Chapter 12 includes a section on the conduct of stewards and security officers, while chapter 10 focuses on incident planning.

This standard applies to fire safety in the live event industry. Fire safety is the identification and assessment of event-specific fire risks, and the effects that fire and smoke will have to the life safety of all persons who may be affected. It includes those measures required to minimize the likelihood of a fire starting, means of escape (egress), fire safety monitoring, and the methods used to limit the development, spread, and effects of fire. This standard does not address (a) requirements related to certifying fire fighters and their associated training; (b) requirements related to the construction of firefighting equipment; (c) requirements related to the construction, use, and maintenance of motorized fire fighting apparatus; (d) technical requirements of any equipment used for communications, illumination, signs or other hardware; or (e) installation of fixed fire alarm and suppression systems. 

In South Africa, safety requirements for fire safety are described in chapter 9 of the SANS10366 National Standard for Safety in the Events Industry.

Event Safety Requirements - Weather Preparedness
Last reviewed: 2021/03/08
Standards Generating Body: ESTA / ESA

The scope of this standard covers the consideration, development and use of event planning strategies that mitigate weather-related risks associated with live events, and with their associated temporary special event structures. Its scope includes both indoor and outdoor events, because each have considerations for the event participants. Its scope includes only public-access events, and private events where jurisdictional permits are required. 

Safety of Display Lasers
Last reviewed: 2016/04/01
Standards Generating Body: PLASA

This Safety of Display Lasers Guidance is published by PLASA and has been written by representatives from leading trade organisations, venues and laser companies in the UK. Its aim is to help those procuring and using temporary or permanent lighting displays make health and safety improvements. The Health and Safety Executive was consulted in the production of this guidance.

This publication is based on guidance previously published by HSE; HS(G)95 ‘The Radiation Safety of Lasers Used for Display Purposes’, which has now been withdrawn.

Event Safety – Rigging
Last reviewed: 2022/12/20
Standards Generating Body: ESTA

This standard provides minimum requirements and general guidelines to assist an event organizer or producer regarding the suspension of equipment and materials that are used in the technical production of organized events. It addresses the general requirements for design, planning, installation, set-up, removal, and operation of rigging activities. These activities may be conducted either indoors or outdoors, on structures either temporary or permanent in nature. It does not address permanent rigging systems, nor rigging of people, of performer flying systems, or of the methods and construction of flying scenic elements.

In South Africa, safety requirements for rigging are described in chapter 14 of the SANS10366 National Standard for Safety in the Events Industry.

SA National Standard for safety in events
Last reviewed: 2015/09/01
Standards Generating Body: SABS

SANS10366 is a national standard based on the TPSA Event Safety Guide. It is a comprehensive document that covers all aspects of event safety in South Africa.

NSRI Event Guide

It is in the context of team effort and collaboration that the NSRI identified the need for a water sports event safety guideline for South Africa. Currently water sports events in South Africa are un-regulated except for broad parameters applied via SAMSA and its authorised agencies under the National Small Vessel Regulations, and some sporting bodies who have developed their own protocols and guidelines for events.

Whilst recognising that many sporting bodies, event organisers and clubs have worked exceptionally hard with their own safety and emergency planning, this document aims to provide a comprehensive guideline and “best practice” recommendation for water sport events across all disciplines.

In South Africa, safety requirements for events at or near water are described in chapter 25 of the SANS10366 National Standard for Safety in the Events Industry.

Safer Crowds, Safer Venues

In recent years there have been several high-profile incidents which have resulted in loss of life or serious injury due to failings with operational crowd management. 

The purpose of this supporting document is to provide venue operators, organisers and their stakeholders with a general outline of what currently constitutes accepted good practice in terms of crowd management for performance spaces and licensed venues in the United Kingdom.

The chapters suggest a framework for the safety, security and optimal experience of attendees in indoor spaces that are smaller than arenas.

Recommendations on Traffic and Crowd Management

Recommendations on Traffic and Crowd Management for Events Requirements, Standards and Options for Action for Consideration in the Planning, Approval Processes and Putting on of Events Edition: 2022 | Translation 2024

In South Africa, safety requirements for transport and traffic management are described in chapter 13 of the SANS10366 National Standard for Safety in the Events Industry.

SAPS Crowd Management standard
Last reviewed (draft): 2024/06/02
Standards Generating Body: SA Police Service

Section 64L of the South African Police Service Act of 1995 (SAPS Act) empowers the National Commissioner of Police to determine national standards of policing for municipal services and also to determine national standards with regard to the training of members of municipal police services. It is accordingly required that such draft standards be published in the Gazette and that stakeholders have 60 days from the data publication to submit comments.

The first draft standards deal with a range of issues such as crowd management principles, designation and responsibilities of responsible officers, threat assessments and so forth. Of particular importance may be the proposed duties set out for the “first responder” to an informal protest. These are significant obligations that may then fall with municipal police services since a first responder means the first official who responds to and arrives at the scene of a spontaneous gathering.

Event Safety Communications
Last reviewed 29 February 2025
Standards Generating Body: ESTA / ESA

There are nearly as many means of communication as there are messages to communicate. Communication occurs between event organizers, staff, attendees, public safety, general public, and any stakeholder that has a role to play, in the production of an event, or who may be impacted by the event. This standard is not exhaustive regarding either form or content. In this context, the “best” communication is whatever has the greatest likelihood of successfully conveying information in a timely manner to the most people based on the ways in which they understand information under the circumstances of any given event.