Thursday, July 26, 2018

How We Can Learn From Crowd Disasters




There will always be some level of risk when it comes to managing crowds at large events. Most of the time, events are held without any major issues. But occasionally we’re faced with large events that end in disaster, with lives lost and everyone asking what we could have done better.

These tragedies force us to examine crowd control policies to determine what can be done better to avoid such large disasters in the future.

The Hillsborough Disaster of 1989

What Happened: During the FA Cup semi-final match 96 people were crushed to death as crowds attempted to enter the stadium. A bottleneck developed at the turnstiles. In response, the police commander opened an exit gate, allowing even more people inside and crushing the people at the front against the perimeter fencing. Many of those who died did so due to compressive asphyxia.

What We Learned: Event organizers and police need to be better trained in handling overcrowding. Within a closed space there must be capacity limits. Staff of events must direct patrons on where to go to prevent overcrowding. In the event of an emergency there must be clear announcements and communication between staff to prevent further issues.

Hajj Tragedies

What Happened: The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca has led to multiple incidents resulting in the loss of life. Most commonly are crowd crushes and progressive crowd collapses. Stampedes have also led to individuals being crushed to death. The most recent incident occurred in 2015, when two groups of pilgrims converged, causing a massive crush that left over 1,000 dead.

What We Learned: For massive events such as Hajj, redesigning the event space can help to prevent such tragic events. By preventing bottlenecks the pressure in different event spaces can be spread out. There also needs to be increased security with staff to direct attendees appropriately.

Love Parade Music Festival 2010

What Happened: 21 people died when too many people became packed into too small of a space without enough exit routes. Miscommunication and a lack of information were two factors in how the tragedy unfolded. The tunnel, used as both the entrance and exit, became overpacked.

What We Learned: Events must hire enough staff to meet event demands to control the flow of traffic. Adequate entrances and exits must exist to prevent this type of crowding.

Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse

What Happened: A severe thunderstorm moved into the area where crowds had gathered to watch a concert. Despite being aware of the incoming storms, officials didn’t initially plan to cancel the show. As an announcer took to the stage to finally announce the show was cancelled, a gust of wind hit the stage, which collapsed.  The stage landed on spectators, killing 7 and injuring 58.

What We Learned: Structures at events must always be inspected to ensure they meet safety standards. Potentially dangerous weather conditions must be closely observed, with adjustments to the event being made far in advanced. Clear communication and a line of authority should be put in place so decisions about unsafe situations can be made swiftly.

These types of crowd disasters can be prevented with the right planning, staffing, and crowd control products. Make sure to keep these lessons in mind when planning your next event.

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