Event Safety Alliance Working To Set Industry Guidelines

A group of live entertainment professionals have organized the Event Safety Alliance (ESA) to create a guide of best practices for the industry to keep fans, entertainers and workers safe. The formation of the ESA was spurred by numerous deaths at outdoor concerts in 2011, many due to severe weather.

The ESA will team with the music industry and government agencies including Homeland Security, OSHA and NFPA to create The Event Safety Guide US. Among the focuses of the book and organization are communication among event staff, staging inspection strategies, and training/certification programs for workers.

Following the tragedies of 2011, many professionals have sought ways to prevent future disasters. These efforts have included training by the National Weather Service, creating chains of command for events, and inserting language into contracts that alleviates financial risk for canceling or delaying a concert based on safety concerns.

Jim Digby, production manager for Linkin Park, is acting as Executive Director of the ESA.

The ESA is using the UK’s The Event Safety Guide, aka The Purple Guide, until a US version can be created. Click to download a PDF of The Purple Guide.

A website with resources and news is at eventsafetyalliance.org.

ESA members
Steven A. Adelman, Adelman Law Group, PLLC
Ken Barber, Clair Brothers Audio
Matt Bettenhausen, AEG Live
Keith Bohn, TOMCAT USA
John Brown, Brown United Staging
Lyle Centola, Production Manager
James Chippendale, Doodson Insurance Brokerage
Benny Collins, Production Manager
Jim Digby, Production Manager
Mary Lou Figley, Stageco
Tim Franklin, Structural Engineer
Charlie Hernandez, Production Director
Hadden Hippsley, Production Manager
Ken Keberle
Steve MacFadyen, Pollstar
Tim Roberts, Event Safety Shop, Ltd.
Karl Ruling, PLASA
Stuart Ross, Red Light Management
Roger Sandau, Doodson Insurance Brokerage
Ron Stern, Production Manager