Audiences and Visitors
Assessing the Risk

Audiences and Visitors

Assessing the Risk

The Venue

Ticketing and Licencing

Communication with the Audience

What they will do during the programme

Who they are and the support they need

Emergency arrangements

Security

Programme Activities the Affect on the Audiences

BBC Studios

Organised Visits and Visitors

Common Questions

Key Points

The program risk assessment should be recorded and identify the controls needed as well as allocating responsibilities. It should ensure that there is not a conflict in the tasks that those involved need to carry out, particularly in the event of an emergency.

The factors to consider are:

Who are the audience and does it need to be a ticketed event? Do they include children, young people, the elderly, disabled people?
What will the audience be asked to do? Are they static, seated, standing, mobile, participating, dancing?
How will they be seated? On rostrum, at tables?
What risks are posed by the venue? Stairs, inadequate exits, poor lighting?
Where will the audience be? In a BBC studio, in another venue, on location, within a cordoned area, covered?
Do the arrangements need approval? Seating and evacuation arrangements may need Local authority consent.
What welfare arrangements are available? Light, heat, food and drink, toilet facilities?
What activities may affect the audience? Physical effects - smoke or lighting effects, strobe lighting, lasers or loud noise, equipment above or near the audience, animals, props or scenery, other effects: live transmission, alcohol, programme content?
Who will supervise the audience and who will show them to their seats? Producer, floor manager, audience co-ordinator, stewards, security personnel?
What are the arrangements in the event of an emergency and are roles allocated? First aid, fire, bomb threat, power failure?
What pre performance checks are needed and who will do these? Security checks, cables ramped or flown, equipment secured, evacuation routes clear, exit doors unlocked?
Who will communicate the arrangements in place to the audience, the manager of the venue and those involved in making the programme? - verbal briefing, exchange of risk assessments, posters, information on tickets?
Who will deal with problems presented by the audience? E.g. arrive late, lose their place, lose their tickets, bring equipment or bags with them, are agitated or inebriated, arrive in greater numbers than planned or because of over-ticketing?