Event Safety Council Re Opening Guidelines Version 1
Event Safety Council Re Opening Guidelines Version 1
Event Safety Council Re Opening Guidelines Version 1
2. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 2
3. BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................................... 4
11.1 DECONTAMINATION............................................................................................................................................... 42
11.2 DISINFECTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 43
11.3 SANITISING HIGH-TOUCH AREAS ...................................................................................................................... 44
By understanding the requirements of the national state of disaster declared in South Africa regarding
the exposure and infection of COVID-19, including understanding the Regulations and Directions
governing the national state of disaster, we as an events industry recognise the necessity for health and
safety precautions to be taken at the events we host. We understand the need for assessing the risks
associated with exposure to COVID-19 and we understand the importance of providing prevention and
control measures against exposure.
We understand the control measures needed, that they be consistent with the overall national strategies
and policies, recognise global best practice in minimising the spread of COVID-19, thus, protecting
workers, staff, attendees and the public whilst attending events.
The South African event community understands that events and gatherings have a direct effect on the
transmission of COVID-19 from person to person. By developing and adopting best practises guidelines
throughout the events industry as a whole, we believe will provide a level of comfort to the Government
of South Africa and the South African public that reasonably practicable processes are in place to protect
persons against the spread and exposure to COVID-19 at events.
The aim and scope of the Re-Opening Guidelines is to provide COVID-19 specific processes and protocols
that should be followed in planning and hosting an organised event gathering in South Africa.
We are confident that the Re-Opening Guidelines will provide for a health and safety prevention
framework for event organisers in assessing its current public health capabilities and meeting the
requirements for enhancing health practices in terms of preventing and responding to COVID-19.
This framework provides considerations to be taken into account when establishing plans, processes and
structures for managing incidents that threaten health and safety. Regardless of the size, nature and
complexity of the event and venue, these Guidelines provide planning resources to assist in improving
health protection, preparedness planning, prevention, detection, contract tracing and control of public
health threats.
Having industry specific guidelines on how to reopen the events industry is crucial.
The Event Safety Council (ESC) is a special interest group within the South African Communications
Industries Association (SACIA) that represents industry professionals active in the event health and safety
industry across Southern Africa. It is tasked with developing these Re-Opening Guidelines on behalf of
the South African Events Council (SAEC).
This is truly a collective effort in developing a set of guidelines representative of the entire
events industry of South Africa.
The Event Safety Council undertakes to develop a strategic vision for the event health and safety
community by promoting a “safety first” philosophy within the events industry by:
Establishing task groups to address health and safety issues within the events industry;
Develop and award professional designations based on health and safety competence, skill and
knowledge within the events industry in Southern Africa;
Develop industry practises and norms to inform, educate and drive best practise principles based
on health and safety within the events industry of Southern Africa.
The ESC, through SACIA, have been working with global partners in drafting global Re-Opening Guidelines
in the safety and prevention against exposure to COVID-19 at events and as an affiliate of the Event
Safety Alliance (ESA). By collaborating with ESA and similar bodies around the world it ensures that
international best practices are embedded within the local events industry. The ESC has adopted and
aligned with the protocols published in the Event Safety Alliance Re-Opening Guidelines and applied
these to the South African Events environment.
The ESA based in the United States is dedicated to promoting “life safety first” throughout all phases of
event production and execution. Furthermore, the ESA strives to eliminate the knowledge barrier that
contributes to unsafe conditions and behaviours by teaching global good practises and the development
Additionally, by referencing global industry frameworks such as World Health Organisation (WHO), The
Global Association of Exhibition Industry (UFI), Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA)
among others, we have adopted international best practises in providing a practical guide for the South
African events environment.
These Re-opening Guidelines have also taken into account current legislation governing South Africa, the
Regulations and Directions that have been issued regarding COVID-19 by the Department of Cooperative
Governance and Traditional Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Employment and Labour in
terms of the declared National State of Disaster. www.gov.za
In summary, the Re-opening Guidelines have considered global best practises, national legislation
as well as provincial and municipal government engagement which will allow for inter co-
operation between public and private industry in providing best practises in implementing
prevention measures against COVID-19 exposure.
This has been achieved by accessing, reviewing, evaluating and referencing available data to make events
as safe as possible with the knowledge we have gained by using resources such as:
South African Regulations and Directions; www.sacoronavirus.co.za
World Health Organisation (WHO) COVID-19 requirements; www.who.int
National Institute for Occupation Health (NIOH) resources; www.nioh.ac.za
UFI Global Framework for reopening exhibitions internationally; www.ufi.org
Applicable resources from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases; www.nicd.ac.za
These Re-Opening Guidelines have been collectively developed by event industry professionals to outline
key considerations for implementing response and operational plans in the context of the COVID-19 virus.
The four cornerstones for the prevention and control measures are outlined in these Guidelines:
1. Social Distancing
2. Protect and Detect
3. Communication
4. Cleaning and Hygiene
The Guidelines aim to set out methods of assessment for the needs of the events industry, determine the
ability of existing systems to meet these new needs, modify and strengthen the existing systems that fall
in line with COVID-19 requirements.
The document makes provision for guidance regarding prevention, detection, tracing and management
of COVID-19. Furthermore, it considers the broad spectrum of different types of events and the different
challenges associated with the event.
We have identified reasonably practicable and foreseeable health risks against the exposure to COVID-19
and proposed mitigating protection and control measures to minimise and prevent the transmission of
the virus.
These Guidelines are intended to be used by event professionals. The intention is to strike a balance
between providing a simple checklist and steps for low risk events to a fully integrated COVID-19
management system for high risk events and tailoring the solution financially and operationally specific
to the event risk level using the four cornerstones as a basis of managing COVID-19.
The goal is therefore to provide enough information to enable each user to make reasonably informed
and reasonably practicable choices under their own circumstances and risk level. By using the four
cornerstones in managing COVID-19 exposure, being scalable, these guidelines can be applied to events
of any size and nature.
Human Coronaviruses are common throughout the world. There are many different coronaviruses
identified in animals but only a small number of these can cause disease in humans.
Coronaviruses are an extensive family of viruses that may cause respiratory infections ranging from the
common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe
In January 2020, ‘Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2’ (SARS-CoV-2) was confirmed as the
causative agent of ‘Coronavirus Disease 2019’ or COVID-19. Since then, the virus has spread throughout
the globe.
The spread of the disease is thought to happen mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected
person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread according to
the South African Department of Health (DoH).
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the common signs of infection include:
mild to severe respiratory symptoms;
fever;
chills;
muscle pain;
coughing;
sore throat;
fatigue;
tiredness;
loss of taste and smell;
redness of eyes;
nausea or vomiting;
diarrhea;
shortness of breath;
breathing difficulties.
In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure
and even death.
According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) older people, and those with
underlying medical problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to
develop serious ailments, and have been found to be at a higher risk of death.
Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus but bear in mind that asymptomatic people
carrying the virus may not show any signs of infection.
According to the DoH information about the virus, the following can provide protection against infection
from Coronaviruses and many other viruses that are more common in South Africa:
● Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
● If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser;
● Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands;
● Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
● Stay at home when you are sick, keeping a distance from others;
● Cover your cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin;
● Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that have frequently been touched.
How to wash your hands effectively: (Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa)
As an employer one is required to provide and maintain, as far is reasonably practicable, a working
environment that is safe and without risk to the health based on the requirements of the Occupational
Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 (OHSA) specifically under Section 8, General Duties of Employers.
In addition, under Section 14 of OHSA, General Duties of Employees, (these include workers and staff) in
the workplace are required to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves or any other
person that may be affected by their acts or omissions.
Over and above the existing Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Department of Employment and
Labour (DoEL) has issued Directions specifically pertaining to the COVID-19 Occupational Health and
Safety measures in the Workplace (C19 OHS), 29th April 2020.
The purpose of the COVID-19 directives is to stipulate measures that must be followed to protect
the health and safety of workers and the members of public who enter the workplace that may
be exposed to the activities provided by the employer. These include the implementation of
policies and procedures to protect workers and visitors from the risk of exposure.
These Directions outline the employer’s obligation to implement health and safety measures to reduce
and eliminate the escalation of COVID-19 in the workplace. They include developing written control
measures to prevent this exposure.
Under the obligations of OHSA, every worker/staff member is obliged to comply with measures
introduced by their employer regarding COVID-19. The employer in this regard constitutes anyone
employing others in the place of work.
An Event Organiser can be understood to be an employer in this regard and the event site can be
determined to be the workplace and thus the Regulations and Directions are applicable to the
Events Industry.
SASREA provides for the accountability of event role-players, provides for the risk categorisation of
events, provides for control of access of attendees at events and provides for the establishment
of measures to deal with safety and security at events.
Notwithstanding the above, the Local Authority By-laws and event permit processes will continue to
apply as do the South African National Standards applicable to events particularly the SANS 10366:2015
Edition 2.2 for Health and Safety at Events – Requirements.
The events industry puts people at the heart of its business model, we bring people together to do
business or to enjoy themselves, to meet, to learn and to be inspired.
The health and safety of people is, and always has been, a primary concern of the events industry. The
world over, the events industry applies robust health and safety standards which are applied rigorously in
the South African events industry.
The events industry is able to manage the flow of people (crowd flow/crowd management) in a structured
and organised way whether we deal with 1 attendee or 100,000. Our plans include considerations such
as:
Designing routing to the venue;
Arrival at the venue parking;
Public and private transport arrangements including e-hailing;
Registering, access control and screening processes in allowing entrance to a venue;
Movement and migration within the venue;
Using services within the venue;
Food and beverage safety;
Providing Health and Safety planning based on the existing environment;
Providing operational planning whether the venue is small, large, inside or outside.
Managing COVID-19 potential exposure as part of existing protocols is easily added to the event planning
mechanisms.
The Event industry creates marketplaces for entire industries, provides platforms to showcase our abilities
and creates art. Events allows us to network, do business, enjoy ourselves and make meaningful
connections.
Organised events under strict guidelines and protocols will drive economy recovery especially small
and medium size businesses which represent the backbone of every industry sector. Events contribute to
growth and development with significant tangible and intangible benefits.
“ We used the analogy that the economy is a forest, and each tree represents a specific
industry, from automotive to aviation and from finance to pharma. Each tree is
supported by roots: these roots are the events industry. The events industry does not
exist to grow itself directly, it exists to grow other industries. Roots die without a tree; a
tree cannot survive without its roots” . – UK Events industry opinion piece titled Long read: UK
government must publicly recognise events industry: April 2020
The event organiser is responsible for hosting an event as defined by SASREA as any person who plans,
is in charge of, manages, oversees or holds or controls an event or has a material interest in the hosting
of an event. The events covered in these Re-Opening Guidelines are:
Entertainment;
Recreational;
Religious;
Cultural;
Exhibitional;
Conference;
Organisational or similar activity.
(Excluded from the Guidelines is sports activities)
The event organiser by virtue of the above is defacto the employer and the event sites we host an event
at, is the defacto workplace.
As the accountable person the event organiser takes the lead in ensuring the protocols needed to
minimise exposure are reasonably practicable and applicable to appropriate law. The event organiser and
those they assign / delegate / appoint / contract have the role and responsibility in ensuring all the right
people are appointed, in place and monitored correctly.
Although the event organiser is the most critical component in implementing, managing and overseeing
the prevention and control measures needed to avoid the transmission of COVID-19 at the event, it can
only be done in partnership with the venue it uses and the role-players that help make it happen.
We have a shared burden to work collectively in providing, implementing and supervising agreed
measures, sharing the financial and operational challenges in keeping events safe. We are all in this
together.
The lifecycle of any event begins with the decision to do business in the first place.
These Re-Opening Guidelines assume that we all want to reopen as fully and quickly as possible without
unreasonably risking health or safety to people. A government directive legally allowing you to reopen
does not mean you can do so without careful and considerate planning.
The legislation of South Africa may direct your thinking on to get ready to host an event. Everyone has a
legal duty to behave as a reasonable person under the same or similar circumstances.
If very low risk exposure events can reopen without increasing COVID-19 transmission rates, it will open
the door for progressively larger spaces to implement similar measures on a larger scale in a stepped
approach.
Careful decision-making is necessary, as even well-intentioned health and safety measures have
potentially significant unintended consequences. These decisions need to be assessed and the correct
prevention and control measures provided specific to the type of event, the exposure risk profile and
venue to keep people safe from transmission.
Using the 4 cornerstones of prevention, by applying documented and demonstrated measures for social
distancing, protect and detect, communication, cleaning and hygiene an organised event can be hosted
during the pandemic.
As much as we are all eager to get back to work, the decision when and how we can host events must
be driven by a realistic assessment of one’s ability to resume and provide safe operations.
We recognise as an industry that there is no guarantee of an illness or pandemic free event therefore all
content in and related to this document is provided for information purposes and guidance purpose only
as a best practise, and is not intended to supersede applicable legislation but rather enhance it and
provide practical solutions to the challenges our industry faces during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The said provisions are also not regarded as legal advice and the drafters of this Guideline as well as their
representatives do not present this Guideline as same and shall not be liable for any damages, indirect or
direct suffered by any person who utilises this Guideline.
The drafters and their legal representatives of this Guideline shall at all material times adhere to any
regulatory provisions or instructions issued by the Government of the Republic of South Africa and should
any such enactment be in contradiction with the content of this Guideline, such enactment shall take
precedent.
It is indisputable, however, that planning, training, awareness and implementing reasonably practicable
health and safety prevention and control measures are the best ways to protect events and the people
who attend them. We believe these Guidelines will inspire attendees to return to the places where magic
happens.
One issue that can be addressed in these Guidelines is your legal exposure that needs to adhered to and
applied.
For starters, here are some basic interpretations of the current legislation that need to be adhered to and
applied:
The legal name for a claim of personal injury or wrongful death is a “delict.” In a delict case, the injured
party has the burden to prove four elements:
(1) they were owed a duty of care by defendants;
(2) there was a breach of that duty;
(3) that breach was the cause of
(4) the plaintiff’s damages.
• Duty of Care. Taking steps discussed in this Re-Opening Guide to mitigate the risk of illness,
and documenting how you arrived at your conclusions and enforced your new health policies,
will be compelling evidence that you did not breach your duty to provide reasonably healthy
and safe premises under these challenging circumstances.
• Proximate Cause. Any claim stating that someone got ill at a particular venue or event, will
face a significant causation problem. Given consideration to all the people with whom we have
contact with when we leave our homes, all the surfaces we touch, all the aerosols from other
people that we unknowingly breathe in as well as the incubation period for COVID-19, it will
be difficult for most victims to isolate one specific contact as the actual source of illness while
excluding all others as possibilities.
All event attendees and organisers have a duty to conduct themselves reasonably under these
circumstances. The principal of social distancing and use of sanitary practices suitable for a pandemic are
to be observed by all parties at all times.
The purpose of this section of the Re-Opening Guidelines is to provide industry best practises on the
prevention and control measures one should take to minimise the associated risks of COVID-19.
An event COVID-19 prevention strategy should cover the protocols needed to host an event successfully
without spreading the COVID-19 virus between attendees. The strategy should include:
Risk assessment based on the hazard COVID-19 poses;
Provide an understanding the different types of exposure risk along the event chain;
Who may be exposed and how this exposure could happen;
Outlining plans for high risk individuals;
Hierarchy of controls required in line with the Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL)
and Department of Health (DOH) requirements for COVID-19;
Providing key control measures based on nationally legislation and global best practices;
Information and communication strategy;
Training and awareness protocols;
Staff management protocols;
Attendee management protocols;
Cleaning and hygiene protocols;
Venue management protocols;
Safe operating procedures and practices around issues such as load-in and load-out, transport,
food service, waste, etc.;
Roles and responsibilities;
Stakeholder & role-player engagement;
Provide health and safety documentation included in the event safety plan (section 4, SASREA)
in respect to COVID-19 preventative measures for the event.
An employer is required to review and update their risk assessment to cover any changes to the workplace
environment. With the identified hazard COVID 19, it is a requirement to re-assess and re-evaluate the
impact this virus will have on the workplace.
An event organiser is required to carry out a risk assessment outlining the hazards and associated risks to
COVID-19 will have at an event. The risk assessment must cover the people that may be exposed and
infected and how this exposure may happen. Included in the assessment is the control measures that will
be implemented, the persons responsible in the implementation of the control measures and any
additional steps required to minimise the impact COVID-19 will have on the health of staff, workers and
attendees to the event.
These Guidelines recommend that before an event is approved or is presented to the appropriate
authorities, that a risk assessment is drawn up detailing the risk profile specific to the event based on:
1) Very low risk exposure events: When an event has a low or minimal chance of transmitting the
COVID-19 virus and basic principles applied to minimise exposure.
2) Low risk exposure events: When an event has limited exposure and unlikely to expose attendees
to risk and can be easily controlled with adequate and approved planning processes in place as
part of the Event Safety Plan.
3) Moderate risk exposure events: When there is more than likely the probability of exposure to
COVID-19 virus at the event, detailed plans and process are needed to minimise and manage the
exposure risk. These detailed COVID-19 plans should be planned with all role-players making up
the event safety and security planning committee (ESSPC) in approving the health protocols for the
event.
4) High risk exposure events: When there is greater potential of exposure and detailed and rigorous
planning is needed in order to host the event. Planning with the ESSPC role-players is critical in
determining the risks and the measures needed to mitigate these risks and outlining the roles and
responsibilities in curbing potential spread.
5) Very high risk exposure events: When the likelihood of transmission to many people is probable
and requires careful consideration and planning by all role-players making up the ESSPC in
determining the required measures needed in protecting those working or attending the event.
Full approvals processes will need to be in place managing health concerns before the event can
go ahead.
An effective tool to managing the exposure to COVID-19 is control measures which are identified in a risk
assessment process and these should include (FEDHASA Safety Guidelines):
• Job specific risk assessments to identify the risk of exposure present in each work area or activity;
• The specific risk assessments should include all other hazards associated with the work area or
activity, including but not limited to biological, physical, chemical, ergonomic and psychosocial
hazards;
• Identify the relevant controls required to effectively eliminate or control the hazards identified as
part of the work area or activity. The hierarchy of controls should be used as a guideline. PPE must
always remain the last control measure;
• Ensure that training is conducted with staff and workers on the risks and control measures
associated with their duties and responsibilities, and records must be kept.
Each individual organisation or role-player involved in the event supply chain is required to manage their
own COVID-19 risks based on the above.
All prevention and control measures as required by law should be implemented in order to avoid
transmitting or spreading of the virus. Principles of prevention can be viewed as a hierarchy with the most
preferred principle implemented first and least preferred last and is a general best practise regarding risk
prevention. Ideally the hierarchical principles are based on: (FEDHASA Safety Guidelines)
Eliminate or physically remove the hazard or source of the hazard;
Substitution such as replacing something that minimises the risk of exposure;
Engineering controls such as isolation in reducing potential to exposure;
Administrative controls such as changing the process in reducing the exposure;
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is equipment worn to minimise exposure to a hazard that
may cause illness.
Practical steps and measures that can be implemented at an event site include:
Registering to work prior to coming to the event site, completed electronically beforehand. This
process allows for pre-screening and an access control process. This allows for contact tracing of
all workers on an event site and meets the requirements of SASREA whereby each and every
person working must apply for, be evaluated, screened and subject to certain criteria prior to
receiving accreditation in order to work.
Registering to attend the event via technology platform prior to the event so all attendees are
able to be communicated too and contact traced in case of exposure which assists minimising
time spent at the venue registering contact tracing details.
Provide a health symptom check (which may include situational checks) to determine potential
symptomatic cases prior to arriving or work or attending the event.
Having the contact details of all workers and attendees is critical to contact tracing.
Provide hand sanitizer solutions (70% alcohol) to each person entering and exiting a venue.
Only allowing access into the venue if you are wearing the appropriate mask or face covering.
Provide social distancing marker and indicators where required.
Provide signage and awareness at all entrance and contact points.
Communicate event rules, requirements and regulations to everyone entering the venue by any
efficient form of communications. (Email, announcements, screen ads, signage, pamphlets, etc.).
Operational measures that can be applied in an event space to minimise exposure are:
Develop: Awareness of COVID 19 symptoms and procedures to avoid transmission
Mobilise: Response and preventing cases through hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and
individually based physical distancing;
Control: Have a measure in place to find and isolate any cases in the area to protect and prevent
transmission to others;
Suppress: To avoid unnecessary physical contact and create physical distance to suppress the
transmission;
Reduce: To contact the correct authorities if a symptomatic or positive patient come in contact
with other people or enter the venue. Implement procedures covering contact tracing of every
person who might have been infected;
Based on existing legislation, each organisation is required to appoint a compliance officer responsible
for the organisations risk assessment and implementation of the control measures. The compliance officer
should have the knowledge and awareness to be able to coordinate and implement the control measures
needed.
The person will be responsible for communication of the risks, control measures and procedures that need
to be implemented. The person should ensure that all documentation is updated and modified when
required.
In the event chain, the determination of who the compliance officer will be, needs to be determined by
the roles and responsibilities delegated for the event and negotiated between the event organiser, venue
and role-players.
Note the understanding is that the designated compliance officer appointed for overseeing the entire
event cannot replace an individual organisations responsibility of appointing a person within their
organisation whether they are a venue, role-player, supplier, contractor or stakeholder providing services
to the event. Where possible the compliance officer could represent multiple entities if agreed between
the parties involved.
The compliance officer appointment will need to be included in the overall organisational structure of the
event and added to the required appointments pre-existing in OHSA and SASREA such as the event safety
officer, access control officer, etc.
In order to re-open events, the best approach is to mirror the South African risk adjusted strategy and the
DMA Regulations by defining the risks and this can be done implementing the WHO’s 5-tier risk exposure
system.
By using the 4 cornerstones of these Guidelines to manage the potential exposure to COVID-19, namely:
Social distancing;
Protect and detect;
Communication (including contact tracing);
Cleaning and hygiene
Event organisers and government are able to reasonably grade the risk profile of each type of event
against the exposure to COVID-19.
Using a framework which takes into account capacity and capacity density, ability to social distance and
the level of compliance with these guidelines, it will be reasonably practicable for event organisers to host
events based on the different levels of risk criteria.
By applying a step by step process in determining risk, mirroring the risk adjusted strategy
employed by government, allows for a structured approach to re-opening.
The emphasis is on organised, which distinguishes an organised event governed by SASREA and operated
professionally by experienced people from other types of social gatherings which are not.
Based on the above risk levels, using global best practises and learnings worldwide, applying legislation,
referencing these Guidelines, event organisers are able to apply a risk profile to their event. The risk profile
will then determine the prevention and control measures needed to hold an event in a safe manner that
minimises the exposure to COVID-19.
These measures and protocols can be easily assessed by local authorities, local municipal disaster
management centre, South African Polices Services, DoEL, DoH and relevant role-players in determining
whether the controls meet the risk profile in allowing an event to proceed.
By using existing processes – outlined in SASREA – systems and structures already exist which allows the
COVID-19 strategy to be included in current compliance and oversight.
A very low risk exposure event is when the overall risk of transmission and further spread of COVID-19
in relation to the event is considered very low.
A very low risk event is one with limited capacity ideally below 300 attendees, that can implement social
distancing and other effective measures to ensure a low risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus, and
is held at a suitable venue that manages events on a day-to-day basis.
Using the risk adjusted approach implemented by government, Low Risk Events should be allowed under
level 3 as per the DMAR.
Very Low risk events should have the following compliance measures in place:
Appoint a person in the role of compliance officer;
Provide a risk assessment for COVID-19 exposure determining the low risk profile of the event;
Provide a COVID-19 Strategy for the event including control measures;
Provide health screening processes for staff, workers and attendees alike;
Provide hygiene stations and relevant PPE;
Provide safe work procedures and site rules based on COVID-19;
Provide awareness and training where applicable;
Practice social distancing based on 1.5m between people at all times;
Provide capacity density of 1 person per 3sqm;
Ideally have no more than 300 attendees attending the event at any one time;
Similarly, to a very low risk event, by ensuring that the 4 cornerstones are taken into account with no
compromise in implementing COVID-19 strategies that deal with the identified risks, where the overall
risk of transmission and further spread of COVID-19 in relation to the event is considered low.
Ideally with a capacity below 1,000 attendees, the event environment can be easily controlled where
transmission risk is low. This is done by providing adequate plans, that are reasonably practicable,
approved by the relevant authorities and form part the Event Safety Plan required for low risk events
catergorised by SASREA.
Using the risk adjusted approach implemented by government, events with a low risk profile should be
allowed under level 2 as per the DMAR.
Low risk events should have the following compliance measures in place:
Appoint an event safety officer who fulfills the role of compliance officer;
Provide a risk assessment for COVID-19 exposure;
Provide control measures based on risk assessment;
Provide a COVID-19 Strategy for the event;
Provide an Event Safety Plan as per SASREA;
Provide health screening processes for staff and workers including issuing accreditation;
Provide an attendees screening process;
Provide hygiene stations and relevant PPE;
Provide event safe work procedures and site rules based on COVID-19;
Provide awareness and training where applicable;
Practice social distancing based on 1.5m between people at all times;
Provide capacity density of 1 person per 3sqm;
Ideally have no more than 1,000 attendees attending the event at any one time;
Be hosted in a suitable venue that can accommodate 1,000 attendees based on above social
distancing requirements;
Be able to contact trace all staff, workers and attendees with relevant information;
Communicate prior, during and after with workers, staff and attendees;
Provide sealed meals, sealed beverages and sealed utensils;
Be able to disinfect the venue prior and post the event;
Provide a cleaning solution during the event based on COVID-19 requirements;
Provide a waste management plan based on COVID-19 requirements.
Using the medium risk catergorisation process within SASREA, a moderate risk profile event should be
based on events above 1,000 but under 2,000 attendees where the overall risk of transmission and further
spread of COVID-19 in relation to the event is considered moderate. A moderate risk profile is where it
is likely that the probability of exposure to COVID-19 exists especially if any of the 4 cornerstones in
prevention management are compromised or not easily controlled without careful planning.
Based on the requirements of SASREA, moderate risk events need detailed plans and process developed
to m24inimise the exposure of identified risks. These detailed COVID-19 plans should be planned with all
role-players making up the event safety and security planning committee (ESSPC) in approving the health
protocols for the event.
Under a moderate risk event, social distancing mechanisms and controls will need special attention, the
prevent and detect mechanisms will require additional management steps, rigorous cleaning controls will
need to be applied during event times and communication and contract tracing require a communication
and detailed response plan. Additional resources will need to be provided to prevent the spread of COVID-
19 at the event. With additional resources and plans which can be easily drawn up and managed under
ESSPC oversight and management as is normally the case with medium risk catergorised events (SASREA).
Using the risk adjusted approach implemented by government, events with a moderate risk profile
should be allowed under level 1 as per the DMAR.
Moderate risk events should have the following compliance measures in place:
Appoint an event safety officer who oversees health and safety at the event;
Appoint a compliance officer;
Provide a detailed risk assessment for COVID-19 exposure;
Provide control measures based on risk assessment;
Set-up an ESSPC to manage the health, safety and security planning for the event;
Provide medical protocols by the event medical supplier in overseeing health management at
the event;
Provide a detailed COVID-19 Strategy for the event;
Provide an Event Safety Plan as per SASREA approved by the ESSPC;
Provide health screening processes for staff and workers including accreditation protocols;
Provide an attendees screening process and queue management protocols;
Provide hygiene stations and relevant PPE;
Provide event safe work procedures and site rules based on COVID-19;
Provide awareness and training where applicable;
Ideally have no more than 2,000 attendees attending the event at any one time;
Be hosted in a suitable venue that can accommodate 2,000 attendees based on the below social
distancing requirements;
Provide enforced social distancing protocols based on 1.5m between people at all times;
Be able to contact trace all staff, workers and attendees with relevant information;
Communicate prior, during and after with workers, staff and attendees;
Provide a food and beverage protocol plan that minimises the exposure to COVID-19
Be able to disinfect the venue prior and post the event;
A high risk exposure event can be defined when there is greater potential of exposure and detailed,
rigorous planning is needed in order to host the event where the overall risk of transmission and further
spread of COVID-19 in relation to the event is considered high. Recommend significant efforts to improve
both mitigation measures and reduce risk of transmission.
A high risk event has between 2,000 and 5,000 attendees where social distancing is compromised and is
classified as medium risk under SASREA. Potential of exposure and detailed and rigorous planning is
needed in order to host the event. Planning with the ESSPC role-players is critical in determining the risks
and the measures needed to mitigate these risks and outlining the roles and responsibilities in preventing
and detecting the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
A comprehensive COVID-19 strategy will need to be presented and approved by the event safety and
security planning committee (ESSPC) prior to the event being approved.
Using the risk adjusted approach implemented by government, high risk events could be allowed under
level 1 as per the DMAR if the province in which the event is to be held if say the risk level has been
consistent for a period of at least 60 days and there is no likelihood of the risk level being adjusted
upwards due to a consistent reduction in the number of new cases and the ability of the healthcare system
to manage COVID-19 patients.
High risk events should have the following compliance measures in place:
Appoint an event safety officer who oversees health and safety at the event;
Appoint a compliance officer and additional staff to manage COVID-19 strategy;
Provide a detailed risk assessment for COVID-19 exposure;
Provide control measures based on risk assessment;
Present the comprehensive COVID-19 strategy before the ESSPC provides approval to hold the
event;
Provide medical protocols by the event medical supplier in overseeing health management at
the event;
Provide a comprehensive COVID-19 Strategy for the event;
Provide an Event Safety Plan as per SASREA approved by the ESSPC;
Provide health screening processes for staff and workers including accreditation protocols;
Provide an attendees screening process and queue management protocols;
Provide hygiene stations and relevant PPE;
Provide event safe work procedures and site rules based on COVID-19;
Provide awareness and training where applicable;
Ideally have no more than 5,000 attendees attending the event at any one time;
Be hosted in a suitable venue that can accommodate 5,000 attendees;
Have enhanced capabilities to contact trace all staff, workers and attendees with relevant
information;
A very high risk exposure event where the overall risk of transmission and further spread of COVID-19 in
relation to the event is considered very high, where one cannot implement social distancing but can
implement other effective measures to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
A very high risk event has more than 5,000 attendees and is classified as medium risk under SASREA. The
risk of transmission is high, and therefore careful consideration and planning by all role-players making
up the ESSPC in determining the required measures needed in protecting those working or attending the
event. Full approvals processes will need to be in place managing health concerns before the event can
go ahead.
A comprehensive COVID-19 strategy will need to be presented and approved by the event safety and
security planning committee (ESSPC) prior to the event being approved.
Using the risk adjusted approach implemented by government, very high events could be allowed at level
1 if there are therapeutic treatments in place to treat COVID-19, limited to no transmission occurring and
the healthcare system has sufficient capacity to manage COVID-19 patients.
Very high risk events should have the following compliance measures in place:
Appoint an event safety officer who oversees health and safety at the event;
Appoint a compliance officer and additional staff to manage COVID-19 strategy;
Provide a detailed risk assessment for COVID-19 exposure;
Provide control measures based on risk assessment;
Present the comprehensive COVID-19 strategy before the ESSPC provides approval to hold the
event;
Provide medical protocols by the event medical supplier in overseeing health management at
the event;
Provide a comprehensive COVID-19 Strategy for the event;
Provide an Event Safety Plan as per SASREA approved by the ESSPC;
Provide health screening processes for staff and workers including accreditation protocols;
Provide an attendees screening process and queue management protocols;
Provide hygiene stations and relevant PPE;
Provide event safe work procedures and site rules based on COVID-19;
Provide awareness and training where applicable;
Ideally this will include events with 5,000 attendees or more attending the event at any one
time;
Be hosted in a suitable venue that can accommodate more than 5,000 attendees;
Have enhanced capabilities to contact trace all staff, workers and attendees with relevant
information;
How to Message. With a goal as broad as normalizing and gaining buy-in for new rules, any method
that works is good. Here are a few suggestions:
Marketing staff can use their creative talent to promote health guidance without being
intimidating.
Photos and videos can show attendees having a good time even while following health
rules, such as attractive people wearing stylish face coverings over their nose and mouth.
Storyboards can show how a venue is sanitized so that attendees understand the
process and personalize the workers keeping them safe.
Announcements should be both audible and visual to accommodate people with sensory
challenges and different language skills.
Artists and performers can use their authority with attendees to remind them that only
their full compliance allows the show to go on.
Here are some ways to reach attendees before they arrive at your point of ingress:
Web site for the venue, event, or artist. The more prominently new rules and expectations are
displayed, the more serious businesses appear about enforcing them, which will tend to gain
greater compliance.
Social media channels for the venue, event or artist. As with the web site, the more
information appears on social media, the greater its impact.
Ticket purchasing sites should link to health and safety rules. Online ticket purchases can
require attendees to check a box affirming that they have read and agree to comply with
posted rules, the way we affirm that we are not a robot before making an online purchase.
Emails and push notifications reminding attendees of health rules and expectations can be sent
at regular intervals from date of purchase through to day of show.
Mobile apps are already valuable means of giving attendees directions to the venue, show
times, artist bios, and merchandise options. You can add health rules and expectations to
the information on every attendee’s phone.
Signage leading to and at the event site can be effective as a further reminder, especially if it
is visually attractive and located where attendees are likely to be standing still or moving
slowly. Physical signs are particularly important for ticketless events or where young
participants will be brought by their parents.
Event registration and badge check-in are excellent places to post health rules and model
compliance at conferences or other events where attendees check in. Registration materials can
During the event it is important to continue communicating with your attendees as well as maintain
frequent and transparent communication with all role-players. The distribution of public messages (via
signage, posters, event app) throughout the event will remind the attendees to comply with the COVID-
19 protocols. Announcements throughout the event can also play a role in reminding attendees to comply
to the set-out protocols.
After the event a review to determine if role-player collaborations were effective as well as to report on
incidents identified, and possible recommendations for future planned events should be encouraged.
Event organisers should promote feedback from the attendees through websites, emails, event apps and
social media relating to their COVID-19 experience. This will assist with improving communication at
future events.
As countries around the world gradually reopen, some are using contact tracing to enable health
authorities to track who has been to an event or location if an outbreak flares up. They are then contacted
and instructed to seek medical advice.
This infection control method becomes more effective when testing is widespread, and some societies
are more tolerant of the perceived impact on personal liberty than others, but people who do allow limited
access to their whereabouts may enjoy relaxed social distancing requirements.
In the United Kingdom, for example, the National Health Service is testing a contact-tracing app to help
medics warn people linked to a given outbreak, with the goal of loosening distancing and isolation
requirements for society as a whole. Likewise, Australia is ramping up contact tracing using its COVID safe
app, and South Korea has made track and trace a major part of its pandemic recovery plan. Many countries
will follow their lead.
Similarly, the DoH follows national procedures for COVID-19 contact tracing. Therefore, it is important
that the DoH has the necessary information in order to follow up on persons who may have come into
contact with an infected person.
The event organiser should ensure that they collect contact details of all workers, attendees, role-players
and stakeholders present at the event and keep it on record for use by the DoH should there be a need
for contact tracing. The contact details collected should be consistent with that on the COVID-19
symptoms monitoring sheet in the DoH guidelines for symptom monitoring and management.
Due to the fact that COVID-19 is a transmittable virus with insufficient testing and no vaccine, workers
and those involved in an event must diligently address the health risks of working in the close confines
of many event spaces.
The Disaster Management Regulations (DMAR) requires the appointment of a compliance officer to
oversee the implementation of the COVID-19 plan for the event. This person can either be the appointed
event safety officer or a person monitored by the event safety officer.
Before reopening, each venue or events company must develop and communicate their new health
procedures and requirements, such as social distancing and face covering (masks) requirements. This can
be achieved by the use of email, toolbox talks, virtual meetings or any social media platform. Companies
should be able to provide proof of communication to and awareness training of staff.
Public health guidance stresses that whenever possible, everyone should leave at least 1.5m to the person
closest to them.
All Employees shall maintain a distance of 1.5m from each other at all times. If this is not possible, an
employee shall wear a face shield to work with or workers can limit their exposure by forming a “work
team” in which people routinely work together in small groups, but at a safe distance apart. No physical
contact is allowed between employees.
Frequent hand washing with soap is vital to help combat the spread of any virus. When a sink is available,
workers should wash their hands with soap and water for twenty seconds at least every 60 minutes, and
dry thoroughly with a disposable towel or dryer. As a backup, workers may use sanitizer containing at
least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol when a sink is not available.
Workers should cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue, or an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available,
followed by thorough handwashing.
9.2.1 Gloves
Gloves are not a substitute for regular hand washing. Gloves made of vinyl or similar non-absorbent
material that allows fine motor function without possibility of contaminating the wearer’s hands should
be worn when conducting health checks on workers or attendees when handling food, tickets, or any
items on which infection can be transmitted, and when using cleaning or disinfecting products. Workers
should be trained on the proper use of gloves, including frequency of disposal and hand-washing based
on the worker’s specific duties, to avoid spreading the virus in high-touch areas.
Disposable gloves shall be provided for use as and when required, especially when physical contact is
required between employees, clients, artists, etc. After contact, all staff need to dispose of gloves and
replace them. Staff members should be trained on the proper use of gloves.
9.2.2 Masks
Face masks requirements should be task-specific and include instruction and training in proper use. For
example, workers doing temperature screening may need N-95 or equivalent face coverings when dealing
with potentially sick workers or attendees.
In order to ensure maximum comprehension and compliance, signage posted throughout the venue
should show how to wear and use a face covering as outlined earlier in this document issued by DoH.
The wearing of masks will reduce the risk of persons transmitting or spreading the virus to each other.
Each employee must have at least 2 cloth face masks as per legislation. This ensures proper sanitizing of
masks (one worn at work, one in the laundry for the next shift). In addition, all companies should provide
disposable masks for when needed by employees and visitors. Every employer must ensure workers are
informed and trained on how to use masks correctly.
PPE to minimize the risk of exposure to coronavirus is as necessary, employers should ensure that in
addition to face coverings and gloves, workers have PPE appropriate for their work, and that vendors and
independent contractors provide and use their own.
When entering the venue every employee must be screened for body temperature and checked for
symptoms, ensuring that temperatures are below 37.3°C (WHO). Records should be kept and be accessible
when required.
Every single point of entry into the venue for workers, should be monitored by workers trained and
approved under the compliance officer’s supervision. These workers will conduct temperature screening
using “no-touch” thermometers approved by the compliance officer and perform health symptom checks.
Anyone displaying a temperature on or over 37.3°C (WHO) should be taken to a predetermined isolation
area for a secondary temperature screening which should ideally be carried out by event medical
personnel.
Workers confirmed to have an elevated temperature should be denied entry to the venue and immediately
directed to the isolation area for appropriate medical care.
The following recommended practices for sick workers presume a degree of supervisor oversight and
control over employees that may be difficult with independent contractors. Where possible, companies
should consider incorporating health and safety requirements into their independent contractor
agreements.
The event organisers COVID-19 Response Plan should at least include the following:
If a worker exhibits symptoms of acute respiratory illness upon arrival to work, or becomes sick during
the day, their supervisor must separate them from other workers and attendees and the worker should
immediately be taken to the isolation area. The supervisor should document the circumstances of the
worker’s illness to help with contact tracing, as applicable.
In a case where the employee is already at work, they should be isolated immediately, given a FFP1
surgical mask and the case reported to management that will assist with the arrangements for transport
of the employee to a medical healthcare centre.
The employer shall immediately commence with tracing all people that the employee has been in direct
contact with.
Workers with symptoms of acute respiratory illness associated with COVID-19 should only return to work
after
(a) Home isolation for 14 days since their first symptoms or positive test, and
(b) Medical authorisation.
When an employee confirms that they have tested positive with COVID-19 (reporting is required by law)
the employer is required to follow the procedures set out by legalisation.
The event organiser should cooperate with the local Health Department to determine which other
employees are at risk and what procedures should be taken to ensure health and safety for all employees
at the venue.
The event safety officer can fulfil the role of compliance officer as long as long as this does not
compromise their primary event safety function.
There may be times when the event is a low risk event, where it is reasonably practicable that the event
safety officer will be able to fulfil both the compliance officer role and the event safety officer role equally
with neither role nor responsibility compromised.
Where applicable and depending on the requirements to the event and risk profile, a second safety officer
should be appointed to manage event safety specific services (as outlined in SASREA) allowing the
compliance officer to concentrate on the event COVID-19 strategy.
By extension of the event safety officer’s health and safety responsibilities (SASREA) covers all health and
safety related issues and therefore they are key to ensuring the requirements of the compliance officer
role is fulfilled at the event.
The event COVID-19 strategy, procedures, roles and responsibilities required should form part of the
Event Safety Plan developed by the event safety officer. As such the event safety officer must ensure all
operational measures, protocols and practises for reducing COVID-19 transmission are developed and
implemented accordingly.
The event safety officer should ensure that none of the COVID-19 protocols interfere, restrict or limit basic
emergency evacuation procedures at entrances and exits and provide the following:
Oversee the compliance officer and ensure that key control measures for the venue and event are
in place.
Support the compliance officer and ensure that all COVID-19 protocols have been implemented, in
place and that none of the measures negatively influence any emergency planning.
As per current legislation, the event organiser should designate in writing a COVID-19 compliance officer
who should oversee the:
Implementation of the COVID-19 strategy.
Adherence to standards of hygiene and health protocols on the event site.
Develop measures to ensure the event site meets the standards of health protocols, social
distancing measures for workers, staff and public.
The COVID-19 strategy should contain the following information:
10.1.3 Security
Security including the appointed access control officer and deployed event security officers will, in
combination of their role (SASREA) execute standard operating procedures in relation to minimising
COVID-19 transmissions. The enforcement of social distancing, “no touch” ticket scanning and attendee
temperature screening as well as movement of attendees to designated isolation zones areas will form
part of their responsibilities.
The access control officer should oversee and ensure implementation of COVID-19 protocols at
ingress/ entrance and egress/exit points.
Event security officers should be responsible for the implementation of COVID-19 protocols at
ingress/entrance and egress/exit points.
Event security officers should ensure that the social distancing within the queuing system is adhered
to by all attendees or for artists, crew and workers at staff ingress/entrance points.
Event security officers should scan tickets in printed form or electronic copies without touching the
attendee’s ticket or device.
Event security officers as part of their access control function should physically scan all attendees
with thermal temperature scanning devices (or monitor free-standing devices) at all
ingress/entrance and egress/exit points.
Should the attendee register a temperature reading 37.3°C (WHO) or higher, an immediate second
reading should be done. If the higher reading is confirmed with second scan, the attendee must be
moved to the isolation area for further observation and questioning. The attendee should follow at
a safe distance on no closer than 1.5m from the event security officer/steward or usher to the
isolation point.
Event Medical staff appointed for an event should be deployed in a supportive role to event security
officers in executing COVID-19 protocols in minimising COVID-19 transmissions. For events that are a
very low risk and do not need the deployment of medical staff at the event, they should have access to
medical advice.
Medical staff on duty for the event should assist in the re-screening of attendees when increased
temperatures are detected, conducting the screening questionnaire and final screening of attendees prior
to prohibiting them from entering the event as a precautionary measure.
The medical staff deployed should support and assist in implementing the COVID-19 protocols at
ingress/entrance and egress/exit points.
Existing event medical staff should be deployed at the ingress/entrance points to assist security
officers during ingress and be called to the isolation point with attendees that have registered a
temperature 37.3°C or higher via the thermometer and need a secondary assessment.
Ideally the on duty medical staff member should provide a secondary scan and assessment of the
attendee with an alternative thermometer. Should the assessment be within acceptable levels, the
attendee should be escorted back to the ingress/entrance point for searching and ticket verification
processes and allowed access.
The elevated temperature reading should not be the only reason for the prohibition of an attendee
entry to the event. The medical staff member should complete a symptom check and questionnaire
based on the DoH requirements. Should the attendee answer positively to any of the COVID-19
symptom questions the attendee should be prohibited entry to the event.
The VOC must be advised immediately and response protocols enacted.
All stewards, volunteers and ushers deployed will assist in implementing the COVID-19 protocols
at ingress/entrance and egress/exit points.
Tasking might change for stewards, volunteers and ushers with social distancing, capacity
management, queue and aisle control.
Once an attendee arrives at the venue prior to presenting their ticket and being screened, there should
be hand sanitiser available for them. Once the attendee has passed the screening and access control
process, once again at the venue entrance there should be a further hand sanitiser station or options for
hand washing. The compliance officer should appoint hand sanitiser stewards, volunteer or ushers where
needed to ensure that all attendees make use of these services prior to entry.
Furthermore, hand sanitiser stations or wash stations should be provided throughout the venue, well-
marked and visible. These stations should allow no-touch activation if reasonably practicable. Cleaning
supervisors must regularly confirm there are adequate supplies of hand sanitisers and that they are refilled
if empty.
To ensure that attendees observe social distancing when leaving or returning to their vehicles, parking
security officers and stewards can monitor and enlarge spaces between vehicles if needed especially when
there is a mass ingress or egress to and from vehicles. Pre-paid parking should be considered to minimise
contact at the venue.
Event organisers should consider ways to schedule staggered ingress if possible, in order to minimise
queues for screening checks, search procedures and registration or ticket scanning. Virtual or technology
pre-screening processes could be a solution to providing express queues to alleviate mass queuing.
Consider the following to spread arrival time and manage demand at the entrance.
Events with a specific start time could schedule attendee arrival times.
During the ticketing process, attendees could select their ingress time and location, which can be
coordinated with public transportation, provided transport or e-hailing vehicles.
Additional space may be required to accommodate longer but less densely packed queues waiting to
enter the venue.
How Much Space. In a 1.5m social distancing model, up to 3sqm per groups of people residing in
the same household may be necessary.
Where to Queue. It is important to separate pedestrians from vehicle traffic, and to preserve room
for other pedestrians to pass. This will present challenges in urban settings or where space outside
the venue doors is limited. Venues whose entrance is in built up areas may need to arrange with
neighbouring properties and local authorities to allow early-arriving attendees to wait in designated
areas. If an ingress queue consistent with social distancing would cause the line to extend into a
road or pedestrian walkway, consult with local authorities to determine where to safely queue
attendees whilst preserving emergency access.
How to Queue. The line waiting to enter can be managed using common methods such as lines
marked on the ground, rope and stanchions, fencing, in combination with staff who provide
information about anticipated wait time and ingress procedure including the enforcement of social
distancing protocols. The area where attendees wait should have signage showing the event’s
health rules, including social distancing guidelines and face covering requirements.
As part of the COVID-19 strategy, an access control plan should be developed outlining the steps that will
be taken in managing access into the venue from ticket or registration verification, accreditation,
screening, searching criteria, etc.
Each event will have its own specific access control requirements depending on the type of event, nature
of the audience, event risks which in turn will direct the protocols needed specific to the event.
At the venue perimeter, an event security officer or designated person wearing a face covering, gloves,
and additional PPE if necessary, who has been approved by the compliance officer, should take the
temperature of every attendee and conduct a brief visual screening for observable symptoms of fever or
infection.
This document does not make a recommendation regarding a specific type or style of thermometer, only
that it be compliant with your applicable requirements of screening regulations. Cost and efficiency of
devices can vary widely, so each venue or event operator should make a decision that is reasonable under
their circumstances.
The compliance officer should develop the health symptom questions and evaluation criteria in
consultation with a qualified medical person that cover the regulations issued and outlined in this
document.
Where the risk profile of the event requires a search procedure of attendees, walk-through
magnetometers are effective at detecting prohibited items that are metallic while allowing security
workers to maintain social distance.
Hand held metal detectors checks are a less costly alternative which still allows no-contact metal
detection; however, they require the security worker to be closer than 1.5m from the attendee, and
therefore less optimal from a health perspective. Training and awareness processes should be applied and
relevant PPE worn.
Pat-downs are obviously the least sanitary searching procedure and should be applied when someone is
suspected of carrying prohibited items. The person providing the ‘pat down’ search should have an N-95
or equivalent face covering, consider additional PPE and sanitise their hands frequently.
Where the risk profile requires bag searches, it is important that even during a pandemic, it remains
important for security reasons to keep prohibited items out of the venue. In order to avoid touching
attendee’s personal items, event organisers may wish to enforce a small clear bag policy in which
attendees open their own bags for inspection.
The searching of bags by means of 50cm long searching sticks will have the benefit of not touch bags
or sides.
Paper tickets and cash require physical contact between attendees and workers that can be avoided at
many events.
At ticketed events, tickets can be made available in advance and made online only which allows for
enhanced contact tracing. Electronic tickets can be scanned by ticket-takers wearing face coverings
(masks) and gloves, or attendees could check themselves in at self-service kiosks outside the health and
security screening area.
10.2.5 Intervals
Ultimately shorter shows with no intervals will be the ideal solution, however this may not be practically
possible or reasonable to achieve. The path of least resistance will be the best depending on the venue
and the event layout.
Intervals present the same social distancing challenges as ingress and egress, with the distinction that
some attendees will remain seated and attendees are prone to mulling around or congregating in
smoking areas.
Even with fewer people attending events during the early phase of reopening, intervals may have to be
longer than before to allow time for socially distanced attendee movement. Attendees will not be allowed
to congregate inside or outside toilets or in lobbies or around food and beverage stations. Hand sanitisers
should be available in these areas.
To alleviate congestion, special food and beverage points can be strategically placed to minimise queue
build up and quicker service. Staff members attending these stations should serve the attendee instead
of allowing the attendee to cater for him/herself.
Using one-way systems inside the venue for movement will alleviate congestion and allow for easier
management and control of social distancing and queue management. This system should eb clearly
marked and illuminated if required.
The ticket office or information centres are often protected by glass partitions. Where there are no physical
barriers between ticket or information staff and the attendee, a clear protective shield is recommended.
Attendee social distancing can be preserved by opening fewer windows and marking appropriate queuing
space.
On-site ticket purchase and/or pickup can be eliminated for events that accept only electronic tickets by
advanced purchase.
New health screening measures may require adaption for persons with disabilities. For example, deaf
attendees who read lips may require screening from a worker wearing a clear face covering or one with a
see- through window over their mouth.
An event space that reduces points of ingress or egress must ensure continued accessibility.
Venues that temporarily reduce capacity should confirm that they still offer enough accessible seating,
including companion seats, to comply with disability requirements. Attendees whose disability makes
them unable to wait in a long line may need a more expedited access procedure.
In order to remain compliant with applicable laws and provide reasonably accessible events for all
attendees, these Re-Opening Guidelines recommend consulting with advocates for persons with
disabilities.
The term psychosocial refers to the psychological and social factors that influence mental health such as
worker and attendee stress and anxiety.
Ensure that good quality communication and accurate information updates are provided to both workers
and attendees.
Furthermore, that workers are trained and aware of this information and are able to communicate
effectively to attendees. Communicating with attendees that is clear and concise, done so with empathy
and understanding (with firmness when required) will always alleviate any fears, concerns or anxieties
attendees may have.
In relation to worker mental health impact staff, rotate workers between higher-stress and lower-stress
functions (ensuring they have adequate training). Partner inexperienced workers with their more
experienced colleagues. The buddy system helps to provide support, monitor stress and reinforce safety
procedures.
Ensure that staff are aware of where and how they can access mental health and psychosocial support
services and facilitate access to such services.
Managers and Supervisors are facing similar stresses to their staff and may experience additional pressure
relating to the responsibilities of their role. It is important that the above provisions and strategies are in
place for both staff and managers, and that managers can be role-models for self-care strategies to
mitigate stress.
Social distancing likely requires that egress be managed the same way passengers exit an airplane at the
end of their flight. After events that have a definite end such as concert, conferences, shows, attendees
nearest the exits should leave first, by row or section, in order to clear space for attendees’ further inside
to follow.
This will require security, stewards, volunteers and ushers to assist with egress management and ensure
that attendees understand the procedure and comply with social distancing requirements until they are
in their vehicles or otherwise outside the venue.
The need for social distancing creates significant challenges when planning to evacuate people during an
emergency. Where attendees might be told to take shelter, such as at an outdoor event due to a forecast
of severe storms, the area of shelter must be able to accommodate the number of people while
maintaining 1.5m between unrelated groups.
Likewise, if attendees will be instructed to return to their vehicles in an emergency, workers will need
training to manage the egress to avoid the risk of transmission while they leave the immediate hazard.
These may not be significant obstacles for the smaller capacity events that will initially return to events,
but event organisers will have to coordinate with all role-players, including public health and local
authorities on the emergency planning for the event based on its risk level.
Direct contact transmission involves the transfer of infectious agents to a susceptible individual through
physical contact with an infected individual (e.g., direct skin-to-skin contact). Indirect contact transmission
occurs when infectious agents are transferred to a susceptible individual when the individual makes
physical contact with contaminated items and surfaces.
Similarly, the science as outlined in this document, is that when a person who has COVID-19 coughs or
exhales, they release droplets (microorganisms) of infected fluid. These often fall on nearby surfaces and
objects and contaminate the environment. This in turn infects others that touch and breathe in the
droplets if precautions are not taken. Evidence indicates that the COVID-19 virus can survive for hours
and days on certain surfaces (steel, wood, plastic, ceramics, glass, etc.).
Therefore, regular cleaning, sanitisation and disinfecting of surfaces in public places becomes one of the
key public health measures towards reducing microorganisms and the spread of COVID-19.
Sanitisation and cleaning are part of the 4 cornerstones to prevent COVID-19 spread and a disinfection
plan should be developed, implemented and constantly supervised prior, during and after the event.
There is however currently no adequate evidence of the cost effectiveness of air disinfection in outdoor
environments so it is recommended that the methods of sterilisation include surface cleaning and
disinfection including indoor spray disinfection.
11.1 DECONTAMINATION
Decontamination is referred to as terminal cleaning and involves total removal of harmful microorganisms
in a contaminated area rendering the area free from a harmful agent or virus.
Decontamination can protect attendees, staff and crew from the COVID-19 virus that may contaminate
and eventually permeate the clothing, respiratory equipment, tools, vehicles, and other equipment used
on the event site.
Decontamination Protocols
As part of the sterilisation and cleaning plan, decontamination protocols should be developed specific to
the event and venue and form part of the event safety plan which is over and above the general cleaning
operational plans for the event dealing specifically with COVID-19 sterilisation control measures.
Consideration includes:
Determine the area to be decontaminated and the available time;
Determine the decontamination equipment needed;
Determine appropriate decontamination methods;
Establish procedures to prevent contamination of clean areas;
Establish protocols and safe work practises when handling sterilisation chemicals and provide
adequate risk assessments based on the method of operation;
11.2 DISINFECTION
Disinfection is the process of applying a prescribed disinfectant to kills germs and reduce them to minimal
levels on surfaces and objects. Cleaning surfaces with water and detergents first, is an essential part of
disinfection. Appropriate disinfectants as recommended by WHO are:
QAC based disinfectant
Correctly diluted Sodium Hypochlorite
80% Ethanol based alcohol with a 0.125% Hydrogen Peroxide
75% Isopropanol based alcohol with a 0.125% Hydrogen Peroxide
As soon as load-in begins surfaces and objects that are touched frequently, such as the ones listed
below, should be regularly disinfected using approved chemical products.
Back of House Offices, Organisers Office, Dressing Areas, Green Rooms, Production Areas
• Individual office and other room furniture
• Door handles, push plates, doorways, railings
• Light switches and thermostats
• Cabinet handles
• Telephones, computers, other keypads, mouse
• Microphones
• Lecterns
• Backstage and technical equipment
• Waste receptacle touch points
The capacity of the venue should be re-calculated to ensure that there are enough previsions made for
social distancing between attendees. The capacity density in providing social distancing is key to right
correct venue being used for your event.
The re-calculation can be made by means of allocating an occupancy of no less than three (3) square
meters per attendee rather than on a person per sqm standing or 2 persons per sqm seated. Bearing in
mind that recalculating the capacity will require to take into account all obstructions, furniture, set,
concessions, exit aisles, etc.
For standing events capacity determination, a recommendation of 1 person 3sqm which makes provision
for a social distancing of 1.5m between attendees is the ideal situation for minimising exposure. If social
distancing is potentially compromising social distancing, the social distancing protocol should determine
how this will be demarcated and enforced during the event. Attendee engagement is key to managing
this arrangement.
Fixed seating such as auditoriums or raked seating for example, venues should close off seats closest to
the pathways in order to minimise exposure of passing attendees and should start from the second row
of seats and close off seats to ensure social distancing not less than 1.5m as far as is reasonably
practicable.
For venues that have free seating arrangements such as conferences, seated events, it is recommneded
that seats are placed 1.5m apart and once could consider a chequer board design in laying out non fixed
seating.
It is advisable for venues to have their re-calculated capacity plans drawn up and approved by the local
authorities in order to make it easier for event organisers to plan the capacity of their event.
In a venue set-up for exhibitions, capacity of stands should be considered in two options, either by having
fewer stands on the floor, wider rather than deeper stands with more aisle space between rows of stands
as well as wider aisle widths, thus allowing people to meet the 1.5m social distancing requirement or by
providing pre-determined/booked times of attendees to limit the number of person in the venue at any
one point.
Based on the complexity of the layout design and capacity determination of every event will need careful
consideration especially when taking into account the social distancing requirements. It is recommended
that the event organiser consult the venue on the design intended for the venue. The layout should ideally
be approved the venue, event safety officer, compliance officer prior to the local authority submission for
approval.
Venue operational decisions will require a thoughtful balance of competing interests. On one hand, you
want a capacity crowd, on the other, you can invite no more attendees than you can accommodate while
maintaining social distancing and healthy conditions in all areas of the venue. The issues discussed
throughout these Re-Opening Guidelines are intended to assist event organisers strike their own
reasonable balance between those interests.
The following methods can be used to assist in enforcing and assisting in social distancing awareness:
Incorporating a social distancing section into your emergency evacuation announcement;
Repeat announcements (reminders) to keep social distancing over the PA system or via the MC;
Floor markers whether it is dots on the floor, circles painted or taped or other ingenious methods
to remind attendees of the requirements and help show attendees what is expected of them to be
allowed to continue at the event;
Rope barriers or floor markers indicating distance from desks or interaction counters will also assist.
Social distancing protocols developed by the event organiser will need to be presented to the venue and
local authorities for approval including how this will be managed and implemented. It is however
necessary for venues to consider adopting a no mask no entry policy no matter the current legislation
saying otherwise or until the risk of exposure has minimised completely.
12.3 TOILETS
To ensure that a toilet area is not overcrowded, a toilet monitor should be stationed outside the toilet
advising attendees when the toilet is full, manage queue lines and redirect attendees to other toilet stalls.
Within toilet areas, some cubicles, wash basins and urinals should be closed off in order to insure social
distancing. Attendees should be made aware when using toilets through means of visual communication
within toilets and during safety briefings of the following information:
Closing lids when flushing toilets in order to contain droplets;
Washing of hands;
Using of paper towels;
Using of paper towels when opening cubical doors and disposing of paper towels inside the toilet
bins.
Social distancing should be managed at all times on the outside of toilets by means of visual markers and
it is advisable that event organisers through appointed staff inform attendees that there might be
crowding or waiting at toilet areas specifically during high volume periods.
There should be a clear space between the cashier and the client. Hand sanitiser should be available for
the purchaser at the point of sale as well as for the cashier to be utilised on every transaction and
thereafter.
Frequent cleaning and disinfectant of both sides of the point of sale should be conducted as it would be
classified as a frequently touched area. Additional PPE should be considered for the cashier as to his/her
task involves working with closely with the public.
Consideration should be made to provide a POS device per cashier where possible. Separate
arrangements should be made for cash payments and the staff required to handle cash should have the
required PPE. Further consideration should be made in providing shields or barriers between point of sale
staff and attendees.
12.5 MERCHANDISE
Items for sale can be posted on a website or event app that allows for mobile ordering and on-site
pickup.
To ensure that all medical facilities at events are adequately geared for a potential COVID-19 symptomatic
person, all medical staff appointed to the event should have undergone COVID-19 medical induction
safety training prior to commencing work on site. Proof of this training session is required to be kept on
file and produced at any stage.
Sealed COVID-19 emergency medical packs need to form part of the equipment along with an inspection
and inventory list for the medical safety file and the compliance officer should receive a copy to review
before the commencement of each shift. Each pack should also have a unique code on it for record
keeping purposes as well as an expiry date. Should a pack have been opened, all relevant parties need
to be informed and a detailed COVID-19 incident report form should be completed.
A separate dedicated isolation room with medical crew needs to be arranged in the event a potential
COVID-19 patient being identified in order to treat them away from the general medical treatment clinic.
Any medical areas that may treat patients whether they be a clinic or outpost, each area needs to have
relevant signage with social distancing markers and information. Sufficient hand and surface sanitiser
need to be available in these identified medical areas.
Within 24 hours of the event, the medical clinic and medical areas need to be decontamination.
Consideration should be taken to whether sanitisation should occur after each event day.
In regards to attendee and worker isolation areas for a second screening, these should be identified and
designated prior to the event with on duty event medical staff responding when required. It is advised
that the medical service provider provide specific protocols for COVID-19 within their event medical
operational plan.
COVID-19 does remain on surfaces for quite some time; however, it is not believed that one needs to
dispose of the waste as hazardous waste, but workers should treat it as such as it may be contaminated
and cause transmission, especially waste from toilets areas. Additional dustbins should be placed
including marking bins specific to certain waste like tissues or paper waste.
Be advised that all bins should have liners and that bins should not be used without one. The training of
removing the liner and sealing it should be done with all cleaners provided by the cleaning contractor.
This is to ensure the cleaning staff are aware of transmission and exposure to both themselves and those
around them. Training registers should be available in the cleaning contractor’s safety file.
Further consideration should be taken into account in the disposal and segregation of waste such as:
Frequency of sanitation (sewage) disposal
Storage of waste sites
Transportation of waste products
Managing of water quality
Grey water waste systems
Cleaners – frequency of cleaning of waste areas
Consider sustainable practices
Safe service of food and beverages presents many operational challenges, but many are likely within
the ability of even smaller events and venues.
Re-calculating the capacity taking into consideration furniture and servicing stations will establish the
capacity of the area. It is recommended that a table and chair set remain 1.5m apart and that this is
managed constantly.
It will be advisable to have a separate entrance and exit to the food and beverage area if possible. The
purpose for this is to ease congestion and gathering of attendees.
12.8.2 Serving
It is advisable that attendees do not dish for themselves and that the layout of this is either a plated
scenario or attendee facing protected buffet where kitchen staff will dish for the attendee. Provide snack
packs or sealed meals where possible to limit transmission. Consider using packaging that is
environmentally friendly and can be recycled.
Dispenser, coffee and tea stations should also be manned by staff and should be served to the attendee.
This will work as well during intervals and serving of snacks during intervals which will work well with pre-
packed items as a take away.
Consider limiting the menu to avoid time taken on decision making to allow queues to move faster.
Partitions. Where practicable, physical barriers such as clear plastic partitions should be installed
at registers.
Grab and Go. Workers should place requested items on the counter for patrons in order to
reduce touching of food or packaging. For this reason, self-service buffets, even with clear
breath guards, will be difficult and should not be used.
Separate Entry and Exit Points. If possible, send patrons away from the food and beverage
area in a different direction than the way they entered.
With all of these changes, staff will have to undergo intensive hygiene and new operating procedures
to ensure a smooth food flow. They will be the guide and link in managing attendee behaviour in food
and beverage provision. As frontline staff, training and awareness programmes need to be arranged,
registers completed and available for review.
High- touch items related to food and beverage service require consideration and sanitisation protocols,
item to consider are:
Bottle and can openers
Cutting boards
Grill scrapers
Ice buckets
Ice scoops
Knives
Ladles
Measuring cups and spoons
Pots and pans
Pour spouts
Serving spoons
Spatulas
Squeeze bottles
Table tops
Social distancing should also be maintained within this environment. Isolate work stations by means of a
shield where social distancing is not possible. Allow individuals to make use of their own utensils and have
them sanitise it frequently.
Enforce high food safety regulations and kitchen hygiene. Do not let any unauthorised personal enter the
kitchen areas (It is not necessary to re-invent the wheel).
Any such agreement should be mutually supportive rather than imposing a disproportionate burden on
one side or the other – the event organiser wants to know the venue is clean and the venue want to know
the event organiser will not bring unreasonable risk into their premises. Both parties have a vested and
mutual interest in agreeing to the kinds of measures discussed here.
The event management ultimately sits with the event owner or event organiser to which he or she
delegates responsibility defined by an organogram with purpose assignments via their delegated event
managers. Each department head under his or her leadership in turn is mandated to execute their roles
and responsibilities as per contractual engagement as defined by a service level agreement considered
binding according to law specifically when it comes to managing the exposure to COVID-19.
The event organiser is a person of vision, energy, and commitment in a position of responsibility and
authority plays myriad professional roles. The event organiser and his or her teams are often behind-the-
scenes running the event. The event organiser may also be involved in more than just the planning and
execution of the event, but also brand building, marketing and communication strategy.
The event organiser is an expert in the creative, technical and logistical elements that help an event
succeeds. This includes event design, audio-visual production, scriptwriting, logistics, budgeting, and
negotiation and, of course, client service.
It is a multi-dimensional profession. Event management is the application of project management to the
creation and development of festivals, music concerts, exhibitions, events and conferences as outlined in
section 5 of these guidelines.
Event management involves studying the intricacies of the brand, identifying the target audience, devising
the event concept, planning the logistics, analysing all risk assessments and coordinating the technical
aspects before actually executing the modalities of the proposed event.
Post-event analysis and ensuring a return on investment have become significant drivers for the event
industry and therefore, the event organiser should continually assess all aspects and if needed based on
conditions, whether to postpone, cancel, continue or significantly reduce the number of attendees (if
possible) for mass gatherings based on their risk assessment of exposure to COVID-19 at their event. This
should be done in conduction with event managers, event safety officer, compliance officer and relevant
role-players.
The event organiser should develop a contingency plan that addresses various scenarios described in
these guidelines that forms part of the event safety plan in managing the exposure to COVID-19.
Site visits and venue tours for marketing and booking purposes should be replaced by virtual tours to the
extent feasible.
Companies seeking to book a space should prepare to submit a health and safety plan consistent with
these
guidelines regarding the risks particular to their event and the exposure to COVID-19.
A theme should be developed by the event organiser which in turn will then determine the type of space
needed to host the event. Including all mitigating factors attributed to the event which would then be
needed to be assessed before final conclusion and booking can be made.
In order to achieve this preliminary site inspections should look for any event element or aspect of the
event site that might have the potential for concern and thus a comprehensive risk assessment on all
aspects with specific attention to health and safety would be needed before final booking as described in
section 4 of this document.
During all planning meetings the event organiser needs to elicit all possible health or safety hazards
associated with the goods, services and personnel to be used to produce the events. Specifically asking
all contractors and suppliers to identify potential physical hazards and the safeguards necessary to prevent
exposure to illness or injuries.
The performance of an event with a stage or platform or execution of a conference with panel discussions
should now be seen and managed as a close proximity risk.
To this end the fundamentals of knowing and understanding the virus and how it spreads should be not
only be covered as part of the contractual obligations but also part of a pre-event (for speakers and or
performance artists) induction, such as:
Wash your hands often;
Avoid close contact;
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others;
Cover coughs and sneezes;
Clean and disinfect.
The event organiser will factor into their assessments the size of a performance area and allocate
accordingly to ensure physical distancing, together with a delegated stage manager.
The event organiser should have in place all sanitation and pre-caution measures, monitored by the
compliance officer for a performance by way of:
Sanitation stations;
Appropriate ablution facilities;
Green room layouts defining physical distancing;
Safe hospitality practices;
Decontamination facilities for instruments and wardrobe.
The event organiser together with the delegated stage managers will advise and notify verbally, written
and by way of signage the rules of performance at any event such as, but not limited to:
No guests or non-performers will be allowed on or near the performance space;
All supporting staff and management to the performance will agree to the etiquette and practices
as provided.
Any equipment arriving at the venue should be sanitised and or disinfected prior to being unloaded at
the venue.
In addition to face masks, workers should wear gloves when handling equipment and cargo to prevent
surface contamination.
Social distancing applies to workers and staff working in confined spaces, such as inside trailers. Workers
should always wear face masks and gloves where applicable when those do not interfere with essential
work functions, particularly when they cannot maintain social distance.
The general need for distancing should not cause other unsafe working conditions for workers. For
example, if a piece of equipment takes four people to lift, then each worker should protect themselves
from infection to the best of their ability while lifting the load together.
High-touch equipment such as motor controllers, microphones, mic stands, presentation remotes, and
audio/video cable should be sanitised frequently, and equipment should be dedicated to individual users
where possible and sanitised prior to and after each use.
Heavy equipment such as forklifts, boom lifts, and scissor lifts should minimise the number of operators
of each piece of equipment where feasible and be sanitised prior to and after each use.
It is imperative that it is understood that the practices of pre-COVID 19 cannot be continued but by using
the fundamentals thereof can form a foundation which can be used to practice safety and preventative
measures.
A comprehensive health and safety policy which includes dealing with exposure to COVID-19 should be
provided by every contractor including the appropriate level of guidelines on material handling and
relevant training required.
In addition to adhering to the materials handling guidance above, delivery truck drivers should not leave
their vehicle during offloading unless they receive the same screening and follow the same health
procedures as other workers.
To the extent possible, deliveries should be scheduled in shifts to minimise the time workers load or
unload close together. Workers unloading deliveries should change their gloves and wash their hands
between each delivery.
Transport that is provided by an event organiser for an event, operators of vehicles or company transport
involves high risk of transmission of COVID-19 due the fact of close contact between one another whilst
travelling, inadequate ventilation and the time spent travelling.
The Department of Transport (DoT) has provided Directions on public transport, buses, mini-buses,
sedans, e-hailing services, taxi services, chauffer driven vehicles and the provision of transport to others
including hygienic conditions that must be adhered to and steps followed for the limitation of exposure
to COVID-19 by those using transport.
It is therefore imperative to improve hygiene control and disinfection on all transport vehicles and to
follow best practices. Should attendees/passengers display symptoms, the attendee/passenger should
be declined transportation. Furthermore, passengers should be required to complete a questionnaire to
determine the fitness of the passenger under COVID-19 transportation guidelines and for tracing
purposes. The interventions to mitigate this risk involve the following:
Drivers transporting passengers should understand the risks and eliminate or minimise any potential
exposure. Drivers are therefore required to understand the industry’s standard operations procedures
(SOP) and apply them where necessary to commit to safe practices in reducing the risk of the COVID-19
transmission.
Responsibilities include:
When reporting for duty, should be screened as outlined previously in the document;
Wash hands before leaving the site and thereafter sanitize hands at prescribed intervals or when
coming into contact with contaminated surfaces. Sanitizer to be supplied by the Operator;
Minimal exposure between driver and passenger should be encouraged as much as possible;
As in all other public areas, social distancing and capacity limits should be enforced in buses, vans, and
other ground transportation as per the Directions issued by the Department of Transport (DoT). The
Department of Transport (DoT) has set out the specific regulations for vehicle capacities, however each
sector/operator may create their own standard operating practices in line with these regulations.
This for example, entails nine passengers plus a driver could fill a fifteen-passenger van in order to allow
more space between riders. This may require adjustment of existing plans to provide additional vehicles
or multiple trips.
The guidelines set out by the DoT are 70 % loading capacity for buses, ehailing, metered taxis, shuttles,
chauffer and charter services. Regard for standing passengers in buses should be taken into this
consideration. It is further noted that no passenger should occupy the passenger seat.
As set out in the Directions by the Department of Transport (DoT), all owners of public transport facilities
are expected to, at regular intervals to sanitise their facilities and provide adequate sanitisers or other
hygiene dispenser for washing of hands and disinfection equipment for users of public transport services
for the duration of the directions.
Regular cleaning and disinfection of transportation vehicles is critical in controlling the spread of the
COVID-19 virus and therefore stringent cleaning protocols when disinfecting vehicles should be
considered.
On board toilets should be closed for short trips. For longer trips they should be open and sanitised every
two hours.
Sinks, basins, taps and handles should be sanitized after use. Disposable head-rests should be replaced
after each trip and all papers, water bottles, or coffee cups should be removed and discarded. Water
bottles should be unique per attendee.
Portable food and drink containers should be cleaned with surface disinfectant after each use and
thoroughly cleaned at the end of each trip. Food service protocols (i.e. separate snack pack/disposable
cups and utensils as well as sanitizing and surface cleaning apply).
14.5 LUGGAGE
All luggage should be sprayed with a suitable disinfectant spray after off-loading and hands should be
sanitized or washed immediately before and after handling.
The Department of Transport (DoT) is responsible for all matters relating to transport including legislation,
regulations, licensing, etc. and the enforcement thereof. The DoT ensures compliance by all road users to
all applicable prescripts, including vehicles and operators that transport attendees as well as staff. All
transport services including passenger bus services, shuttles and vehicles are required to adhere to the
Regulations issued in terms of Disaster Management Act 2002 (Act no 57 of 2002) and all directives set
out in the schedule to address and contain the spread of COVID-19.
Considerations when dealing with workers and staff, particularly Where outsourced workers are
concerned, the outsource company is required to keep staff records and ensure that their staff follow
all standard operating procedures which includes temperature screening on arrival. Effort should be
made in keeping the same staff on the same shift or team, and in identifying at risk workers for
additional attention. Where a worker displays any signs of COVID-19 or has been exposed to a
confirmed case, they should not travel to work (Section 7).
As outlined in the aim and scope of this document, the intention is to provide information, guidelines,
processes and protocols that will assist the events industry navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Reopening Guideline does not presume to offer legal guidance, medical guidance or opinions.
Rather, it is based on operational suggestions on public health material produced by reputable
authorities and organisations. The Guidelines have further considered guidance written by peers in
related fields or businesses.
The document focuses on key areas around what the virus is and what one should do, takes into account
the existing legislation and regulations, global best practises in providing a set of guidelines that one can
use to manage the exposure to COVID-19.
The steps in the Guidelines are reasonably practicable but do not apply to every situation, if one
understands the outcomes explained around risk assessment and applying this principle of risk mitigation,
this will assist in developing a COVID-19 strategy for your event.
The Guidelines have attempted to define 5 levels of risk that allows us to operate while the COVID-19
virus is prevalent. There are steps outlined in staff hygiene management, communication and attendee
management.
Information has been provided on cleaning and sanitisation, venue specific areas of concentration, event
management responsibilities as well as transport. These guidelines cover the most important areas where
COVID-19 is likely to be transmitted.
This document is not aimed to replace legislation but to enhance it and allow each event organiser and
role-player the ability to developed COVID-19 protocols befitting their event and organisation. If you have
any queries or comments please contact the Event Safety Council by email on [email protected]
Here are some of the publicly available materials we have found valuable, hyperlinked to the source
documents.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC). Water, sanitation and environmentally
related hygiene. Retrieved from:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/etiquette/coughing_sneezing.html. Date of
access: 22 May 2020.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC). Guideline for Hand, Hygiene in Health-Care
Settings: Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
and the HICPAC/SHEA/APIC/IDSA Hand Hygiene Task Force. MMWR 2002;51 (No.RR-16).
Construction Industry Federation, (CIF). Construction Sector C-19 Pandemic Standard Operating
Procedures.
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from: https://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-
index/covid-19/frequently-asked-questions/
Event Safety Alliance, (ESA). The Event Safety Alliance Re-opening Guide for Professionals during
the COVID-19 Pandemic. 11 May 2020.
Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa, (FEDHASA). Hospitality Safety Measures
– COVID-19 June 2020.
Rubix Shuttles & Transfers. Standard Operation Procedures for Preparedness for, Detection of
and Response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus. May 2020.
South Africa. Department of Employment and Labour Regulation (43257). Occupational health
and safety measures in workplaces COVID-19. 29 April 2020. Pretoria: Government Printer.
South Africa. Department of Employment and Labour. COVID-19 Occupational Health and
Safety Measures in Workplaces COVID-19 (C10 OHS). 28 April 2020. Retrieved from:
https://www.greengazette.co.za/documents/national-gazette-43257-of-29-april-2020-vol-
658_20200429-GGN-43257. Date of access: 30 April 2020.
South Africa. Department of Health. 2020. Guidelines for symptom monitoring and
management of essential workers for COVID-19 related infection. Retrieved from:
https://www.nicd.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Guidance-for-symptom-monitoring-
and-management-of-essential-staff-with-COVID-19-related-illness-final-2.pdf
South Africa. Department of Health. Worker Risk Assessment Guide. 17 April 2020. Retrieved
from: http://www.nioh.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/COVID-19-Worker-Risk-
Health Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), U.S. Department of Health & Human
Services (“DHHS”). This web site contains many useful subpages that discuss the epidemiology
of COVID-19 and means of mitigating its risks, as well as an extensive glossary of terms related
to infection control.
World Health Organization (“WHO”), like the CDC web site, provides a great deal of
information about the science of COVID-19, its global impact, the effects of containment
programs, and strategies and plans one might adopt to curtail its spread.
Coronavirus Resource Center, Johns Hopkins University & Medicine, features a COVID-19
global case tracker which is updated daily, news and information from experts, and many
other infection control resources.
The United States Department of Labor (“DOL”), Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, has extensive resources on its COVID-19 web page, including “Guidance on
Food Safety
“Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services
During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” DHHS, Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), April 21,
2020.
“Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19),” FDA web site.
Weather Sheltering
“What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act and the
Coronavirus,” U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
“Coronavirus: How does contact tracing work and is my data safe?” BBC News, May 6, 2020.
“Principles of Contact Tracing,” CDC, April 29, 2020.
“Protecting Lives & Liberty,” Nicky Case, posted April 2020.
EO Event Organiser