This unit applies to individuals responsible for the development of plans and procedures for the management of large crowds in any industry or community context.

It is particularly relevant in the community, cultural, sporting and tourism sectors where large crowds are a feature of both ongoing and one-off business and community activity.

Development of crowd management procedures in this unit requires the application of significant critical thinking, planning and organisational skills, combined with a detailed knowledge of risk management issues, crowd control techniques and relevant emergency procedures. Those with managerial responsibility undertake this role. The unit is generalist in nature and does not cover the specialised operational crowd management skills required by police or other security experts.

Nil

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1

Analyse risks associated with large crowds.

1.1

Identify and evaluate regulatory constraints and requirements in relation to crowd management.

1.2

Identify and analyse generalrisks associated with gathering of large crowds to ensure the safety of personnel and participants.

1.3

Identify and analyse current and emerging situation-specific risks and assess for their impact on planning.

1.4

Inspect, or organise inspection of, venue and facilities to ensure compliance with legal requirements and facilitate risk assessment.

1.5

Determine need for specialist assistance and involvement of authorities in crowd management.

2

Develop crowd management plans.

2.1

Establishand document maximum limits for admission based on analysis of risks and venue.

2.2

Estimate expected crowd numbers based on historical data and current trends or attendance information.

2.3

Organise or confirm completion of any necessary work to ensure compliance with legal constraints and requirements.

2.4

Determine and document human resource requirement for crowd management.

2.5

Develop plan that minimises identified risks associated with the venue and complies with legal constraints and requirements.

2.6

Consult with and gain input from relevant stakeholders on crowd management approaches.

2.7

Develop evaluation criteria for crowd management plan in consultation with stakeholders.

3

Establish operational crowd management procedures.

3.1

Develop and document specific operational crowd control procedures, including contingency and critical incident procedures.

3.2

Identify critical tasks and allocate responsibilities.

3.3

Undertake or organise preparation and checking of safety equipment according to legal requirements and manufacturer instructions.

3.4

Ensure procedures consider and are integrated with broader management constraints and issues.

3.5

Provide crowd control briefings and relevant information to stakeholders and staff.

4

Establish emergency crowd control procedures.

4.1

Develop and document procedures for managing crowds in emergency situations in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

4.2

Identify and document safety needs of special populations in emergency situations.

4.3

Implement and accurately document required practice drills.

5

Evaluate crowd control plans and procedures.

5.1

Evaluate effectiveness of crowd control, based on agreed evaluation criteria.

5.2

Ensure outcomes of evaluation are incorporated into future planning.

This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

The following skills must be assessed as part of this unit:

planning and organisational skills to develop cohesive operational plans, procedures and systems

research and critical thinking skills to assess risks associated with large crowds, seek information on regulatory requirements and develop appropriate strategies and procedures

literacy skills to develop documents explaining crowd control strategies and procedures

numeracy skills to work with concepts around capacity.

The following knowledge must be assessed as part of this unit:

types of situations that require specific crowd control planning

sources of specialist assistance in relation to crowd control

broader operational issues that impact on crowd management in the relevant work context

technology and equipment used in crowd management

legislation, regulations and industry codes that affect crowd management

specific risk management issues associated with large crowds

resource requirements for crowd management, including financial, human and physical resources.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, the range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

detailed knowledge of the factors influencing crowd management planning and operations

ability to analyse crowd risks and develop plans and procedures for crowd management

ability to determine and organise appropriate resources to address emergency situations

demonstration of skills through development of crowd management plans and procedures for event or workplace operation.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to venues at which crowd management would be required

use of current legal and other operational information on which to base planning

involvement of and interaction with stakeholders as part of the planning process.

Methods of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

evaluation of crowd management plans and procedures developed by the candidate

case studies to assess candidate's ability to develop crowd management approaches for a range of different events or workplace situations

questions to assess detailed knowledge of risks and factors influencing crowd management planning

review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.

Assessing employability skills

Employability skills are integral to effective performance in the workplace and are broadly consistent across industry sectors. How these skills are applied varies between occupations and qualifications due to the different work functions and contexts.

Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the performance criteria is detailed below.

Crowd management may be required for:

ongoing business operations, such as at attractions or performance venues

events, including:

sport events

competitions

community events

festivals

functions

conferences

holiday programs

celebrations

arts events.

General risks may include:

overcrowding

crowd stress

personal injury to attendees

onset of chronic stress related illnesses in personnel or participants e.g. anxiety, panic attacks, asthma, fainting

mob behaviour

fire hazards

inadequate provision for:

protection of participants

protection of performers

traffic flow

areas of congestion

access of emergency services.

Situation-specific risks may relate to:

nature of audience, e.g. youth or elderly people

special needs of audience, attendees and participants

nature of event, e.g. intensity and impact on crowd

venue constraints and capacity

timing, in regard to factors such as weather considerations

event duration and its impact on crowd behaviour.

Venue may be indoor or outdoor and may include:

open spaces

aquatic environments

streets

gymnasiums

restaurants

hotels

theatres

stadiums

arenas

sports grounds

attractions and theme parks.

Legal requirements may include:

fire egress

OHS

risk management

first aid

insurances, including:

public liability

professional indemnity

public liability and duty of care.

Specialist assistance may include:

local authorities

emergency services.

Authorities may include:

local government

state government

emergency services

other industry bodies, including certifying bodies.

Human resource requirement may include:

ushers and marshals

security personnel

on-site supervisors.

Evaluation criteria may relate to:

speed and efficiency of crowd movements

absence of crowd incidents.

Operational crowd control procedures may relate to:

access, including restricted areas, exits and aisles

evacuation

special population needs

first aid set-ups

precise numbers and location of personnel

allocation of duties and rostering

placement of physical elements, such as barriers and staging

communication methods and protocols, such as two-way radios.

Contingency and critical incident procedures may relate to:

equipment breakdown

adverse weather

event staff sickness

potential changes in crowd behaviour

drug or alcohol-affected clients.

Broader management constraints and issues may include:

overall event management structures

specific event objectives

budget

human resources

other staging requirements

factors external to the event.

Briefings and relevant information may include:

location and venue maps

summary procedures

emergency telephone contacts.

Emergency situations may include:

fire

earthquake

bombing

chemical leak or spill

riot

illegal entry

alcohol

drugs

medical emergency

equipment failure

stage failure or collapse.

Sector

Cross-Sector

Event Management

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of employability skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit is packaged will assist in identifying employability skills requirements.