Blog posts tagged data protection

Legislation? For or Against?

I attend all sorts of events, personally and professionally. Inevitably I am asked what it is I do. I mention that I help individuals and businesses ensure their employees are aware of, and know how to apply current legislation when planning and managing an event.

The majority response is “Oh, you mean health and safety. Don’t you think it’s gone too far!” Often this statement is presented with an eyeball roll and a loud tut! 

As my first blog with Marketing Donut, I thought I would take the opportunity to answer that question here.

The laws affecting events are not just health and safety. Clearly, that subject matter is the most high profile, followed closely by data protection but it also includes copyright, licensing, working time regulations and so on.

So, has legislation gone too far?

I have been working in events since the eighties. I have witnessed incidents and accidents (mainly) during set-up and break-down that should have been avoidable. It is only because of the response of emergency services that I was not witness to a young man dying.  And that image has stayed with me for more than 20 years.

I know of at least six serious vehicle crashes that were probably caused by tired drivers who had been working all day and were then required to drive hundreds of miles to get home. And I know someone who got run over by a portable toilet on a show site!

I have witnessed delegate lists, including passport details, being thrown into a bin. And have seen copyright laws broken again and again.

I also know that in the nineties insurers were setting aside huge sums for injuries to event visitors. Around £5,000 if someone tripped and bruised their rear, between £15,000 and £25,000 for a knock to the head and up to £250,000 for a serious limb break. Insurance premiums went sky-high for the whole industry. Thankfully, the insurers started fighting back so the payouts now are more realistic.

So what has legislation made happen that was not being done before? For those that run their business without applying the laws, it has done nothing. These individuals assume the responsibility belongs to another person. They clearly do not believe anything untoward will ever happen, and if it did it wouldn’t be their fault.

If you are a business owner, don’t just purchase a folder full of policies and file it away. Get hold of the information and work out how it can benefit you and your business. Ensure all of your employees understand and embrace it too.

And what if you don’t? Keep your fingers crossed. Carry your lucky rabbits foot. Hunt around for that four leaf clover. And hope that you, your employees, your suppliers, your clients or members of the public don’t have an accident at your event.