Planning a corporate event? From conferences and team-building days to extravagant overseas incentive trips and festival fun days, ensuring health and safety should always be a top priority.

But don’t worry — keeping things safe doesn't mean your event has to be dull! Follow these light-hearted yet essential dos and don’ts to become the hero of event planning.

The Dos: Your VIP List for Safe and Successful Events

1. Do Conduct a Pre-Event Risk Assessment Imagine walking into an event without knowing the lay of the land. Not on your watch! Conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify potential hazards, from wobbly stages to rogue extension cords.
2. Do Choose a Trustworthy Venue Whether you’re hosting a beachside bonanza or a suit-and-tie conference, make sure the venue is reputable and adheres to local health and safety regulations. Check that fire exits aren’t just decorative, and ensure staff are trained in emergency procedures. Rockitfish can help you find your perfect event space.
3. Do Have an Emergency Plan Even the most meticulous plans can go sideways. Always have a clear, well-communicated emergency plan and point out exits to attendees. Practice makes perfect!
4. Do Keep First Aid on Standby No one expects a mid-event paper cut to take down a department manager. Have first aid kits and trained personnel readily available at your event. It’s like bringing an umbrella on a cloudy day—it only seems excessive until it saves the day.
5. 5. Do Cater to Everyone’s Needs Health and safety is more than trip hazards and fire extinguishers. Ensure dietary needs are met, and accommodate attendees with disabilities. The only thing that should feel exclusive is the VIP lounge, not basic accessibility.

The Don’ts: Avoid These and Stay on the Safe Side

1. Don’t Skimp on Communication Nothing derails an event faster than unclear instructions. Make sure your team and your guests know the schedule, rules, and any safety protocols. If someone thinks the “no running” rule only applies to toddlers, you’ve got a problem.
2. Don’t Underestimate the Weather Planning an outdoor festival fun day? Great! Assuming that light drizzle won’t turn your stage into a Slip ‘N Slide? Not so great. Keep an eye on forecasts and have weather-appropriate plans (umbrellas, shelter, sunscreen, or an ark).
3. Don’t Forget Crowd Control Yes, you want the event to be popular, but make sure you don’t accidentally turn a team-building exercise into a mosh pit. Monitor the number of attendees to prevent overcrowding and ensure a smooth flow of foot traffic.
4. Don’t Neglect Security Measures A check in desk with security coverage may seem like a buzzkill, but it’s better than dealing with an unexpected guest (or an inflatable pool toy that’s gone rogue). Employ professional security if needed to keep things under control.
5. Don’t Ignore Feedback After the confetti settles, gather feedback from your attendees. Did they feel safe? Did they know where to go? Were there enough first aid stations, or did the paper cut cause an uprising? Use this information to improve future events.

Balance is Key

Event health and safety might not be the most glamorous topic, but it’s essential. With the right precautions and a little helping hand from us at Rockitfish, your corporate events can be memorable for all the right reasons. Keep it light, keep it fun, but most importantly, keep it safe. The more you plan, the more you can relax and enjoy the day — without worrying about running out of plasters.