Feature
The power
of people
Europa Showfreight operations
manager Paul Brady calls for
industry-wide standards on
looking after logistics staff
L
ike everything else, the world of
exhibitions is continuously evolving.
Every month we learn that a venue is
expanding or an organiser is announcing
a new partnership.
Regulations are constantly changing
and new ground-breaking improvements
are being introduced; the emergence of
low emission vehicles, shipment track
and trace, ANPR, hybrid forklift trucks,
electronic signature capture, completely
paperless operations and invoicing – to
name but a few.
We’re excited to introduce all of these
more technologically advanced and
sustainable ways of working, but we must
not forget the backbone of the event itself
– the people who bring it all together. The
forklift drivers, stand contractors, floor
walkers, carpet fitters and catering teams
are all fundamental components to the
success of this industry.
Aside from all of these recent
improvements, it’s the people that
determine the success of an event. They
need to be valued and protected from the
numerous health and safety hazards and
risks that any event brings.
Even with the developments in
technology and improved systems, a busy
exhibition hall during build-up and break-
down is still an extremely dangerous
environment to work in.
An average build-up setting includes
articulated lorries moving around the
perimeter of halls, after-dark unloading/
reloading, electric pallet trucks
manoeuvring in between half-built
stands and even heavy lifting machinery
and power tools being used alongside
pedestrians.
All of this, added to the backdrop of
frantic exhibitors making last minute
changes to their products and stand
displays, naturally creates a high-risk
environment.
Although this stereotypical scene
is somewhat unavoidable, it becomes
crucial in these situations that as
industry professionals, we endeavour to
control the risk we are presented with
to the best of our ability. At Europa
Showfreight we see it as our duty to
provide the relevant health and safety
information, instruction and training for
all staff.
We pride ourselves on performing
rigorous risk assessments whether it is
site-based dynamic assessments or a
briefing with our client before the show
to understand their needs and mitigate
risks.
We equip our site teams with the
correct task-based training including
guidance of safe systems and processes,
suitable and sufficient PPE and regular in
depth ‘tool-box talks’.
Alongside the visible risks, we naturally
move onto the increasingly talked about
issue of mental health and well-being.
The very nature of our industry means
staff can often be placed into high
pressured, fast-paced environments with
strict deadlines and standards.
Of course, some work-related pressure
is normal and many become motivated
in this environment but not everybody
has the same ‘tipping point’. Therefore,
as employers I think we have a certain
responsibility to empower our site
managers with the relevant health and
wellbeing knowledge, as well as provide
confidential support for all staff.
At the risk of stating the obvious, all
of these measures to protect our people
must be considered standard practice for
all businesses, particularly in our case,
those working on site at an exhibition
centre. In order to ‘look after our own’,
we must set our own industry standards –
working smarter and more professionally
than ever before to not just deliver
successful events time and time again
but to ultimately create a safe working
environment for all involved.
October — 35