Event Safety Planning: Barriers, Cable Management and Traffic Control Checklist

Whether you're running a small community event or a large-scale festival, getting safety equipment right is non-negotiable. This checklist covers the key barriers, cable management and traffic control equipment needed for safe UK events, aligned with the Purple Guide (the Events Industry Forum's event safety guidance).

Before You Start: Key Licences and Approvals

• ☐ Premises licence or Temporary Event Notice (TEN) from local authority
• ☐ Road closure Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) if closing public roads
• ☐ Landowner permission for all site areas
• ☐ Public liability insurance (minimum £5m, larger events £10m+)
• ☐ Event management plan (EMP) submitted to safety advisory group (SAG)

Perimeter Barriers

Perimeter barriers control who enters and exits your event site.

• ☐ crowd control barriers: calculate perimeter ÷ 2.2m per panel = panels needed
• ☐ Barrier gates: minimum 1 per 2,000 expected attendees for emergency egress
• ☐ Entry/exit points clearly separated
• ☐ Disabled access gate minimum 2.4m wide
• ☐ Emergency services access point minimum 5m wide, clearly marked
• ☐ Vehicle exclusion barriers if event adjoins public roads (HVM if required)

Internal Zone Separation

• ☐ Stage barriers (front of stage): load-rated for expected crowd density
• ☐ Pit barriers with egress points for first aid extraction
• ☐ VIP/hospitality zone separation
• ☐ Backstage vehicle/pedestrian separation
• ☐ Restricted area signage and barriers for generators, fuel stores

Cable Management

Trailing cables are one of the most common event trip hazards. Plan every cable route before the event.

• ☐ Site plan with all cable routes mapped
• ☐ cable ramps at ALL pedestrian crossing points (use vehicle ramps for vehicle crossings)
• ☐ Cable ramps colour-coded: yellow for general, red for high-voltage where possible
• ☐ End caps on all cable ramps
• ☐ Overhead cable routes used wherever possible (reduces ground-level cables)
• ☐ Generator cable feed routes agreed with power contractor before site build
• ☐ Spare cable ramps in site stores for additions during event

Traffic Management

• ☐ Traffic management plan (TMP) for public road access routes
• ☐ TTRO in place for any road closures
• ☐ Chapter 8 signing for any works or closures on public highway
• ☐ Marshals at all vehicle access points
• ☐ Speed bumps or temporary humps at 15 mph for on-site vehicle routes
• ☐ Vehicle route separation from pedestrian areas (barriers or clear signage)
• ☐ Disabled parking bays near accessible entrances
• ☐ Emergency vehicle access route kept clear at all times

Signage

• ☐ Emergency exit signs lit and visible from all areas
• ☐ First aid point signs
• ☐ No vehicle access signs at pedestrian areas
• ☐ Speed limit signs on internal vehicle routes
• ☐ Fire extinguisher and assembly point signs

FAQ

Do I need a safety advisory group (SAG) meeting for my event?

SAG meetings are recommended for events with over 5,000 attendees and required for licensed premises events. Your local council's events team will advise. SAG brings together police, fire, ambulance and council safety officers.

How many first aid points do I need?

The Purple Guide recommends 1 first aider per 200 attendees at low-risk events, rising to 1 per 100 at higher-risk events. Fixed first aid points should be clearly signed and accessible to stretcher.

When should I order event barriers and equipment?

Order or confirm hire 4–8 weeks before the event. Popular summer weekends see high demand for crowd control barriers and cable ramps. Last-minute orders risk unavailability or premium pricing.