Event hosting, whether for a live music festival, a marathon, or a corporate gathering, means managing hundreds of moving parts. In Melbourne and across Australia, what most organisers overlook while planning is proper temporary fencing installation for crowd management. Managing a crowd might seem simple when you have a limited number of guests attending an event. But things can quickly escalate and create safety risks, crowd confusion, or extended delays. That’s why knowing what not to do is equally as important as knowing what to do when organising events.
Mistakes to Avoid When Installing Temporary Fencing for Crowd Control
Choosing the right temporary fencing in Melbourne is only half the battle. The real struggle begins when you have to ensure safe, secure, and compliant fencing. Even minor oversight is enough to compromise safety and lead to penalties and logistical nightmares. So what are the setbacks you should avoid? Here are the most frequent mistakes and ways to avert them:
Mistake 1: Selecting the Wrong Fencing Type
This is perhaps one of the biggest mistakes that event organisers in Australia generally make. Choosing temporary fencing that doesn’t align with an event’s purpose can make the entire setup unstable and make crowd management all the more difficult.
Solution?
Understand the event’s needs when deciding on fencing. For example, a crowded music festival needs super-strong, anti-climb panels, while smaller events like a charity run may just require lightweight barriers to guide the guests to specific locations. It’s important to carefully assess expected crowd size and potential risks before finalising the type.
Mistake 2: Improper Site Planning and Inaccurate Measurements
Many organisers begin installing temporary fencing without assessing the terrain and taking proper measurements. Uneven ground, a sloppy surface, or soft soil can weaken the foundation for the fencing and affect the overall stability. According to Safe Work Australia, failing to plan the entry and emergency exit points and the restricted areas can create confusion and make crowd management challenging.
Solution?
Always make sure to conduct a thorough site inspection before installing temporary fencing. Be precise with the layout markings, and double-check the calculations to ensure you have the right number of bases, panels, clamps, and feet for strong and stable fencing.
Mistake 3: Not Anchoring Panels Firmly
Temporary fencing stands on firm bases to maintain safety and stability. Many event organisers in Australia frequently fail to secure the base safely and firmly, especially with something as strong as weights, sandbags, or bracing, which is important to enhance safety in windy conditions. Loose fencing doesn’t hold up heavy weights and can collapse, increasing accident risks and disrupting crowd management.
Solution?
All bases should be evenly placed, accurately weighted, and perfectly aligned to withstand pressure and sudden external forces. As an event organiser, it falls on you to appoint professionals to conduct regular checks during the event to ensure there’s no compromise with the structural integrity.
Mistake 4: Overlooking Compliance Guidelines and Safety Protocols
No matter what public event you host, you must adhere to the necessary compliance standards. Yet, many organisers knowingly or unknowingly overlook the safety norms to complete the setup in a hurry. Ignoring compliance requirements of minimum panel height, bracing for high-risk zones, distances in public pathways, and locking mechanisms can drastically increase accident risks and result in hefty fines or even an event shutdown.
Solution?
Regardless of the deadline, it’s important to review the relevant regulations. Get the necessary approvals beforehand and make sure your setup complies with the recommended Australian temporary fencing safety guidelines.
Conclusion
Accurate installation of temporary fencing is necessary to ensure an event runs smoothly, there’s safe and well-organised crowd control, and there’s complete regulatory compliance. By avoiding these mistakes, you can create a safe environment for your guests and complete the event without stress. Still, if you need expert-quality fencing solutions, trust AFC Rent-A-Fence for safe installations.