Richard Bate looks at climate risk and the challenges climate change(s) pose for our events. Richard is Vice President as well as a Chartered Fellow of IOSH. He has been involved in Health & Safety for over 20 years and has a particular interest and specialisation in sustainability. He spent over 6 years working with Formula E in various senior safety roles and now runs his own consultancy business, Intuition Strategic Consulting.
NOTE – Richard provided an updated version of this article within approximately 2 hours of it being initially published. What you read below is that updated version.
How extremes of weather are impacting live events and sports
With over 30 years of experience working in the live events sector, I always highlight mitigations for extreme weather events in Event Safety Plans. The pressing reality of climate change is rapidly altering global weather patterns, with the frequency and severity of extreme weather events projected to escalate. The high winds and rain that affected this year’s Leeds Festival is a pertinent example..
The weather we faced in the past is not a reliable indicator of what we will experience in the future – extreme weather events are likely to be more severe than we have previously encountered.
While working in Dubai in April this year, we experienced a once-in-a-lifetime weather event. Dubai witnessed a record-breaking rainfall of 250mm in a 24-hour period: the flooding caused by this rainfall resulted in 20 deaths across the UAE.
But it was not just the rain: winds gusting in excess of 90kph lifted temporary structures weighing several tonnes, smashing them like matchwood.
We must accept that these events are now far from unique and quickly becoming the new normal
In my experience periods of extreme heat, thunderstorms, lightning, flash floods, hail, tropical storms and high winds are more commonplace.
Workers in the events sectors are often subject to working in high temperatures.
We have found ways to mitigate the risk associated with heat-related sickness, but there are many other factors to consider, including UV radiation, air pollution and insect-borne diseases.
In July of this year, my team experienced 40 degree temperatures in Budapest, forcing us to change to night-time work. While a reasonable mitigation for the high temperatures, working at night brings with it attendant welfare concerns, which also need to be managed.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Global Strategy on OSH 2024-30 highlights that OSH concerns related to climate change should be positioned high in our risk management strategies.
Challenges
Climate change presents significant challenges to worker safety and health globally.
Numerous health conditions are linked to climate change, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, and mental health disorders. As climate hazards evolve, legislation will need re-evaluation or new regulations.
Personally, I think it is crucial we integrate OHS into climate policies and incorporate climate concerns into OSH practices. Enhanced research is required in critical areas, including AI weather pattern prediction and effective real0time accessible weather data.
However, the most crucial element in addressing climate-related risks is collaboration – all stakeholders must unite to develop and implement climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.
Extreme weather events are so commonplace that we must mitigate risks to identify and prioritise hazards that could affect our workforce.
Historical data, climate projections, risk maps, and vulnerability assessments to determine the frequency, severity, and impact of different weather events must be included in our event and crisis management planning to protect our people effectively.
Related Content
Richard contributed to our #EventInsights Webinar Series with this great session entitled ‘Sustainability in Events‘.
Check out these other posts dealing with events:
Bad Weather – How it Impacts our Events