As eager as the world is to return to…well, the world, event planners in the United States are needing to study a whole new subject. COVID-19 Event Safety 101! Well, maybe the 101 part is just for fun as you read but the truth of the matter is, yes it’s a whole new party.
Navigating the regulations doesn’t have to be a buzzkill but your vendors and clients will expect that you know the guidelines and protocols that have been put in place (varies by state) to ensure event safety. As an event producer/planner/creator (whatever title runs the show), the client, the attendees, and the staff depend on you to cover all COVID grounds.
So, what’s the dummies version of the new stack of event safety rules you ask? Read on.
Event Safety Terms You Should Know After COVID
We all watched with a close eye as updates came in from the CDC and major news channels all throughout 2020. How could we not? It was our bread and butter at risk on top of our health. But who knew that we had more unexpected surprises coming our way as event professionals?
Now that we’re back in business it’s up to event planners in the United States to stay abreast of the essential event safety terms and regulations. That’s why as you map out your event safety plan, you should be familiar with what the CDC and WHO has announced as new developments.
Event Safety Risk Assessments
Assessing risks during your event safety planning will now include considering all health risks. Once you’ve checked with your local state government to see what the most updated protocol is for in-person events, you’ll also want to:
- Confirm the venue’s capacity and policies as it pertains to COVID-19 compliance
- Determine if it’s safer to have less people in-person and more people attending virtually (Hybrid Event).
- Employ contactless registrations and payments
- Consider hand hygiene and ensure that there is sufficient sanitizer and hand wipes throughout all areas where attendees will cross
- Purchase HEPA filters to offer ample ventilation and pollutant-free air
- Offer screening at the event entrance so that typical symptoms can be detected prior to entry
- Check for evidence of vaccination from all staff and guests
People want to get back out there and attend events, but it’s up to the event professionals involved in their experience to have an event safety plan.
How to Securely Serve Food at Events
As we mentioned above, regulations vary by state, which means you must start with learning what your local and state government requirements are. Then consider:
- Limiting the number of in-person attendees (wherever possible)
- Create a floor plan of the venue so you can design a spacious layout for the food
- Continuously clean surfaces throughout the event
- Offer sanitizer and hand wipes throughout the entire event (picture a sanitizer waitress walking around and offering a fix)
- Serve all food with disposable food gloves
Ready for “the new normal” in event planning? Join us at The Event Planner Expo where you’ll get to learn about all of the new developments in the events industry.
