In Victoria, Australia, a Place of Public Entertainment (POPE) is defined as any venue or space that is used for public entertainment, such as concerts, festivals, sporting events, theatres, cinemas, nightclubs, and other similar events. POPEs are required to obtain the necessary permits and licenses to ensure that they comply with all relevant regulations and requirements related to safety, security, and crowd control. The purpose of regulating POPEs is to ensure the safety and well-being of event-goers, as well as to minimize any potential risks or hazards associated with public entertainment events. As part of the POPE that requires you to hire a Public Safety Officers

The role of Public Safety Officers for the Place of Public Entertainment (POPE) in Victoria, Australia is to ensure the safety and security of eventgoers at all times. Public Safety Officers are responsible for assessing potential safety and security risks and identifying any potential hazards associated with events or public entertainment. They work in conjunction with other event management staff, such as security personnel, emergency services providers, and event organizers, to develop and implement plans to address these risks and hazards.

Public Safety Officers also help to ensure that emergency services are readily available in case of any emergency during an event. They may also be responsible for overseeing security operations at events, which includes coordinating security personnel, conducting security assessments, and ensuring that all necessary security measures are in place.

Overall, Public Safety Officers play a critical role in ensuring the safety and well-being of eventgoers at POPEs in Victoria, Australia. They work closely with event organizers and other staff to ensure that events are conducted safely and securely and that any potential safety and security risks are effectively managed.

The role of a Public Safety Officer at a Place of Public Entertainment (POPE) in Victoria, Australia is to ensure the safety and well-being of eventgoers. This includes a wide range of responsibilities, which may include the following:

  • Ensuring that all safety elements, equipment, and systems are functioning effectively. This includes fire suppression equipment, exit signs, and emergency lighting.
  • Establishing a direct communications model for general and urgent notifications to ensure that critical information can be communicated in a timely and effective manner.
  • Establishing and operating evacuation procedures for the safe and orderly evacuation of eventgoers in the event of an emergency.
  • Ensuring that all barriers and exits are safe and unobstructed.
  • Controlling the use of naked flame in theatrical productions to ensure that it is used safely and responsibly.
  • Excluding the public from unsafe areas of the POPE to prevent accidents or injuries.
  • Keeping, testing, and storing all flammable materials and explosive items safely and responsibly.
  • Ensuring that specified drinking water facilities are available to eventgoers at all times.
  • Ensuring that all passageways and exits are clearly marked and easily accessible.
  • Ensuring that specified public toilet facilities are available and maintained in a clean and hygienic condition.
  • Ensuring that all temporary utilities, such as power, water, gas, and cooking facilities, are installed safely and do not pose any risk to eventgoers.
  • Ensuring that the required number of crowd controllers are available to maintain crowd control and prevent overcrowding.
  • Confirming that all relevant documentation is displayed on prescribed temporary structures as required by regulations.
  • Ensuring that specified fire suppression equipment is available and in good working order.
  • Ensuring that all temporary structures, including marquees less than 1002 metres, are adequately anchored to prevent them from becoming a hazard.
  • Ensuring that there is adequate overhead lighting after daylight hours to prevent accidents or injuries.
  • Ensuring that access is provided for disabled persons and emergency services to ensure their safety and well-being.
  • Ensuring that specified first aid facilities are available and staffed by qualified personnel.
  • Ensuring that all amusement rides are operated safely in accordance with relevant regulations and requirements.
  • Ensuring that specified temporary handrails, balustrades, stairs landings and the like for areas that are more than 1 metre above the surface beneath are available.
  • Before the event commences, the Safety Officer must receive a copy of the relevant POPE permit detailing the relevant conditions.

A Public Safety Officer (PSO) at a Place of Public Entertainment (POPE) is responsible for ensuring that the safety measures and procedures at the venue comply with safety regulations and standards. As part of this role, the PSO may conduct audits and inspections to identify any safety risks or concerns and to ensure that safety procedures are being followed.

However, the PSO is typically not directly involved in the implementation of safety measures or in the handling of safety incidents. This is to avoid any potential conflict of interest that may arise if the PSO is both responsible for safety compliance and directly involved in the safety activities.

For example, if a PSO were to identify a safety risk during an audit and then take action to address that risk, there may be questions about the impartiality of their audit if it is later discovered that the risk was not addressed adequately. By separating the auditing and reporting function from the implementation and handling of safety measures, the PSO can provide an objective and impartial assessment of the safety situation at the venue.

In this way, the PSO’s role is primarily focused on monitoring and reporting on the safety situation, rather than being hands-on in the implementation of safety measures. This ensures that the PSO can maintain an objective perspective on safety matters and provide accurate and reliable safety reports to relevant parties.

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