Steward Responsibilities: Ensuring Safety During Incidents
Primary Responsibility: Personal Safety
The steward's first responsibility is their own safety. If they are not safe, no one else can be safe. In any situation involving a casualty, the steward must perform a dynamic risk assessment. While they have received a risk assessment in their briefing, they must acknowledge that situations and crowd dynamics can change rapidly. This dynamic risk assessment ensures they continually evaluate and ensure their own safety.
Ensuring Safety of Colleagues and Crowd
After ensuring their own safety, stewards must consider the safety of their colleagues and the crowd. Protecting the crowd from becoming casualties is a critical concern. For example, in winter, ice may form on stairs, posing a significant risk. If someone slips, the steward must:
- Protect the casualty
- Ensure their own safety
- Protect other members of the crowd
- Call for qualified assistance
- Prevent further accidents in the area
Dynamic Risk Assessment
Stewards must continuously perform dynamic risk assessments to adapt to changing situations. This involves evaluating the current conditions, recognising new hazards, and taking appropriate actions to maintain safety for everyone involved.
Conclusion
Stewards play a crucial role in ensuring safety during incidents. By prioritising their own safety, performing dynamic risk assessments, and managing the crowd effectively, they help prevent additional casualties and maintain a safe environment.